Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rosie O'Donnell
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Rosie O'Donnell made an impact.
Rosie O'Donnell is an American comedian, actress, and talk show host. She gained recognition on Star Search in 1984 before transitioning into film and television roles. Her career reached its peak with The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996-2002), a successful daytime talk show that earned her the nickname "Queen of Nice" due to her positive persona and philanthropic activities. The show received multiple Daytime Emmy Awards.
1979: Touring as a Stand-Up Comedian
From 1979, Rosie O'Donnell began touring as a stand-up comedian in clubs.
1984: First Big Break on Star Search
In 1984, Rosie O'Donnell got her first big break on Star Search.
1984: Breakthrough on Star Search
In 1984, Rosie O'Donnell had her breakthrough on the television series Star Search, which launched her career.
1986: Series Debut on Gimme a Break!
In 1986, Rosie O'Donnell made her series debut as Nell Harper's neighbor on Gimme a Break!
1988: Joining VH1 as a Veejay
In 1988, Rosie O'Donnell joined VH1's lineup of veejays and started hosting Stand-up Spotlight.
1992: Starring in Stand By Your Man and A League of Their Own
In 1992, Rosie O'Donnell starred in the sitcom Stand By Your Man and made her film debut in A League of Their Own.
May 1996: Advanced $3 million to write a memoir
In May 1996, Warner Books advanced Rosie O'Donnell $3 million to write a memoir, and she used the money to seed her For All Kids Foundation to help institute national standards for day care across the country.
1996: Hosting The Rosie O'Donnell Show
In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell began hosting her daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which became very successful and earned her the title "The Queen of Nice".
1996: The Rosie O'Donnell Show Debut
In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell began hosting her own syndicated daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
1997: Released first children's book
In 1997, Rosie O'Donnell released the children's book Kids are Punny: Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show, which contained jokes she had received from children.
1997: Responded to "unkissable" designation
In 1997, after Procter & Gamble designated Rosie O'Donnell as "unkissable" in a promotion for Scope mouthwash, O'Donnell partnered with Warner–Lambert's competitor Listerine, who donated bottles of mouthwash to the studio audience and donated $1,000 to charity every time a hosted guest would kiss her, raising over $350,000.
1997: Rosie's For All Kids Foundation established
Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, overseen by Elizabeth Birch, has awarded more than $22 million in Early Childhood Care and Education program grants to over 900 nonprofit organizations.
1998: Released children's book sequel
In 1998, Rosie O'Donnell released a sequel to her children's book titled Kids are Punny 2: More Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show, and an HBO special was made based on the books.
April 19, 1999: Statement on Gun Ownership
On April 19, 1999, during her talk show broadcast, Rosie O'Donnell stated her views on gun ownership following the Columbine shootings, advocating for stricter gun control.
May 1999: Interview with Tom Selleck on Gun Control
In May 1999, a month after the Columbine shootings, Rosie O'Donnell interviewed Tom Selleck and questioned him about his involvement with the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the NRA's stance on assault weapons.
1999: Discontinuation of Kmart Contract
Later in 1999, Rosie O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman due to complaints from gun enthusiasts.
September 11, 2001: Response to 9/11 Attacks
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosie O'Donnell encouraged viewers to support New York City's performing arts and donated 1 million dollars for rescue efforts.
January 31, 2002: Appearance on Will & Grace
On January 31, 2002, Rosie O'Donnell appeared on the sitcom Will & Grace, playing a lesbian mother.
March 14, 2002: Diane Sawyer Interview
On March 14, 2002, Diane Sawyer interviewed Rosie O'Donnell on PrimeTime Thursday, where O'Donnell discussed her life and the Florida ban on gay adoption, highlighting the case of two gay men facing the removal of their foster child due to the state's discriminatory laws.
April 2002: Released "Find Me" memoir
In April 2002, Rosie O'Donnell released "Find Me", a combination of memoir, mystery and detective story with an underlying interest in reuniting birth mothers with their children. The book reached number two on The New York Times bestseller list.
September 2002: Quit Rosie's McCall's magazine
In September 2002, Rosie O'Donnell quit Rosie's McCall's magazine following a dispute over editorial control, stating that if her name and brand were on the magazine, it had to be her vision.
2002: Departure from Talk Show
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell left her talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which was then replaced by The Caroline Rhea Show.
2002: Coming Out as Lesbian
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell publicly came out as a lesbian and became an outspoken advocate for lesbian rights and gay adoption issues.
2002: Publication of Find Me
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell published her memoir, Find Me, and used the US$3 million advance to establish her For All foundation.
2002: Person of the Year
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell was named Person of the Year by The Advocate magazine, honoring her for her public journey and advocacy.
2002: End of The Rosie O'Donnell Show
In 2002, The Rosie O'Donnell Show came to an end after a successful run, during which she earned the nickname "Queen of Nice" and a reputation for philanthropy.
May 2003: Regular Columnist for The Advocate
In May 2003, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular columnist for The Advocate magazine, adding her voice to the publication's chorus.
2003: Rosie's Broadway Kids created
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli O'Donnell collaborated with Artistic Director Lori Klinger to create Rosie's Broadway Kids, which provides free instruction in music and dance to New York City public schools or students.
2003: Partnered to launch R Family Vacations
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell partnered with Gregg Kaminsky and Kelli Carpenter to launch R Family Vacations, catering to LGBT families, creating the first all gay and lesbian family vacation packages.
2003: Lawsuits and resolution surrounding Rosie magazine
In 2003, Rosie magazine folded. In late 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and the publishers sued each other for breach of contract. The judge dismissed the case, ruling that neither side should receive damages.
2003: Brought "Taboo" to Broadway
In late 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway, hiring Charles Busch to rewrite the book and focus on the rise to fame of Boy George.
February 8, 2004: "Taboo" closed on Broadway
On February 8, 2004, the musical "Taboo", which Rosie O'Donnell brought to Broadway, closed after about 100 performances and mostly bad reviews.
2005: Ratings Increase on The View
In 2005, Rosie O'Donnell's addition to The View led to ratings increase. The show scored record ratings with an average of 3.4 million viewers, up 15% versus the same time in 2005.
April 6, 2006: HBO documentary about R Family Vacations
All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise, a documentary film about the R Family Vacations trip, debuted on HBO on April 6, 2006, and was nominated for three Emmy Awards.
September 2006: Joining The View as Co-Host
In September 2006, Rosie O'Donnell replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator on The View.
October 30, 2006: Honored by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
On October 30, 2006, Rosie O'Donnell was honored by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for her Rosie's for All Kids Foundation's contributions to child-related organizations.
November 2006: Rosie's For All Kids Foundation opens center in Louisiana
In November 2006, Nightline aired a video report about the opening of The Children's Plaza and Family Center in Renaissance Village, a FEMA trailer park in Louisiana. This was an emergency response initiative of Rosie's For All Kids Foundation with the help of many local nonprofit organizations to assist families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
November 2006: Comment on Kelly Ripa and Clay Aiken
In November 2006, Rosie O'Donnell commented on Kelly Ripa's complaint about Clay Aiken on Live with Regis and Kelly, suggesting that Kelly made a homophobic comment.
December 2006: $50 million donated to charity
In December 2006, at a charity event on the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, Elizabeth Birch, executive director for the Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, confirmed that $50 million from Rosie O'Donnell's five-year contract were donated in an irrevocable trust to charity.
2006: Moderator on The View
In 2006, Rosie O'Donnell started her controversial run as the moderator on the daytime talk show The View.
March 2007: Launch of Jahero Video Blog
In March 2007, Rosie O'Donnell started a video blog called Jahero on her website Rosie.com. This blog featured O'Donnell, her hair and makeup artist Helene Macaulay, and writer Janette Barber answering fan questions and sharing behind-the-scenes content. It became popular, earning O'Donnell the "Best Celebrity Blogger" award in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards.
April 25, 2007: Departure from The View
On April 25, 2007, ABC announced that Rosie O'Donnell would be leaving The View before the end of the year due to the inability to reach an agreement on a new contract.
May 2007: Pogo.com partnership to raise money for Rosie's All Kids Foundation
In May 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and Pogo.com announced a joint effort to raise money for Rosie's All Kids Foundation. EA committed $30,000 and held a sweepstakes where winners could meet O'Donnell and attend a charity function.
May 25, 2007: Agreement to Cut Short Contract
On May 25, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and ABC agreed to cut short her contract on The View. O'Donnell cited feeling set up by the show's director and producer as a contributing factor, leading to her decision to leave.
June 8, 2007: Guest on True Colors Tour
During the summer of 2007, Rosie O'Donnell was a guest on the multi-artist True Colors Tour, which began on June 8, 2007, and traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada, benefiting the Human Rights Campaign, P-FLAG, and The Matthew Shepard Foundation.
June 2007: Decision Not to Host The Price Is Right
In June 2007, Rosie O'Donnell announced on her blog that she would not be replacing Bob Barker as the host of The Price Is Right, despite expressing initial interest. She noted her reluctance to move her family to California as the primary reason.
October 2007: Released "Celebrity Detox" memoir
In October 2007, Rosie O'Donnell released Celebrity Detox, her second memoir, which focuses on the struggles with leaving fame behind, noting her exits from The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The View.
2007: Controversial Run on The View
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell continued her controversial run on The View, which included public feuds and on-air disputes.
2007: Donated profits from "Celebrity Detox" to Rosie's Broadway Kids
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell donated all net profits from her book Celebrity Detox to Rosie's Broadway Kids.
2007: Publication of Celebrity Detox
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell published her memoir, Celebrity Detox.
2008: Starring in 'America'
In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell starred in and executive produced 'America', a Lifetime channel film based on the E.R. Frank book of the same name. She played the therapist of the title character, a 16-year-old boy.
2008: Emmy win for The View
In 2008, The View won an Emmy for "Outstanding Special Class Writing" for a specially themed Autism episode that Rosie O'Donnell helped create. Janette Barber accepted the award on behalf of herself and the other two winners, Christian McKiernan and Andrew Smith.
2008: Appeared on True Colors Tour
Rosie O'Donnell appeared again on the True Colors Tour in 2008.
October 2009: Appearance in 'Love, Loss, and What I Wore'
In October 2009, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in the original cast of 'Love, Loss, and What I Wore'.
November 2009: Premiere of 'Rosie Radio'
In November 2009, 'Rosie Radio,' a daily two-hour show with Rosie O'Donnell discussing news and events, premiered on Sirius XM Radio. She was approached by the company after appearing on Howard Stern's show.
2009: Hosting Rosie Radio
In 2009, Rosie O'Donnell hosted Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio.
May 2011: Premiere of The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell
In May 2011, "The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell" premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). O'Donnell moderated live panel discussions after premieres of OWN Documentaries.
June 2011: End of 'Rosie Radio'
In June 2011, Rosie O'Donnell's radio show, 'Rosie Radio,' on Sirius XM Radio, came to an end.
October 10, 2011: Debut of The Rosie Show
On October 10, 2011, "The Rosie Show" debuted on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The show was taped at the former Chicago studio of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and received generally positive reviews.
October 2011: Hosting Specials for OWN
In October 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted specials for "Becoming Chaz" and "Miss Representation" on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
December 5, 2011: Engagement Announcement
On December 5, 2011, Rosie O'Donnell announced her engagement to Michelle Rounds to her studio audience during a break in the taping of The Rosie Show.
2011: Hosting The Rosie Show
In 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted a second talk show on OWN, called The Rosie Show.
2011: Guest Appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm
In 2011, Rosie O'Donnell made another guest appearance on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', competing for the affection of a bisexual woman with Larry in an episode called "The Bi-Sexual".
March 16, 2012: Cancellation of The Rosie Show
On March 16, 2012, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) canceled "The Rosie Show." The last show was taped on March 20, 2012, on the eve of O'Donnell's 50th birthday.
March 29, 2012: Final Airing of The Rosie Show
On March 29, 2012, the final episode of "The Rosie Show" aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
2012: End of The Rosie Show
In 2012, The Rosie Show came to an end after a short run.
2013: Television Appearances in Bomb Girls, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Smash and Impractical Jokers
In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in several television shows, including playing Dottie Shannon in an episode of 'Bomb Girls', voicing the Bouncing Bumble Queen in 'Jake and the Never Land Pirates', appearing as herself in two episodes of 'Smash', and appearing as herself in an episode of 'Impractical Jokers' called "Everything's Rosie".
2014: Recurring Role on The Fosters
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell landed a recurring role as Rita Hendricks on "The Fosters," portraying a compassionate woman working for the foster care system who becomes a mentor.
2014: Return to The View
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell returned to The View, leaving after five months due to personal issues.
February 6, 2015: Exit from The View
On February 6, 2015, Rosie O'Donnell confirmed she would exit The View again. She cited health concerns and a need to fix her personal life as the reasons for her departure.
April 2015: Cameo in Roseanne For President!
In April 2015, Rosie O'Donnell made a cameo in 'Roseanne For President!', a documentary film about Roseanne Barr's 2012 presidential bid. She appeared alongside Michael Moore and Sandra Bernhard.
September 2015: Appearance in Everything Is Copy
In September 2015, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in the documentary "Everything Is Copy," a film by Jacob Bernstein about his mother Nora Ephron. O'Donnell participated to help "bring his mother into focus." She appeared in the film alongside other celebrities.
November 2016: Joined the Cast of SMILF
In November 2016, Showtime announced that Rosie O'Donnell had joined the cast of the comedy pilot SMILF.
2016: The Fosters Role Ended
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell concluded her role as Rita Hendricks on "The Fosters."
2016: Television Appearances in Mom, Match Game, The $100,000 Pyramid, and Hairspray Live!
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell made a two-episode appearance in the CBS series "Mom," playing Jeanine, the ex-girlfriend of Bonnie (Allison Janney). She was also a regular panelist on "Match Game," appeared in one episode of "The $100,000 Pyramid," and played the gym teacher in "Hairspray Live!".
November 5, 2017: Premiere of SMILF
On November 5, 2017, the series SMILF aired, featuring Rosie O'Donnell as Tutu, a role for which she received critical acclaim.
2017: Starring in SMILF
In 2017, Rosie O'Donnell starred on the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
March 31, 2019: End of SMILF series
On March 31, 2019, the series SMILF, in which Rosie O'Donnell played Tutu, ended.
April 3, 2019: Cast in HBO's 'I Know This Much Is True'
On April 3, 2019, it was announced that Rosie O'Donnell would play the role of Lisa Sheffer in the HBO series 'I Know This Much Is True'.
2019: End of SMILF role
In 2019, Rosie O'Donnell's role on the Showtime comedy series SMILF came to an end.
June 15, 2021: Starred in American Gigolo reboot
On June 15, 2021, Rosie O'Donnell was announced to star as Detective Sunday, alongside Jon Bernthal, in a series reboot of American Gigolo on Showtime, which would premiere in 2022.
2022: Voiced MTA subway announcements and appeared in "A League of Their Own"
In 2022, Rosie O'Donnell voiced the role of the MTA subway announcements in the second season of the Netflix series Russian Doll starring Natasha Lyonne. That same year, she appeared as Vi in the Amazon Prime Video series A League of Their Own (2022).
2023: Regular Contributor to The Advocate
In 2023, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular contributor to The Advocate magazine, continuing her advocacy work.
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