Whether she’s dressed like a nun, a psychic, an alien bartender, or herself, most people will instantly recognize Whoopi Goldberg. The comedienne has been making audiences ignite with laughter for decades with her unique characters and her impeccable timing. Goldberg has a long list of accomplishments, including being one of only 28 people to achieve EGOT status by winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. She is also an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church. Take a look at her history to learn more about where her career has taken her.
Changing Her Name To Fit Her Career
Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York City. She has stated that she spent her youth in awe of vaudeville performers like Moms Mabley, one of the most infamous Black stars of the vaudeville circuit in the 1920s. Goldberg took an interest in acting early and was trained in New York by renowned Uta Hagen. She moved to California in the 1970s and performed a variety of odd jobs as she worked on becoming a stage performer.
During this time she changed her name to Whoopi Goldberg. She has claimed that her first name derives from the whoopee cushion. According to Goldberg, the lack of privacy backstage at most theater venues made many people comment on how gassy she was while in the bathroom. She took the name Whoopi as a comedic nod to this time in her life.
Moving From Stage to Screen
Goldberg would perform as her idol, Moms Mabley, in a one-woman show she wrote in 1983. The show was a huge success and led her to create another solo show called “The Spook Show,” where she played a number of characters during various monologues. This show would attract the attention of director Mike Nichols. It was Nichols who helped Goldberg bring her show to Broadway, where it had a successful run and was filmed to be aired on HBO.
After Steven Spielberg saw her show, he approached Goldberg with an offer to appear in his adaptation of Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.” The film was a critical and commercial success, which led to Goldberg appearing in a variety of movies, including “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Fatal Beauty,” and “Clara’s Heart.”
Becoming a Film and Television Sensation
In 1990, Whoopi Goldberg would become the first Black performer to receive the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 50 years for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown in “Ghost.” During this time she would also receive a recurring role as alien bartender Guinan in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” As a longtime fan of the franchise, Goldberg was overjoyed to become a part of the “Star Trek” mythos.
Goldberg continued to appear in a multitude of noteworthy films in the 90s. These movies included “Sister Act,” “The Lion King,” “The Little Rascals,” “Made in America,” “The Associate,” “Cinderella,” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back.” She would also continue to perform on Broadway in productions like Stephen Sondheim’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and August Wilson’s "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.”
Acting as an Advocate
Whoopi Goldberg has long been an advocate for a number of disenfranchised groups in America. She has been a vocal supporter of the LGBT+ community, having spoken many times to bring awareness to the plight of people of varying orientations and gender identities. Goldberg has often been outspoken on controversial topics while serving as co-host on “The View.” She has also supported the ASPCA, the Alliance of Youth Movements, and the Women’s March. While Goldberg is a registered minister of the Universal Life Church, there are no public details available on any of the marriages she may have officiated.
For years, Goldberg has been able to captivate audiences in both comedic and dramatic roles on stage, on television, and in film. With so many illustrious credits under her belt, it is easy to see how she is one of the very few performers to reach EGOT status.