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Ellen DeGeneres Biography

Birth Name:

Ellen Lee DeGeneres

Birth Place:

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Profession

Talk-show host, actor, writer, comedian

Fast Facts

Before entering show business, bar tended, sold clothes, shucked oysters, peddled vacuums, waited tables and worked as a paralegal
Dropped out of the University of New Orleans after one semester
At a 1982 Showtime stand-up competition, was voted the Funniest Person in America for her "conversation with God" monologue
Named Best Female Comedy Club Stand-Up at the 1991 American Comedy Awards
Was offered Sandra Bullock's role in the 1994 action smash Speed, but turned it down; also passed on NBC's offer to be one of the regulars on Friends
Penned the best-selling books The Funny Thing Is
and My Point
And I Do Have One
Landed her first beauty campaign in 2008, when she began working with CoverGirl cosmetics
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2016

Awards

2019Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2018Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2017People's Choice Awards-Favorite Animated Movie Voice: winner
2017People's Choice Awards-Favorite Daytime TV Host: winner
2016People's Choice Awards-Favorite Daytime TV Host: winner
2015People's Choice Awards-Favorite Daytime TV Host: winner
2014People's Choice Awards-Favorite Daytime TV Host: winner
2014Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Program: nominated
2013People's Choice Awards-Favorite Daytime TV Host: winner
2012People's Choice Awards-Favorite Daytime TV Host: winner
2009People's Choice Awards-Favorite Talk Show Host: winner
2008People's Choice Awards-Favorite Talk Show Host: winner
2008People's Choice Awards-Favorite Funny Female Star: winner
2007Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
2007People's Choice Awards-Favorite Talk Show Host: winner
2007People's Choice Awards-Favorite Funny Female Star: winner
2006People's Choice Awards-Favorite Funny Female: winner
2006People's Choice Awards-Favorite Talk Show: winner
2005People's Choice Awards-Favorite Daytime Talk Show Host: winner
2005People's Choice Awards-Favorite Funny Female: winner
2004Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special: nominated
2004Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
2003Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2001Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special: nominated
2001Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
2000Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
1998Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1997Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1996Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1996Emmy-Outstanding Performance for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
1996Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress for a Comedy Series: nominated
1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
1995Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
1995People's Choice Awards-Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Series: winner
1994Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated

Ellen DeGeneres Biography

Fast Facts

Awards

Relationships