Childhood and Education Journey of Ellen DeGeneres in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Ellen DeGeneres, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Ellen DeGeneres is a celebrated American comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She is best known for her approachable and engaging on-screen persona. Her career began with stand-up comedy before transitioning to television, gaining widespread recognition for her role in the sitcom "Ellen." She achieved further success as the host of the daytime talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", known for its humor, celebrity interviews, and charitable acts. Throughout her career, DeGeneres has been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, receiving numerous awards and accolades for her contributions.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1997: Coming Out as Lesbian

In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian, sparking intense media interest that negatively affected her career and led to depression. The same year, she started a romantic relationship with Anne Heche.

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August 2000: End of Relationship with Anne Heche

In August 2000, Ellen DeGeneres's romantic relationship with actress Anne Heche ended.

2004: Relationship with Alexandra Hedison Ends

In 2004, Ellen DeGeneres' relationship with photographer Alexandra Hedison ended after a close relationship. The couple had appeared on the cover of The Advocate after their separation was already announced.

August 2008: Marriage to Portia de Rossi

In August 2008, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi got married at their home in Beverly Hills, California, after the same-sex marriage ban in California was overturned.

November 4, 2008: Proposition 8

On November 4, 2008, the passage of Proposition 8 in California cast doubt on the legal status of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's marriage. However, a California Supreme Court judgment validated their marriage because it occurred before this date.

2009: PETA's "Woman of the Year"

In 2009, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) named Ellen DeGeneres their "Woman of the Year".

September 23, 2010: Portia de Rossi Name Change

On September 23, 2010, Portia de Rossi's legal petition to change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres was granted.

2010: Adopt-A-Turkey Project Ambassador

In 2010, Ellen DeGeneres served as campaign ambassador to Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey Project, encouraging people to adopt a turkey instead of eating one at Thanksgiving.

December 3, 2011: Headlining Gala for David Lynch Foundation

On December 3, 2011, Ellen DeGeneres headlined the third annual "Change Begins Within" gala for the David Lynch Foundation at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

2011: Attending Saints Practice Session

In 2011, Ellen DeGeneres, a fan of the National Football League, attended a New Orleans Saints practice session dressed as Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Don Hutson.

2012: Obama Retweet Record

In 2012, Barack Obama held the retweet record, before Ellen DeGeneres' orchestrated selfie.

2012: "Going Vegan with Ellen" Website Section

In 2012, the website for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" featured a section called "Going Vegan with Ellen", promoting "Meatless Mondays" and vegan recipes.

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April 2013: Donation to Stop Anti-Whistleblower Legislation

In April 2013, Ellen DeGeneres donated $25,000 to stop anti-whistleblower agricultural gag legislation in Tennessee, which would prohibit undercover investigators from recording footage of animal abuse on farms.

2016: Re-Introducing Fish into Diet

In 2016, Ellen DeGeneres stated that she had re-introduced fish into her diet.

November 2017: Elephant Trophies Campaign

In November 2017, in response to President Donald Trump's decision to allow the importation of elephant trophies from Africa, Ellen DeGeneres launched a hashtag campaign in partnership with her brand, ED Ellen DeGeneres, to donate to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. She also created a T-shirt with her brand, with proceeds benefiting the organization.

January 2018: Gorilla Home in Rwanda

In January 2018, as a gift for Ellen DeGeneres's 60th birthday, Portia de Rossi gifted her a permanent gorilla home in Rwanda built in her name for the Digit Fund. This was part of a new arm of the Digit Fund called the "Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund".

2018: Stopped Following Vegan Lifestyle

In her 2018 stand-up comedy special "Relatable", Ellen DeGeneres confirmed that she had stopped following a vegan lifestyle "in the last year or two for no reason really".

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July 2024: Show Business Exit

Looking back on past controversies, in July 2024, Ellen DeGeneres stated that she felt she "got kicked out of show business for being mean" and indicated that once her existing contractual obligations were fulfilled, she would permanently leave show business.

August 2024: Property Sale in Carpinteria

In August 2024, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi sold a property in Carpinteria, California, for $96 million.

November 2024: Relocation to the Cotswolds

In November 2024, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi relocated from their home in Montecito, California, to the Cotswolds region of England. This move was reportedly influenced by the re-election of Donald Trump as president, with the couple having no plans to return to the United States. They had purchased the home in the Cotswolds before the presidential election.