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 to film and television. Her daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996-2002), earned her Daytime Emmy Awards and the nickname "Queen of Nice" due to her positive demeanor and philanthropic endeavors.
1979: Stand-up Comedy Tour Begins
In 1979, O'Donnell began touring as a stand-up comedian in clubs.
1984: Breakthrough on Star Search
In 1984, O'Donnell had her first big break on the television series Star Search.
1986: Series Debut on Gimme a Break!
In 1986, O'Donnell made her series debut as Nell Harper's neighbor on Gimme a Break!
1988: Joins VH1 as Veejay
In 1988, O'Donnell joined VH1 as a veejay and hosted Stand-up Spotlight.
1992: Film Debut in A League of Their Own and starring Stand By Your Man
In 1992, O'Donnell starred in Stand By Your Man, appeared in A League of Their Own, alongside Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna.
May 1996: Book Advance and Foundation Seed
In May 1996, Warner Books gave Rosie O'Donnell a $3 million advance for her memoir, which she used to start her For All Kids Foundation to establish national day care standards.
1996: Hosting The Rosie O'Donnell Show
In 1996, O'Donnell began hosting her daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, earning the title "The Queen of Nice".
1997: PR Blunder and Mouthwash Promotion
In 1997, Procter & Gamble's "unkissable" designation of Rosie O'Donnell for Scope mouthwash was named a PR blunder. O'Donnell then partnered with Listerine, who donated to charity for every kiss she received on her show.
1997: Release of Children's Book
In 1997, Rosie O'Donnell released her first 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: Foundation's Grant Distribution
Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, has awarded over $22 million in Early Childhood Care and Education program grants to over 900 nonprofit organizations.
1998: Release of 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. An HBO special was also made based on the books.
April 19, 1999: Gun Control Advocacy
On April 19, 1999, during her talk show broadcast, O'Donnell became an outspoken supporter of gun control following the Columbine shootings and stated strong opinions on gun ownership.
1999: Contract Discontinuation with Kmart
In 1999, O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman due to controversy over her gun control stance.
September 2000: Magazine Launch and Depression Revelation
In September 2000, Rosie O'Donnell's revamped magazine, Rosie's McCall's, covered topics like breast cancer and foster care. In the September 2000 issue, Rosie shared her lifelong struggle with depression and decision to start medication.
September 11, 2001: Response to 9/11 Attacks
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, O'Donnell encouraged support for New York City's tourism and performing arts and pledged a $1 million donation 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 her views on Florida's ban on gay adoption. She also spoke about two gay men in Florida who faced having a foster child removed from their home because of this law.
April 2002: Release of 'Find Me'
In April 2002, Rosie O'Donnell released 'Find Me,' a book combining memoir, mystery, and a detective story focused on reuniting birth mothers with their children. It became a New York Times bestseller.
September 2002: Resignation from Rosie's Magazine
In September 2002, Rosie O'Donnell quit Rosie's McCall's magazine following a dispute over editorial control, stating her vision was crucial for the magazine's branding.
2002: Departure from Talk Show
In 2002, O'Donnell left her talk show, which was then replaced by The Caroline Rhea Show.
2002: Coming Out as Lesbian
In 2002, O'Donnell publicly came out as a lesbian and became an advocate for lesbian rights and gay adoption issues.
2002: Publication of Find Me
In 2002, O'Donnell published her memoir Find Me, using its advance to establish her For All foundation.
2002: Person of the Year Award
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell was named Person of the Year by The Advocate magazine for her contributions and advocacy.
May 2003: Columnist for The Advocate
In May 2003, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular columnist for The Advocate magazine, adding her voice to the publication.
2003: Revival of Musical Taboo on Broadway
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway, hiring Charles Busch to rewrite the script.
2003: Creation of Rosie's Broadway Kids
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell collaborated to create Rosie's Broadway Kids, providing free music and dance instruction to New York City public schools or students.
2003: Partnership for LGBT Family Vacations
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell partnered with Gregg Kaminsky to launch R Family Vacations, offering vacation packages for LGBT families. She initiated the idea and came up with the name R Family Vacations.
2003: Magazine's End and Lawsuits
In 2003, Rosie magazine folded, leading to breach of contract lawsuits between Rosie O'Donnell and the publishers. A trial ensued, receiving considerable press coverage, and was eventually dismissed by the judge Ira Gammerman of the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan.
February 8, 2004: Closing of Taboo on Broadway
On February 8, 2004, the musical Taboo closed on Broadway after approximately 100 performances and negative reviews.
July 11, 2004: Inaugural R Family Vacation Cruise
On July 11, 2004, the first R Family Vacations cruise set sail with 1600 passengers, including 600 children, featuring entertainment, activities, and discussions on LGBT parenting.
2005: Comparison of Viewership
Compared to 2005, The View's total viewership increased by 15% during O'Donnell's first year on the show.
April 6, 2006: HBO Documentary Debut
On April 6, 2006, All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise, a documentary film about the R Family Vacations trip, debuted on HBO and was nominated for three Emmy Awards.
September 2006: Joins The View as Co-host
In September 2006, O'Donnell replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator of The View, increasing the show's ratings.
October 30, 2006: Honored by NYSPCC
On October 30, 2006, Rosie O'Donnell was honored by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) for her contributions through Rosie's for All Kids Foundation.
November 2006: Foundation's Emergency Response Initiative
In November 2006, Nightline aired a report about The Children's Plaza and Family Center, an emergency response initiative by Rosie's For All Kids Foundation at a FEMA trailer park in Louisiana for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
December 2006: Criticism of Donald Trump
In December 2006, Rosie O'Donnell criticized Donald Trump for reinstating Miss USA Tara Conner after Conner violated pageant guidelines, accusing Trump of using the situation for publicity. O'Donnell questioned Trump's moral authority due to his past marital affairs and bankruptcies, leading to a media feud where Trump threatened to sue O'Donnell.
December 2006: Charitable Donations Confirmed
In December 2006, it was confirmed that $50 million from Rosie O'Donnell's five-year contract had been donated to charity in an irrevocable trust, with additional contributions for war veterans' rehabilitation.
2006: Moderator on The View
In 2006, O'Donnell became a moderator on The View, leading to controversies and public feuds.
March 2007: Launch of Video Blog Jahero
In March 2007, Rosie O'Donnell started a video blog called Jahero on her website Rosie.com, featuring her, her hair and makeup artist Helene Macaulay, and her writer Janette Barber, answering fan questions and providing behind-the-scenes information. O'Donnell won the "best celebrity blogger" category in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards.
April 25, 2007: Departure Announcement 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 a failure to reach an agreement on a new contract.
May 2007: Fundraising Effort with Pogo.com
In May 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and Pogo.com announced a joint effort to raise money for Rosie's All Kids Foundation, with EA committing $30,000 and additional funds based on playing time.
May 25, 2007: Contract Agreement Cut Short with ABC
On May 25, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and ABC agreed to cut short her contract agreement for The View, following arguments and high ratings. O'Donnell was then replaced by Whoopi Goldberg.
June 8, 2007: Guest Appearance 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 and featured various artists. Profits from the tour benefited 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 host of CBS's The Price Is Right, citing reluctance to move her family to California.
October 2007: Release of Celebrity Detox
In October 2007, Rosie O'Donnell released her second memoir, Celebrity Detox, focusing on her struggles with leaving fame behind after exiting The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The View.
2007: Publication of Celebrity Detox
In 2007, O'Donnell released her memoir Celebrity Detox.
2007: Controversies on The View
In 2007, O'Donnell's controversial run as moderator on The View continued, marked by public disputes, including one with Donald Trump.
2007: Celebrity Detox Profits 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.
2008: True Colors Tour Appearance
In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell appeared again on the True Colors Tour.
2008: Starring in America
In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell starred in and executive produced "America", a Lifetime channel film where she played the therapist of a 16-year-old boy aging out of foster care, based on the E.R. Frank book of the same name.
2008: Emmy Win 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.
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 on Sirius XM Radio, premiered.
2009: Hosting Rosie Radio
In 2009, O'Donnell began hosting Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio.
May 2011: Premiere of The Doc Club
In May 2011, The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), where O'Donnell moderated panel discussions following premieres of OWN Documentaries. She also hosted specials for Becoming Chaz in May 2011.
June 2011: End of Rosie Radio
In June 2011, Rosie O'Donnell's radio show, "Rosie Radio" on Sirius XM Radio, ended.
October 10, 2011: Debut of The Rosie Show
On October 10, 2011, The Rosie Show debuted on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), taping at the former studio of The Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago, receiving generally positive reviews.
October 2011: Hosting Miss Representation Special
In October 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted a special for 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 during a taping of The Rosie Show.
2011: Hosting The Rosie Show on OWN
In 2011, O'Donnell hosted a second talk show, The Rosie Show, on OWN.
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, with the last show taped on March 20.
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: The Rosie Show Ended
In 2012, The Rosie Show ended its short run on OWN.
2012: Roseanne Barr's Presidential Bid
Rosie O'Donnell appeared in a film about Roseanne Barr's 2012 presidential bid
2013: Television Appearances in Bomb Girls, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Smash, and Impractical Jokers
In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in various 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.
2014: Return to The View
In 2014, O'Donnell returned to The View but left after five months due to personal issues.
2014: Recurring Role on The Fosters
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell landed a recurring role as Rita Hendricks on The Fosters, playing a compassionate woman working for the foster care system, lasting through the 2016 season.
February 6, 2015: Exit from The View
On February 6, 2015, Rosie O'Donnell's representatives confirmed her exit from The View, citing health and personal life reasons.
April 2015: Appearance 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: 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.
November 2016: Joining the Cast of SMILF
In November 2016, Showtime announced that Rosie O'Donnell had joined the cast of the comedy pilot SMILF.
2016: Appearances in Mom, Match Game, The $100,000 Pyramid, and Hairspray Live!
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in the CBS series Mom as Jeanine, was a regular panelist on Match Game, competed on The $100,000 Pyramid, and played the gym teacher in Hairspray Live!
2016: The Fosters Season Finale
Rosie O'Donnell's character, Rita Hendricks, lasted through the 2016 season of The Fosters.
November 5, 2017: Premiere of SMILF
On November 5, 2017, the series SMILF aired, with Rosie O'Donnell receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of Tutu.
2017: Starring in SMILF
In 2017, O'Donnell began starring in the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
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, O'Donnell concluded her starring role on the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
June 15, 2021: Starred in American Gigolo reboot
On June 15, 2021, it was announced that Rosie O'Donnell would star as Detective Sunday, alongside Jon Bernthal, in a series reboot of American Gigolo on Showtime, premiering in 2022.
2022: Voice Acting and TV Appearances in 2022
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, and appeared as Vi in the Amazon Prime Video series A League of Their Own (2022).
2023: Contributor to The Advocate
In 2023, O'Donnell started as a regular contributor to The Advocate magazine, further cementing her role as an advocate.
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