| Whoopi Goldberg |
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Whoopi Goldberg was born in New York City in 1955, as
Caryn Elaine Johnson. She was born in Chelsea, in New York City. She worked
in a funeral parlor, and as a bricklayer, while taking small parts on
Broadway. She moved to
California and worked with improv groups, including Spontaneous Combustion,
and developed her skills as a stand up comedienne. She came to prominence
doing an HBO special, and a one woman show as Moms Mabley. She has been
known in her prosperous career as a unique and socially conscious talent
with articulately liberal views. Among her boyfriends were
Ted Danson and
Frank Langella. She was
married three times, and was once addicted to
drugs. Whoopi Goldberg first came to prominence with her supporting role in Color Purple, The (1985). She received much critical acclaim for her role, and became a major star as a result. Subsequent efforts in the late eighties were at best marginal hits. These movies mostly were off-beat to formulaic comedies like Burglar (1987), Telephone, The (1988), and Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986). Goldberg made her mark as a household name and a mainstay in Hollywood for her Oscar winning role in the box office smash Ghost (1990). Whoopi Goldberg was at her most famous in the early 1990s, as she made regular appearances on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987). She admitted to being a huge fan of the show and jumped at the opportunity to star in the Next Generation. Goldberg received another smash hit role in Sister Act (1992). Her fish out of water with some flash seemed to resonate with audiences, and was a box office smash. Whoopi starred in some highly publicized and moderately successful comedies of this time, including Made in America (1993), and Soapdish (1991). Goldberg followed up to her success with Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), which was well received, but didn't seem to match up to the first. As the late 1990s approached Goldberg seemed to alternate between lead roles in straight comedies such as Eddie (1996), and Associate, The (1996), and took supporting parts in more independent minded movies such as Deep End of the Ocean, The (1999), and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998). Goldberg never forgot where she came from, as she hosted many tributes to other legendary entertainment figures. Her most recent movies include Rat Race (2001), and the quietly received Kingdom Come (2000/I) . Goldberg contributes her voice to many cartoons, including The Page Master, and Captain Planet, as Gaia, the voice of the earth. Alternating between big budget movies, independent movies, tributes, documentaries, and even TV movies (including Theodore Rex (1995), a really bad movie). Whoopi Goldberg is accredited as a truly unique and visible talent in Hollywood. Perhaps she will always be remembered as well for Comic Relief, playing an integral Part in almost every one they had. Currently Whoopi Goldberg is the center square in Hollywood Squares, and frequently hosts the Academy Awards. She also is an author, with the book, 'Book.'
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