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Whoopi Goldberg Biography

Birth Name:Caryn Elaine Johnson

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack, Writer, Director, Music department

Fast Facts

Was the first African American to win the Academy Award for best suporting actress since Hattie McDaniel won the award nearly 50 years prior
Received the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Vanguard Award in 1999 for her work raising awareness of discrimination against the LGBTQ community
In 1994, she became the first woman, and the first solo African American to host the Academy Awards
Struggles with dyslexia and in 1987 won the Hans Christian Andersen Award for outstanding achievement by a dyslexic
Started performing at the age of 8 when she began showcasing her talents in the Children's Program at the Hudson Guild and The Rubenstein Children's Theatre
Appeared on-screen for the first time in avant-garde film "Citizen: I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away" after being trained at HB Studio by acting teacher Uta Hagen
Was inspired to become an actress at a young age after seeing Nichelle Nichols performance on "Star Trek․"
Quote: "I am the American Dream․ I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said․ It said you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country․ That's exactly what I've done․"
Is known for playing eccentric characters, such as her work in "Ghost," "Sister Act," "Eddie," etc
The first part of her stage name was inspired by a whoopee cushion, while the last part was suggested by her mother, who wanted her to use a family name
Had the screenwriter of "Sister Act" change the name of the lead character from Terri to Deloris because she'd always wanted to play someone named Deloris
Worked as a makeup artist in a New York mortuary before beginning her acting career
Got the lead role in "The Color Purple" after performing a comedy act for her audition in front of Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson

Awards

1985LAFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
1985New Generation Award-: nominated
1985NBR Award-Best Actress: winner
1986Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1986Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series: nominated
1987American Comedy Award-Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1987Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
1988Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1988Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
1989Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1989Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actress: winner
1989Razzie Award-Worst Actress: nominated
1990Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1990KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1991Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
1991Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1991American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1991BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
1991DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1991Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
1991Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1992American Comedy Award-Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1992ACCA-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1992Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1993American Comedy Award-Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): winner
1993American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1993Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1993Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actress: winner
1993MTV Movie Award-Best Comedic Performance: nominated
1993MTV Movie Award-Best Female Performance: nominated
1993Stinker Award-Worst Actress: nominated
1994Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1994Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actress: winner
1994MTV Movie Award-Best Comedic Performance: nominated
1995Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
1995American Comedy Award-Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1996ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
1996Best Actress-: winner
1996Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1996Image Award-Outstanding Performance in an Animated/Live-Action/Dramatic Youth or Children's Series/Special: nominated
1996Stinker Award-Worst Actress: winner
1997Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1997Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actress: nominated
1997OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
1997Razzie Award-Worst Actress: nominated
1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
1998OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
1999Black Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1999American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1999Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2000Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show: nominated
2000Ruby Award-: winner
2001Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show: nominated
2001Stinker Award-Worst Supporting Actress: nominated
2002Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show: nominated
2002Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Special: winner
2002Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2002Grace Award-Most Inspiring Performance in Movies: winner
2003Gracie-Producer: winner
2004Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Film: nominated
2004Black Reel-Television: Best Actress: nominated
2004Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special: winner
2004Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2007Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2008Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Talk Show Host: nominated
2008OFTA Television Award-Best Host of a Talk or Service Show: nominated
2008TV Land Award-Favorite Character from the "Other Side": nominated
2009Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Talk Show Host: winner
2009OFTA Television Award-Best Host of a Talk or Service Show: nominated
2010Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Talk Show Host: nominated
2011Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Talk Show Host: nominated
2011Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2012BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: nominated
2012OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2013Felix-Best Actress: nominated
2013People's Choice Award-Favorite Daytime TV Host: nominated
2013John Schlesinger Award-Documentary: winner
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Television Documentary: winner
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2014Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Talk Show Host: nominated
2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
2014WIN Award-Actress MFT Movie / Mini-Series: nominated
2015Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
2015Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
2016Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: nominated
2017Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: nominated
2018Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: nominated
2019Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: nominated
2020Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2022Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: nominated
2023Black Reel-Outstanding Film: nominated
2023Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series: nominated
2024CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actress - International Competition: nominated
2024Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble: nominated
2025News and Documentary Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary: nominated