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 who gained prominence through 'Star Search' in 1984. She achieved widespread recognition hosting 'The Rosie O'Donnell Show' from 1996 to 2002, earning multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and the nickname 'Queen of Nice' for her positive and philanthropic image. Prior to her talk show success, she appeared in various TV and film roles, solidifying her place in the entertainment industry.
1979: Stand-up Comedian
From 1979, Rosie O'Donnell toured as a stand-up comedian in clubs.
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 a Veejay
In 1988, Rosie O'Donnell joined VH1's lineup of veejays and started hosting Stand-up Spotlight.
1992: 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: Advance for Memoir Seeds 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 her daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, earning the title "The Queen of Nice".
1997: Release of Kids are Punny: Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show
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: Response to 'Unkissable' Designation
In 1997, after Procter & Gamble designated Rosie O'Donnell as "unkissable" in a promotion for Scope mouthwash, she 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, resulting in over $350,000 donated.
1997: Establishment of Rosie's For All Kids Foundation
Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in Early Childhood Care and Education program grants to over 900 nonprofit organizations.
1998: Release of Kids are Punny 2
In 1998, Rosie O'Donnell released "Kids are Punny 2: More Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show", a sequel to her previous book.
April 19, 1999: Advocating for Gun Control
On April 19, 1999, following the Columbine shootings, Rosie O'Donnell stated on her talk show that private gun ownership should be illegal.
May 1999: Interviewing Tom Selleck About NRA
In May 1999, Rosie O'Donnell interviewed Tom Selleck about his work for the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) on her talk show.
1999: Discontinuing Contract with Kmart
In 1999, Rosie O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart due to controversy over her gun control stance and Kmart's sale of firearms.
September 2000: Rosie's McCall's Magazine Launch and Depression Revelation
In September 2000, Rosie O'Donnell partnered with McCall's to revamp the magazine as "Rosie's McCall's". 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 9/11 Attacks
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosie O'Donnell donated $1 million to aid in rescue efforts and encouraged others to support New York City's performing arts.
2001: Removal of Mia from O'Donnell's home
In 2001, the State of Florida removed Mia from Rosie O'Donnell's home, leading to O'Donnell's activism against 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 about Florida's ban on gay adoption and O'Donnell's life. She discussed a case involving two gay men in Florida who were at risk of losing their foster child due to the state's ban on gay adoption.
April 2002: Release of Find Me
In April 2002, Rosie O'Donnell released "Find Me", a combination of memoir, mystery, and detective story focused on reuniting birth mothers with their children, reaching number two on The New York Times bestseller list.
September 2002: O'Donnell Quits Rosie's Magazine
In September 2002, Rosie O'Donnell quit "Rosie's McCall's" magazine following a dispute over editorial control.
2002: Leaving Talk Show
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell left her talk show, and it was 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 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 to promote charity projects.
2002: Person of the Year
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell was named Person of the Year by The Advocate magazine for her bravery and journey.
2002: End of The Rosie O'Donnell Show
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell's daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, ended.
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: Partnership 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: Rosie's Broadway Kids Founded
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli O'Donnell collaborated to create Rosie's Broadway Kids, dedicated to providing free instruction in music and dance to New York City public schools or students.
2003: O'Donnell Brings Taboo to Broadway
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical "Taboo" to Broadway, hiring Charles Busch to re-write the book.
2003: Rosie Magazine Folds and Lawsuits Begin
In 2003, Rosie magazine folded, and Rosie O'Donnell and the publishers sued each other for breach of contract. The trial received considerable press coverage.
February 8, 2004: Taboo Closes 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, featuring traditional entertainment and discussions on LGBT parenting.
2005: The View Ratings
Compared to 2005, in 2006 ratings for The View rose by 27%, averaging 3.4 million viewers.
April 6, 2006: HBO Debuts All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise
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: Joining The View
In September 2006, Rosie O'Donnell replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator of 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 charitable work through Rosie's for All Kids Foundation.
November 2006: Opening of The Children's Plaza and Family 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, an emergency response initiative of Rosie's For All Kids Foundation to assist families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
December 2006: $50 Million Donated to Charity
In December 2006, Elizabeth Birch 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 became the moderator on the daytime talk show The View, which led 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 herself, Helene Macaulay, and Janette Barber, answering fans' questions and providing behind-the-scenes information. She later won the 'Best Celebrity Blogger' category in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards.
April 25, 2007: Departure from The View
On April 25, 2007, ABC announced 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: Partnership with Pogo.com to Raise Money for Charity
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 more money being raised based on playing time on certain games.
May 25, 2007: Contract Agreement Cut Short
On May 25, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and ABC agreed to cut short her contract agreement for The View. Her arguments with Elisabeth Hasselbeck had resulted in high ratings for the show.
June 8, 2007: Guest Appearance on True Colors Tour
Beginning on June 8, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell was a guest on the multi-artist True Colors Tour, sponsored by the gay cable channel Logo, which traveled through 15 cities to benefit the Human Rights Campaign, P-FLAG, and The Matthew Shepard Foundation.
June 2007: Declined Hosting 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 CBS's game show The Price Is Right, citing her reluctance to move her family to California.
October 2007: Release of 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: Controversies on The View
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell experienced a controversial run as moderator on The View, including public disputes with Donald Trump regarding the Bush administration's policies on the Iraq War.
2007: Publication of Celebrity Detox
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell published another memoir, Celebrity Detox.
2007: Donation of 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: Appears on True Colors Tour
In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell appeared again on True Colors Tour.
2008: Starred 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.
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.
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 on Sirius XM Radio
From 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 OWN, featuring Rosie O'Donnell moderating live panel discussions after premieres of OWN documentaries. She also hosted specials for "Becoming Chaz".
June 2011: End of Rosie Radio
In June 2011, the 'Rosie Radio' show on Sirius XM Radio ended.
October 10, 2011: Debut of The Rosie Show
On October 10, 2011, "The Rosie Show" debuted on OWN. It was taped at the Chicago studio formerly home to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and received generally positive reviews.
October 2011: Hosted Miss Representation Special
In October 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted a special for "Miss Representation" on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
2011: Hosting The Rosie Show on OWN
In 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted a short-lived talk show on OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network), 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, OWN canceled "The Rosie Show".
March 29, 2012: Final Airing of The Rosie Show
On March 29, 2012, the final episode of "The Rosie Show" aired on OWN.
2012: End of The Rosie Show
In 2012, Rosie O'Donnell's talk show on OWN, The Rosie Show, ended.
2013: Television Appearances in Bomb Girls, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Smash, and Impractical Jokers
In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in a number of television shows. She played Dottie Shannon in an episode of Bomb Girls, voiced the Bouncing Bumble Queen in Jake and the Never Land Pirates, appeared in two episodes of Smash as herself, and appeared 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", playing a compassionate woman who works for the foster care system. The character lasted through their 2016 season.
2014: Return to The View
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell returned to The View but left after a brief five-month run due to personal issues.
February 6, 2015: Second Exit from The View
On February 6, 2015, representatives for Rosie O'Donnell confirmed she would exit The View again. O'Donnell cited health reasons and the need to fix her personal life as factors in her decision.
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, to help bring his mother into focus.
November 2016: Joined Cast of SMILF Pilot
In November 2016, Showtime announced that Rosie O'Donnell had joined the cast of the comedy pilot SMILF.
2016: Continued role in The Fosters
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell continued in her recurring role as Rita Hendricks on the show 'The Fosters'.
2016: Roles in Mom, Match Game, The $100,000 Pyramid, and Hairspray Live!
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell played Jeanine on the CBS series Mom, was a regular panelist on Match Game, competed on The $100,000 Pyramid, and played the gym teacher in Hairspray Live!
November 5, 2017: SMILF Aired
On November 5, 2017, the TV series SMILF began airing, with Rosie O'Donnell receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of Tutu.
2017: Starring on SMILF
From 2017, Rosie O'Donnell starred on the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
March 31, 2019: End of SMILF Series
On March 31, 2019, the TV series SMILF ended after airing since November 5, 2017. Rosie O'Donnell played Tutu and received critical acclaim for her performance.
April 3, 2019: Joined 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".
June 15, 2021: Rosie O'Donnell to Star 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, which would premiere in 2022.
2022: Appearances in Russian Doll and 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. She also 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.
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