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 prominence through Star Search in 1984, leading to various television and film roles. O'Donnell hosted the successful daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, from 1996 to 2002, earning the moniker "Queen of Nice" and recognition for her philanthropy. The show garnered multiple Daytime Emmy Awards.
1979: Stand-up Comedy Tour Begins
From 1979, Rosie O'Donnell toured 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 received her breakthrough on the television series Star Search.
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: Joins VH1 as Veejay
In 1988, Rosie O'Donnell joined music video station VH1's lineup of veejays and started hosting Stand-up Spotlight.
1992: Film Debut and Sitcom Role
In 1992, Rosie O'Donnell made her feature film debut in A League of Their Own and starred in the Fox Network sitcom Stand By Your Man.
May 1996: Seeding For All Kids Foundation
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 a daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, known for her light-hearted banter and Koosh balls.
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: Response to Procter & Gamble's "unkissable" designation
In 1997, after Procter & Gamble's designation of Rosie O'Donnell as "unkissable" in a Scope mouthwash promotion, O'Donnell partnered with Listerine, who donated bottles of mouthwash and $1,000 to charity every time a hosted guest would kiss her.
1997: Rosie's For All Kids Foundation awarded grants
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.
April 19, 1999: Gun Control Advocacy
On April 19, 1999, during her talk show, Rosie O'Donnell expressed strong support for gun control following the Columbine shootings.
May 1999: Interview with Tom Selleck
In May 1999, Rosie O'Donnell interviewed Tom Selleck on her talk show and questioned him about his support for the National Rifle Association (NRA).
1999: Contract with Kmart Discontinued
Later in 1999, Rosie O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman due to controversy over her gun control stance.
September 2000: Launch of Rosie's McCall's magazine
In September 2000, Rosie O'Donnell partnered with the publishers of McCall's to revamp the magazine as Rosie's McCall's (or Rosie). In the September 2000 issue, she shared that she had struggled with depression her entire life and decided to start medications.
September 11, 2001: Response to September 11 Attacks
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosie O'Donnell encouraged support for New York City's performing arts and pledged $1 million for rescue efforts.
2001: Mia Removed From Home
In 2001, the State of Florida removed Mia from Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter's home, and O'Donnell has since worked extensively to bring an end to the Florida law prohibiting same-sex family adoption.
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. Rosie discussed her desire for an investigative piece on Florida's ban on gay adoption and spoke about two gay men in Florida who were at risk of losing their foster child due to the ban.
June 2002: Departure from Talk Show
In June 2002, Rosie O'Donnell left her talk show, which was later replaced by "The Caroline Rhea Show".
September 2002: O'Donnell quits Rosie magazine
In September 2002, Rosie O'Donnell quit Rosie magazine following a dispute over editorial control.
December 2002: Hosting Survivor: Marquesas Reunion
In December 2002, Rosie O'Donnell hosted the reunion special for Survivor: Marquesas.
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: End of The Rosie O'Donnell Show
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell's talk show, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", ended its run.
May 2003: Regular Columnist for The Advocate
In May 2003, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular columnist for The Advocate magazine.
2003: Partnering to launch R Family Vacations
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and Carpenter partnered with Gregg Kaminsky to launch R Family Vacations, catering to LGBT families.
2003: Creating Rosie's Broadway Kids
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: Bringing Taboo to Broadway
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway and hired Charles Busch to rewrite the book.
February 8, 2004: Taboo closed on Broadway
On February 8, 2004, the musical Taboo closed on Broadway after about 100 performances and "mostly bad" reviews.
July 11, 2004: First R Family Vacations cruise
On July 11, 2004, the first R Family Vacations cruise was held with 1600 passengers including 600 children. The company partnered with Provincetown's Family Pride to host discussions on LGBT families.
2005: Guest Star on Curb Your Enthusiasm
In 2005, Rosie O'Donnell was a guest star on an episode of HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm entitled "The Bowtie".
April 6, 2006: All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise debuted on HBO
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: Joins The View
In September 2006, Rosie O'Donnell replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator of The View, contributing to a rise in ratings.
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 work with Rosie's for All Kids Foundation.
November 2006: Opening of The Children's Plaza and Family Center
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.
December 2006: Donations from O'Donnell's contract
In December 2006, it was confirmed that $50 million from Rosie O'Donnell's five-year contract were donated in an irrevocable trust to charity. She is also reported to have contributed several hundred thousand dollars for rehabilitation therapies for war veterans.
2006: Moderator on The View
In 2006, Rosie O'Donnell became the moderator on the daytime talk show The View.
March 2007: O'Donnell starts video blog Jahero
In March 2007, Rosie O'Donnell launched a video blog called Jahero on her website Rosie.com. The blog, featuring O'Donnell, Helene Macaulay, and Janette Barber, answered fan questions, provided behind-the-scenes content, and served as a video diary. O'Donnell also won the "best celebrity blogger" category in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards.
April 19, 2007: Discussion of Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion Ban
On April 19, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and the panel on The View discussed the Supreme Court's ruling in Gonzales v. Carhart, which upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. O'Donnell questioned the number of Catholic Supreme Court judges and the separation of church and state, sparking controversy and accusations of anti-Catholic bigotry.
April 25, 2007: O'Donnell Leaving The View
On April 25, 2007, ABC announced that Rosie O'Donnell would be leaving The View before the end of the year. This decision was due to a failure to reach an agreement on a new contract.
May 2007: Partnership with Pogo.com 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 in which winners get to fly to New York and meet O'Donnell.
May 25, 2007: O'Donnell and ABC agree to end contract early
On May 25, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and ABC agreed to cut short her contract agreement, leading to her departure from The View. O'Donnell cited feeling set up by the show's director and producer as a contributing factor to her decision.
June 8, 2007: Guest on True Colors Tour
Beginning on June 8, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell was a guest on the True Colors Tour, which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada. The tour was sponsored by the gay cable channel Logo and headlined by Cyndi Lauper.
June 2007: O'Donnell declines The Price Is Right hosting job
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. She cited reluctance to move her family to California as the main reason for declining the opportunity.
2007: Donating profits from Celebrity Detox to Rosie's Broadway Kids
In 2007, All net profits from Rosie O'Donnell's book Celebrity Detox were donated to Rosie's Broadway Kids.
2007: Publication of Celebrity Detox
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell published her memoir Celebrity Detox.
2007: Controversies on The View
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell's run as moderator on The View included a public feud with Donald Trump and on-air disputes regarding the Iraq War.
2008: Appearance on True Colors Tour 2008
In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell appeared again on True Colors Tour 2008.
2008: O'Donnell stars in Lifetime film 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.
2008: The View wins Emmy for Autism episode
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 the writers.
October 2009: O'Donnell appears 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: Rosie Radio premieres on Sirius XM
In November 2009, "Rosie Radio", a daily two-hour show with Rosie O'Donnell discussing news and events, premiered on Sirius XM Radio. The show was launched after O'Donnell's appearance on Howard Stern's Sirius XM show.
2009: Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio
From 2009, Rosie O'Donnell hosted Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio.
May 2011: The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell premieres on OWN
In May 2011, The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In this show, Rosie O'Donnell moderated live panel discussions following premieres of OWN Documentaries.
June 2011: Rosie Radio ends on Sirius XM
In June 2011, Rosie Radio, Rosie O'Donnell's show on Sirius XM Radio, ended its run.
October 10, 2011: The Rosie Show debuts on OWN
On October 10, 2011, The Rosie Show debuted on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The show was taped at the Chicago studio formerly home to The Oprah Winfrey Show and received generally positive reviews.
October 2011: O'Donnell hosts Miss Representation special on OWN
In October 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted specials for Miss Representation on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
2011: The Rosie Show on OWN
From 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted a talk show on OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) called The Rosie Show.
2011: O'Donnell appears 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: OWN cancels The Rosie Show
On March 16, 2012, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) canceled The Rosie Show. The final show was taped on March 20.
March 29, 2012: The final episode of The Rosie Show airs on OWN
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, Rosie O'Donnell's talk show on OWN, "The Rosie Show", ended.
2013: O'Donnell appears in various television shows
In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in a number of television shows including Bomb Girls as reporter Dottie Shannon, Jake and the Never Land Pirates as the voice of the Bouncing Bumble Queen, Smash as herself, and Impractical Jokers as herself in an episode called "Everything's Rosie".
2014: O'Donnell joins The Fosters as Rita Hendricks
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell landed a reoccurring role as Rita Hendricks on The Fosters. She played a compassionate woman who works for the foster care system and becomes a mentor.
2014: Return to The View
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell returned to The View for a brief five-month run.
February 6, 2015: O'Donnell exits The View again
On February 6, 2015, Rosie O'Donnell's representatives confirmed that she would once again exit The View. She cited health and personal reasons for her departure.
April 2015: O'Donnell appears in Roseanne For President!
In April 2015, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in Roseanne For President!, a film about Roseanne Barr's 2012 presidential bid, alongside Michael Moore and Sandra Bernhard.
September 2015: O'Donnell appears in Everything Is Copy
In September 2015, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in the documentary Everything Is Copy, a film about Nora Ephron, to help "bring his mother into focus".
November 2016: Joining the cast of SMILF
In November 2016, it was announced that Rosie O'Donnell had joined the cast of the comedy pilot SMILF.
2016: CBS series Mom appearance and more
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in two episodes of the CBS series Mom as Jeanine, the ex-girlfriend of Bonnie. She was also a panelist on Match Game, competed on The $100,000 Pyramid against Kathy Najimy, and played the gym teacher in Hairspray Live!
November 5, 2017: SMILF series aired
On November 5, 2017, the series SMILF, featuring Rosie O'Donnell, aired.
2017: Starring in SMILF
From 2017, Rosie O'Donnell starred on the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
March 31, 2019: SMILF series ended
On March 31, 2019, the series SMILF, featuring Rosie O'Donnell, ended.
April 3, 2019: Joining the cast of 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
In 2019, Rosie O'Donnell finished starring on the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
June 15, 2021: Starring in American Gigolo reboot
On June 15, 2021, it was announced that Rosie O'Donnell would star as Detective Sunday in a series reboot of American Gigolo on Showtime, premiering in 2022.
2022: Voicing MTA announcements in Russian Doll and appearing 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 and appeared as Vi in the Amazon Prime Video series A League of Their Own (2022).
2023: Contributor to The Advocate
In 2023, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular contributor to The Advocate magazine.
Mentioned in this timeline
TikTok also known as Douyin in China is a social...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Oprah Winfrey is an influential American talk show host television...
Home Box Office HBO is an American pay television service...
George W Bush the rd U S President - is...
Amazon Prime is a subscription service offering a variety of...
Trending
2 hours ago Singapore Airlines Defends Air India Investment Amidst Profit Drop & Fuel Cost Concerns.
2 hours ago William Shatner's New Metal Album and David E Kelley Collaboration Revealed.
3 hours ago Wyndham Clark's Wild Mishit: Camera Destroyed, Fan Scare at PGA Championship
3 hours ago Joey Bosa's Free Agency Stalls with 49ers; Potential Landing Spots Emerge Following Update
4 hours ago Amal Clooney stuns in Saint-Tropez celebrating George's birthday with style and grace.
4 hours ago School leadership changes in Hamilton County and Seattle's top school district.
Popular
Thomas Massie is a Republican politician and engineer representing Kentucky's...
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...
Kash Patel is an American lawyer who currently serves as...
William Franklin Graham III known as Franklin Graham is an...
Paula White-Cain is a prominent American televangelist and key figure...
Marco Rubio is an American politician and diplomat currently serving...