Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson on November 13, 1955, in New York City, began her career taking small parts on Broadway and working in various jobs, including a funeral parlor and as a bricklayer. She developed her comedic skills with improv groups in California, leading to an HBO special and a one-woman show as Moms Mabley. Her significant breakthrough came with her first major film role as Celie in “The Color Purple” (1985), which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. This role established her as a prominent talent in Hollywood, known for her unique and socially conscious perspective.

Goldberg’s career continued to flourish with her Academy Award-winning role in “Ghost” (1990), securing her status as a mainstream Hollywood star. During the early 1990s, she made regular appearances on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and starred in the successful film “Sister Act” (1992), followed by its sequel, “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” (1993). Throughout the late 1990s and into the 2000s, she balanced lead roles in comedies such as “Eddie” (1996) and “The Associate” (1996) with supporting roles in independent films like “The Deep End of the Ocean” (1999) and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” (1998). She also lent her voice to animated projects including “The Pagemaster” (1994) and “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” (1990).

Beyond acting, Goldberg has been a consistent presence on television, notably as a moderator on “The View” since 2007, and as a center square on “Hollywood Squares” (1998). She has hosted the Academy Awards multiple times and is an accomplished author. Goldberg is one of only a few entertainers to achieve EGOT status, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Her work often involved tributes to other entertainers and significant involvement in charitable causes such as Comic Relief, underscoring her commitment to social engagement alongside her artistic endeavors.