WHOOPI GOLDBERG BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:
Whoopi Goldberg was born on November 13th, 1955 in New York City, New York with the birth name Caryn Elaine Johnson born to parents, Amma and Robert James Johnson, Jr. She was raised by her mother after her father left her family. While trying to establish a career as a stage actress she also found part time work as a bricklayer and even worked in a funeral parlor.
She soon decided to relocate to California and found work in small improvisation groups working on developing her skills as a stand up comedian. When she was cast on HBO doing a show called, "Moms Mabley" she first began to gain some attention and recognition in Hollywood for her talent as a comedian.
Her first film role to really gain attention in Hollywood was in, 'The Color Purple" (1985) for which she earned an Oscar nomination. As her career progressed she was mainly cast in comedy films and although, none reached the level of success of, "The Color Purple" she still managed to keep herself working in the industry. Some of these films were, "Burglar" (1987), "The Telephone" (1988) and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1986).
Goldberg then gained the attention of Hollywood again with her starring role in the film, "Ghost" (1990) costarring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. She was now at her most popular during the 90's and was making regular appearances such as on, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987).
Other successful film roles soon followed such as, "Sister Act" (1992), "Made in America" (1993), "Soapdish" (1991), "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" (1993), "The Associate" (1996), "Eddie" (1996), "The Deep End of the Ocean" (1999), "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" (1998), "Rat Race" (2001), "Life on Mars" (2008) and her latest roles in, "A Little Bit of Heaven" (2011) and "The Muppets" (2011).
Whoopi also appeared in the center square and was the co producer for, "Hollywood Squares" (1998-2004) and since 2007 is now one of the hosts of the television talk show, "The View". She is also a published author with, "The Book". She also hosted the 50th Anniversary of, "I Love Lucy" (2001) and the documentary of the Making of, "Charlie Brown Christmas" (2001).
Her career thus far has been highly successful with a total of thirteen Emmy Award nominations and she has a Grammy, won two Emmy's, two Golden Globes and has also won an Oscar. She also has a British Academy Film Award, four People's Choice Awards and has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Throughout her lifetime, her professional career has succeeded however her personal life has been filled with a couple more ups and downs. She has been married three times. Her first husband was Alvin Martin whom she married in 1973 and after having one daughter, the marriage ended in 1979. She then married David Claessen in 1986 but this marriage only lasted until 1988. Her third time to marry was to Lyle Trachtenberg in 1994 and again this marriage only lasted one year. She also for a time in her life, faced a drug addiction which she later overcame. Her one daughter, Alexandrea is now also an actress and producer.
In 2010 she became involved along with singer, Cyndi Lauper to launch the 'Give a Damn Campaign' which brings awareness of discrimination of the Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Filmography
2011 The Muppets
2011 A Little Bit of Heaven
2010 For Colored Girls
2010 Toy Story 3: The Video Game
2010 Toy Story 3
2010 The Little Engine That Could
2009 The Cleaner
2009 Stream
2009 Madea Goes to Jail
2008 A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
2008 Life on Mars
2008 Entourage
2008 Descendants
2008 Snow Buddies
2007 If I Had Known I Was a Genius
2006 Everybody Hates Chris
2006 Everyone's Hero
2006 Homie Spumoni
2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2006 So noTORIous
2006 Doogal
2006 Farce of the Penguins
2005 Bear in the Big Blue House
2005 Whoopi: Back to Broadway - The 20th Anniversary
2005 Racing Stripes
2004 Pinocchio 3000
2003-2004 Whoopi
2004 The Lion King 1½
2004 Littleburg
2003 Blizzard
2003 Good Fences
2002-2003 Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776
2003 Freedom: A History of Us
2002 Absolutely Fabulous
2002 Star Trek: Nemesis
2002 It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
2002 Madeline: My Fair Madeline
2001 Call Me Claus
2001 The Hollywood Sign
2001 Rat Race
2001 Monkeybone
2001 Golden Dreams
2001 Kingdom Come
2001 What Makes a Family
2000 Strong Medicine
2000 More Dogs Than Bones
2000 The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle
1999 Girl, Interrupted
1999 The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns
1999 Foxbusters
1999 Jackie's Back!
1999 The Deep End of the Ocean
1999 Alice in Wonderland
1999 Alegría
1999 Our Friend, Martin
1998 A Knight in Camelot
1998 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie
1998 How Stella Got Her Groove Back
1998 The Nanny
1998 Saturday Night Live
1998 Titey
1997 Cinderella
1997 Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special
1997 Destination Anywhere
1997 In the Gloaming
1997 Tracey Takes On...
1997 A Christmas Carol
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi
1996 The Associate
1996 Bogus
1996 Bordello of Blood
1996 Eddie
1996 The Sunshine Boys
1995 Theodore Rex
1995 Moonlight and Valentino
1995 Boys on the Side
1994 The Pagemaster
1994 Animated StoryBook: The Lion King
1994 Star Trek: Generations
1994 Corrina, Corrina
1994 The Little Rascals
1994 The Lion King
1993 A Cool Like That Christmas
1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
1993 Made in America
1988-1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation
1993 Loaded Weapon 1
1993 Naked in New York
1990-1992 Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1992 Sarafina!
1992 Sister Act
1992 The Player
1992 Defenders of Dynatron City
1991 House Party 2
1990-1991 Bagdad Cafe
1991 Soapdish
1991 A Different World
1991 Blackbird Fly
1990 The Long Walk Home
1990 Ghost
1989 Homer and Eddie
1989 Kiss Shot
1989 CBS Schoolbreak Special
1988 Clara's Heart
1988 The Telephone
1988 Whoopi Goldberg: Fontaine... Why Am I Straight
1987 Fatal Beauty
1987 Burglar
1987 Repairs
1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash
1986 Moonlighting
1985 The Color Purple
1982 Citizen
