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Caryn Elaine Johnson, better known by her stage name of
Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1955) is a well-known movie actress, comedian and singer. She was born in New York, New York.
After success as a stand up comedian in the San Fransico Bay Area, Goldberg created a one woman show called "The Spook Show". This show caught the
attention of Mike Nichols who produced the show on Broadway. Goldberg began her film career by playing the character of Selie in the Steven Spielberg directed movie adaption of the award-winning novel by
Alice Walker, The Color Purple. This performance garnered her an Oscar nomination for best actress in 1986. She followed up this
performance with a sell-out, highly acclaimed one-woman show on Broadway. The
majority of the films she made in the 1980s featured her in tough-woman comedic roles
(Burglar,
Fatal Beauty,
Jumpin' Jack Flash), though she regularly balanced
them out by performing in family-oriented films (Clara's Heart).
In danger of fading from public acclaim she revitalized her career in the role of a fake "spiritualist" who manages to
actually make contact with the dead in the tear-jearker Ghost, for which she won her first Oscar award
for best supporting actress. She cemented her status as a legendary comedic actress in 1992 as a lounge singer who is hidden in a
nunnery (and consequently revitalises their choir) in Sister Act. She had a recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Guinan.
Goldberg has appeared in 149 films as of October 2002. She has received two Oscar nominations and won one. She has received five Daytime Emmy nominations, winning one. She has received five Emmy
nominations. She has received three Golden Globe nominations, winning two.
She has won three People's Choice Awards. In 1999 she received the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Vanguard Award for her continued
work in supporting the gay and lesbian community. She has been nominated for five American Comedy
Awards with two wins. In 2001 she won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
She also hosted the Oscars in 1999.
Goldberg currently stars in her own sitcom, Whoopi, which began broadcasting in fall 2003 on NBC.
Goldberg owns a hotel in New York City called the Le Mont Hotel.
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