Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is an American actress, comedian, author and television host. She is one of the relatively few performers to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Academy Award and a Tony Award, achieving the so-called EGOT, and she is known both for her film roles and for her long-running presence on daytime television.

Early life

Born Caryn Elaine Johnson on November 13, 1955, in New York City, she grew up in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. She began performing at a young age and later adopted the stage name Whoopi Goldberg. Before achieving fame she worked a variety of jobs and developed her craft through theatre and a one-woman stage show that brought her early acclaim.

Career

Goldberg's stage work led to a Broadway show that drew the attention of director Steven Spielberg, who cast her in "The Color Purple" (1985). Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and established her as a major film talent. She went on to star in a string of popular films, and in 1990 she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the psychic Oda Mae Brown in "Ghost."

Throughout the 1990s she became one of Hollywood's most visible performers, starring in the comedy "Sister Act" and its sequel and appearing in numerous films and television projects. She also had a recurring role as the bartender Guinan in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and she hosted the Academy Awards ceremony on multiple occasions. Across her career she accumulated the awards that completed her EGOT status, including a Grammy for a comedy recording, a Tony as a producer, and a Daytime Emmy, reflecting work spanning film, television, music and the stage.

Recent work

For many years Goldberg has been a host and moderator of the daytime talk show "The View," where she leads discussions on news, politics and culture and has become a familiar daily presence on American television. She has continued to take film and voice roles, including animated features, and has written books and worked as a producer on stage and screen projects. Her combination of comedic timing, dramatic depth and broadcasting work has kept her active across multiple areas of entertainment for several decades. Outspoken on social and political issues, she remains a widely recognised public figure whose career bridges stand-up comedy, acclaimed dramatic acting, popular comedy and long-form television hosting.