Early Life and Education of Rosie O'Donnell: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Rosie O'Donnell, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Rosie O'Donnell is an American comedian, actress, and talk show host, who gained recognition on Star Search in 1984. Her career includes various television and film roles. From 1996 to 2002, she hosted the successful daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which earned her multiple Daytime Emmy Awards. During that time, she was known as the "Queen of Nice" and became known for her charitable work.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1933: Birth of Edward Joseph O'Donnell

In 1933, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, Rosie O'Donnell's father, was born.

1934: Birth of Roseann Teresa Murtha

In 1934, Roseann Teresa Murtha, Rosie O'Donnell's mother, was born.

March 21, 1962: Roseann O'Donnell's Birth

On March 21, 1962, Roseann O'Donnell was born. She would grow to become a talk show host, comedian, and actress.

March 17, 1973: Death of Rosie's Mother

On March 17, 1973, four days before Rosie O'Donnell's 11th birthday, her mother died from breast cancer.

1980: High School Graduation

In 1980, Rosie O'Donnell graduated from Commack High School.

1995: Adoption of Parker Jaren O'Donnell

In 1995, Rosie O'Donnell adopted her first child, Parker Jaren O'Donnell, as an infant.

May 1996: Seeding the For All Kids Foundation

In May 1996, Warner Books advanced Rosie O'Donnell $3 million to write a memoir, which she then used to seed her For All Kids Foundation.

1996: Purchase of "Pretty Penny"

In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell purchased "Pretty Penny", a Victorian river home in Nyack, New York, that had previously served as the home of Helen Hayes.

1997: Birth of Mia

In 1997, Mia was born and would later become a foster child in the care of Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter.

1997: Partnership with Listerine

In 1997, following Procter & Gamble's "unkissable" designation of O'Donnell in a Scope mouthwash promotion, O'Donnell partnered with Warner–Lambert's competitor Listerine. Listerine donated bottles of mouthwash to the studio audience and $1,000 to charity every time a hosted guest would kiss her.

1997: Rosie's For All Kids Foundation Awards 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.

May 2000: Bodyguard Applied for Firearm Permit

In May 2000, Rosie O'Donnell's bodyguard applied for a concealed firearm permit due to threats, with O'Donnell stating that she and her family needed protection.

September 2000: Launch of Rosie's McCall's Magazine

In September 2000, Rosie O'Donnell partnered with McCall's publishers to revamp the magazine as Rosie's McCall's, launching it as a competitor to Oprah Winfrey's 'O'. In the September 2000 issue, she revealed her lifelong struggle with depression and decision to start medication.

2000: Family takes in foster child Mia

In 2000, Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter took in Mia, born in 1997, as a foster child and expressed their intention to adopt her.

2000: Sale of "Pretty Penny"

In 2000, Rosie O'Donnell sold "Pretty Penny", her Victorian river home in Nyack, New York, to businessman Edward M. Kopko.

2000: Staph Infection

In the summer of 2000, Rosie O'Donnell suffered a staph infection after accidentally cutting her finger while removing a price tag from a fishing pole. The infection nearly led to amputation. She also acknowledged struggles with recurrent major depressive episodes during fall and winter months consistent with seasonal affective disorder.

September 11, 2001: Response to 9/11 Attacks

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosie O'Donnell encouraged support for New York City and the performing arts, donating 1 million dollars for aid.

2001: Mia Removed from Home

In 2001, the state of Florida removed Mia from Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter's home due to laws prohibiting same-sex family adoption. O'Donnell subsequently campaigned against this law.

March 14, 2002: Interview with Diane Sawyer on Primetime Thursday

On March 14, 2002, Diane Sawyer interviewed Rosie O'Donnell on PrimeTime Thursday. O'Donnell spoke about Florida's ban on gay adoption and her coming out drew criticism from some LGBTQ activists.

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September 2002: O'Donnell Quits Rosie's McCall's

In September 2002, Rosie O'Donnell quit Rosie's McCall's magazine following a dispute over editorial control, stating that she needed to have her vision represented if her name and brand were on the magazine.

2002: Coming Out as Lesbian

In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell publicly came out as a lesbian, becoming an advocate for lesbian rights and gay adoption.

2002: Person of the Year by The Advocate

In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell was named Person of the Year by The Advocate.

May 2003: Columnist for The Advocate

In May 2003, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular columnist for The Advocate magazine.

2003: Founding of Rosie's Broadway Kids

In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli O'Donnell collaborated with Lori Klinger to create Rosie's Broadway Kids, an organization dedicated to providing free instruction in music and dance to New York City public schools and students.

2003: Launch of R Family Vacations

In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli O'Donnell partnered with Gregg Kaminsky to launch R Family Vacations, which catered to LGBT families, offering "the very first all gay and lesbian family vacation packages."

2003: Brings Musical Taboo to Broadway

In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway, hiring Charles Busch to rewrite the book.

2003: Rosie Magazine Folds and Lawsuits Begin

In 2003, Rosie magazine folded. Later in 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and the publishers sued each other for breach of contract, leading to a trial that received press coverage. The case was eventually dismissed by the judge Ira Gammerman of the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, with neither side receiving damages.

February 26, 2004: Marriage to Kelli Carpenter

On February 26, 2004, Rosie O'Donnell married Kelli Carpenter in San Francisco after Mayor Gavin Newsom authorized same-sex marriage licenses. The marriage was seen as a defiance against President George W. Bush's stance on the Federal Marriage Amendment. The ceremony was conducted by San Francisco Treasurer Susan Leal and included a performance by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.

July 11, 2004: First R Family Vacations Cruise

On July 11, 2004, the first R Family Vacations cruise was held, hosting 1600 passengers, including 600 children, offering traditional entertainment, recreational activities and discussions on LGBT parenting.

August 2004: Marriage voided

In August 2004, Rosie O'Donnell's marriage to Kelli Carpenter was voided by the California Supreme Court along with thousands of other same-sex marriages.

November 2006: Response to Hurricane Katrina

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 and for-profit businesses to assist the families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

December 2006: Charitable Donations Confirmed

In December 2006, at a charity event, it was confirmed that $50 million from Rosie O'Donnell's five-year contract were donated in an irrevocable trust to charity.

May 2007: Partnership 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. EA committed $30,000 and also held a sweepstakes.

June 8, 2007: Appearance on True Colors Tour

On June 8, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell was a guest on the True Colors Tour, sponsored by Logo, that traveled through 15 cities. The True Colors Tour benefited the Human Rights Campaign, P-FLAG, and The Matthew Shepard Foundation.

2007: Carpenter moves out

In 2007, Kelli Carpenter moved out of the home she shared with Rosie O'Donnell.

2007: Controversial Opinion on 9/11

In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell voiced her opinion concerning the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, questioning the NIST conclusions and alleging U.S. government involvement in the attacks.

2007: Donation of Celebrity Detox Profits

In 2007, all net profits from Rosie O'Donnell's book 'Celebrity Detox' were donated to Rosie's Broadway Kids.

Celebrity Detox: (the fame game)

Check it on Amazon

2008: Appearance on True Colors Tour 2008

In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell appeared again on the True Colors Tour.

2008: Denial of Alcoholism and Temporary Abstinence

In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell denied being an alcoholic and stated she temporarily gave up alcohol to lose weight.

November 2009: Disclosure of Carpenter moving out

In November 2009, Rosie O'Donnell disclosed that Kelli Carpenter had moved out of their home in 2007.

December 5, 2011: Engagement to Michelle Rounds announced

On December 5, 2011, Rosie O'Donnell announced her engagement to Michelle Rounds during a taping of "The Rosie Show."

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2011: Parker lobbies to attend Valley Forge Military Academy

In 2011, Parker Jaren O'Donnell successfully lobbied his mother, Rosie O'Donnell, to send him to Valley Forge Military Academy.

June 9, 2012: Marriage to Michelle Rounds

On June 9, 2012, Rosie O'Donnell and Michelle Rounds married in a private ceremony in New York.

August 2012: Heart Attack and Treatment

In mid-August 2012, Rosie O'Donnell suffered a heart attack. She had a 99% blockage in an artery, which required a stent. She then adopted a whole foods, plant-based diet as recommended by Caldwell Esselstyn.

January 9, 2013: Adoption of Baby Girl

On January 9, 2013, Rosie O'Donnell and Michelle Rounds announced they had adopted a baby girl.

February 6, 2015: Exit from The View Announced

On February 6, 2015, it was confirmed that Rosie O'Donnell would once again exit The View, citing health concerns and a need to focus on her personal life.

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February 2015: Filing for Divorce from Michelle Rounds

In February 2015, Rosie O'Donnell filed for divorce from Michelle Rounds after two years of marriage.

August 2015: Daughter Chelsea Reported Missing

In August 2015, Rosie O'Donnell tweeted that her 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea, went missing from their home in Nyack, New York, along with her therapy dog. She was found a week later in Barnegat, New Jersey.

October 2015: Divorce Settlement and Custody

In October 2015, Rosie O'Donnell's divorce from Michelle Rounds was settled, with O'Donnell being awarded full custody of their child.

September 15, 2017: Death of Michelle Rounds

On September 15, 2017, Michelle Rounds, Rosie O'Donnell's ex-wife, died by suicide.

September 2024: Chelsea Arrested in Wisconsin

In September 2024, Chelsea O'Donnell was arrested in Marinette County, Wisconsin, on charges involving child neglect, domestic abuse, maintaining a drug trafficking facility, possession of methamphetamine, illegally obtaining prescriptions and drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor possession of THC.

October 2024: Chelsea Arrested Again in Wisconsin

In October 2024, Chelsea O'Donnell was arrested again, this time in Oconto County, Wisconsin, and subsequently charged with bail jumping, felony possession of methamphetamine and narcotic drugs, and misdemeanor counts involving possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting or obstructing an officer.

November 2024: Chelsea Arrested for a Third Time in Wisconsin

In November 2024, Chelsea O'Donnell was arrested for a third time in Wisconsin, in Marinette County, on two felony counts of bail jumping, two felony counts of possession of methamphetamine, and a felony count of possession of narcotic drugs.

March 2025: Move to Ireland

In March 2025, Rosie O'Donnell revealed in a TikTok video that she had moved to Ireland with her child, Clay, in January of that year, citing political reasons.