Rosie O'Donnell is a multifaceted American entertainer, known as a talk show host, comedian, and actress. She gained initial recognition on Star Search in 1984 before transitioning to television and film roles. O'Donnell achieved widespread fame as the host of The Rosie O'Donnell Show from 1996 to 2002, earning Daytime Emmy Awards and the moniker "Queen of Nice" due to her positive demeanor and charitable work. Her career encompasses stand-up comedy, acting, and hosting, establishing her as a prominent figure in American entertainment.
In 1933, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, Rosie O'Donnell's father, was born. He later married Roseann Teresa Murtha.
In 1934, Roseann Teresa Murtha, Rosie O'Donnell's mother, was born. She later married Edward Joseph O'Donnell.
On March 21, 1962, Roseann O'Donnell was born in Commack, New York, the third of five children of Roseann Teresa (née Murtha) and Edward Joseph O'Donnell.
On March 17, 1973, four days before O'Donnell's 11th birthday, her mother died from breast cancer, an event that significantly impacted her life.
In 1973, Roseann Teresa O'Donnell, Rosie O'Donnell's mother, passed away, impacting Rosie's early life.
From 1979, Rosie O'Donnell toured as a stand-up comedian in clubs, honing her comedic skills and building her early career.
In 1980, after being voted homecoming queen, prom queen, senior class president, and class clown, Rosie O'Donnell graduated from Commack High School.
In 1984, Rosie O'Donnell got her first big break on Star Search, a television show that showcased up-and-coming talent.
In 1986, Rosie O'Donnell made her series debut as Nell Harper's neighbor on Gimme a Break!, marking her entry into television sitcoms.
In 1988, Rosie O'Donnell joined music video station VH1's lineup of veejays, starting her hosting duties with Stand-up Spotlight.
In 1992, Rosie O'Donnell starred in A League of Their Own, marking her feature film debut, alongside Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna.
In May 1996, Warner Books advanced O'Donnell $3 million to write a memoir, which she used to seed her For All Kids Foundation to help institute national standards for day care across the country.
In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell began hosting her daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which proved successful and earned her the title "The Queen of Nice."
In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell began hosting her own syndicated daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which went on to win several Daytime Emmy Awards.
In 1997, Procter & Gamble's designation of O'Donnell as "unkissable" in a promotion for Scope mouthwash was awarded top prize as a PR blunder. O'Donnell then partnered with Listerine, who donated to charity every time a guest kissed her, raising over $350,000.
In 1997, Rosie 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.
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.
In 1998, Rosie released the sequel to her children's book, titled Kids are Punny 2: More Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show.
On April 19, 1999, during her talk show, Rosie O'Donnell advocated for stricter gun control, stating her controversial views on gun ownership.
In May 1999, Rosie O'Donnell interviewed Tom Selleck on her talk show, questioning him about his involvement with the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and his views on assault weapons.
Later in 1999, Rosie O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokesperson, amid controversy over her gun control stance and Kmart's sale of firearms.
In May 2000, Rosie O'Donnell's bodyguard applied for a concealed firearm permit due to threats against her and her family.
In September 2000, Rosie O'Donnell launched Rosie's McCall's magazine as a competitor to Oprah Winfrey's O magazine. In the September 2000 issue, Rosie shared her lifelong struggle with depression and decision to start medication.
In 2000, O'Donnell sold "Pretty Penny", her Victorian river home in Nyack, New York, to Edward M. Kopko.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosie O'Donnell encouraged support for New York City's performing arts and donated $1 million for aid in rescue efforts.
On January 31, 2002, Rosie O'Donnell appeared on the sitcom Will & Grace, playing a lesbian mother.
On March 14, 2002, Diane Sawyer interviewed O'Donnell in an episode of PrimeTime Thursday. O'Donnell chose to talk to Sawyer because she wanted an investigative piece on Florida's ban on gay adoption.
In April 2002, O'Donnell released Find Me, a memoir that reached number two on The New York Times bestseller list.
In September 2002, O'Donnell quit Rosie's McCall's magazine due to a dispute over editorial control, stating that her name and brand must align with her vision.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell came out as a lesbian, becoming an outspoken advocate for lesbian rights and gay adoption issues.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell left her talk show, marking the end of an era, after which it was replaced by The Caroline Rhea Show.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell published her memoir, Find Me, using the $3 million advance to establish her For All foundation and promote other charity projects.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell's syndicated daytime talk show, 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.
Rosie O'Donnell was named 2002's Person of the Year by The Advocate.
On February 24, 2003, during an episode of Phil Donahue's talk show, Rosie O'Donnell made controversial comments about the Catholic Church and the sexual abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Boston.
In May 2003, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular columnist for The Advocate magazine.
In 2003, O'Donnell and Carpenter partnered with Gregg Kaminsky to launch R Family Vacations, catering to LGBT families.
In 2003, O'Donnell and Kelli O'Donnell collaborated with Lori Klinger to create Rosie's Broadway Kids, providing free music and dance instruction to New York City public schools.
In 2003, O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway, hiring Charles Busch to rewrite the book. The show closed after about 100 performances and "mostly bad" reviews.
In 2003, Rosie magazine folded. Later that year, O'Donnell and the publishers sued each other for breach of contract. The case was dismissed by the judge, Ira Gammerman of the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, ruling that neither side should receive damages.
On February 8, 2004, the musical Taboo, which Rosie O'Donnell brought to Broadway, closed after about 100 performances.
On February 26, 2004, Rosie O'Donnell married Kelli Carpenter in San Francisco. This decision was motivated by then-President George W. Bush's stance on the Federal Marriage Amendment and Rosie's desire to advocate for gay marriage.
On July 11, 2004, the first R Family Vacations cruise was held with 1600 passengers, including 600 children, featuring entertainment and discussions on LGBT parenting.
In August 2004, Rosie O'Donnell's marriage to Kelli Carpenter was voided by the California Supreme Court.
In 2005, prior to Rosie O'Donnell joining The View, the show had lower average viewership numbers, setting the stage for the ratings increase her arrival would bring.
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.
In September 2006, Rosie O'Donnell replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator of The View, bringing significant changes to the show's dynamics and ratings.
On October 30, 2006, Rosie O'Donnell was honored by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for her contributions through Rosie's for All Kids Foundation.
In November 2006, Nightline aired a video report about the opening of The Children's Plaza and Family Center in Renaissance Village, Louisiana, an emergency response initiative of Rosie's For All Kids Foundation to assist families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
In November 2006, Rosie O'Donnell commented on Kelly Ripa's complaints about Clay Aiken on Live with Regis and Kelly, sparking a discussion about homophobia and the context of the incident.
On December 5, 2006, Rosie O'Donnell imitated Chinese newscasters using a series of "ching chongs", which led to disappointment expressed by Vanessa Hua from the San Francisco Chronicle, considering O'Donnell's support for LGBT rights.
In December 2006, Elizabeth Birch confirmed at a charity event that $50 million from O'Donnell's contract were donated in an irrevocable trust to charity.
In December 2006, Rosie O'Donnell criticized Donald Trump for reinstating Miss USA Tara Conner after she violated pageant guidelines. O'Donnell questioned Trump's moral authority, citing his marital affairs and bankruptcies. This led to a media blitz by Trump threatening to sue O'Donnell, although he never did.
In 2006, Rosie O'Donnell began a controversial run as the moderator on the daytime talk show The View.
In March 2007, Rosie O'Donnell launched a video blog called Jahero on her website Rosie.com, where she answered fan questions and provided behind-the-scenes information. The blog became popular, featuring O'Donnell, her makeup artist Helene Macaulay, and writer Janette Barber. O'Donnell also won the "best celebrity blogger" category in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards.
On April 19, 2007, The View panel, including Rosie O'Donnell, discussed the Supreme Court's ruling in Gonzales v. Carhart, leading to controversial statements about religion and politics.
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.
In May 2007, 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 raised based on playing time on certain games. A sweepstakes was also held for winners to meet O'Donnell.
In May 2007, Time magazine included Rosie O'Donnell in their annual list of the 100 most influential people. Additionally, she was named "The Most Annoying Celebrity of 2007" by a PARADE reader's poll.
On May 17, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell questioned the Iraq War and criticized the U.S. media's coverage compared to the rest of the world, leading to heated exchanges with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. O'Donnell rhetorically asked who the terrorists were considering the civilian deaths in Iraq.
On May 23, 2007, a heated discussion ensued between Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View, stemming from O'Donnell's perception that Hasselbeck was unwilling to defend her from criticisms. This disagreement contributed to O'Donnell's decision to leave the show.
On May 25, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and ABC agreed to cut short her contract agreement on The View. This followed heated arguments and O'Donnell's feeling that the show's production was setting her up negatively. Her arguments with Hasselbeck brought the show its best ratings ever. O'Donnell was replaced by Whoopi Goldberg as the moderator.
On June 8, 2007, O'Donnell was a guest on the True Colors Tour, which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada to benefit the Human Rights Campaign, P-FLAG, and The Matthew Shepard Foundation.
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. Despite Barker's endorsement, O'Donnell noted that she was reluctant to move her family to California.
In October 2007, Rosie O'Donnell released Celebrity Detox, her second memoir, focusing on her struggles with leaving fame behind, including her exits from The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The View.
In 2007, Kelli Carpenter moved out of the home she shared with Rosie O'Donnell.
In 2007, O'Donnell announced her opinion concerning the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, in which she questioned the NIST conclusions, and alleged the U.S. government's involvement in the attacks.
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell authored another memoir, Celebrity Detox, adding to her list of written works.
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell's controversial run as moderator on The View continued, marked by a public feud with Donald Trump and on-air disputes regarding the Bush administration's policies with the Iraq War.
In 2007, all net profits from O'Donnell's book Celebrity Detox were donated to Rosie's Broadway Kids.
In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell appeared again on the True Colors Tour.
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. In the film, she plays the therapist of a 16-year-old boy aging out of the foster care system.
In 2008, The View won an Emmy for "Outstanding Special Class Writing" for a specially themed Autism episode that Rosie O'Donnell helped create. The award was accepted by Janette Barber, O'Donnell's longtime friend and producer/writer of The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
In October 2009, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in the original cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore.
In November 2009, "Rosie Radio", a daily two-hour show with Rosie O'Donnell discussing news and events, premiered on Sirius XM Radio. O'Donnell was approached by the company after she appeared on Howard Stern's show.
In November 2009, Rosie O'Donnell disclosed that Kelli Carpenter had moved out of their home in 2007.
From 2009, Rosie O'Donnell hosted Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio.
In May 2011, The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). On the show, Rosie O'Donnell moderated live panel discussions following premieres of OWN Documentaries.
In June 2011, the radio show "Rosie Radio" ended its run on Sirius XM Radio.
On October 10, 2011, The Rosie Show debuted on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), taping at the Chicago studio that was formerly home to The Oprah Winfrey Show. The show received generally positive reviews.
In October 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted specials for Miss Representation on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
On December 5, 2011, Rosie O'Donnell announced her engagement to Michelle Rounds during a taping of The Rosie Show.
In 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted a second talk show, The Rosie Show, on OWN.
On March 16, 2012, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) canceled The Rosie Show, with the last show taped on March 20, on the eve of Rosie O'Donnell's 50th birthday.
On March 29, 2012, the final episode of The Rosie Show aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
On June 9, 2012, Rosie O'Donnell married Michelle Rounds in a private ceremony in New York.
In mid-August 2012, Rosie O'Donnell suffered a heart attack and had a stent inserted. She later promoted a whole foods, plant-based diet to reverse her heart disease.
In 2012, Roseanne Barr made a bid for presidency. The events were later captured in the documentary 'Roseanne For President!' released in April 2015, in which Rosie O'Donnell made a cameo appearance alongside Michael Moore and Sandra Bernhard.
In 2012, The Rosie Show on OWN ended its short run.
On January 9, 2013, Rosie O'Donnell and Michelle Rounds announced they had adopted a baby girl.
In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in several 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".
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell landed a recurring role as Rita Hendricks on The Fosters, playing a compassionate woman working in the foster care system and mentoring a member of the Foster family.
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell returned to The View, leaving after a brief five-month run due to personal issues.
On February 6, 2015, Rosie O'Donnell confirmed her second exit from The View, citing health reasons and the need to focus on her personal life.
In February 2015, Rosie O'Donnell filed for divorce from Michelle Rounds after two years of marriage.
In April 2015, Rosie O'Donnell made a cameo appearance in Roseanne For President!, a documentary film about Roseanne Barr's 2012 presidential bid. O'Donnell appeared alongside Michael Moore and Sandra Bernhard.
In August 2015, Rosie O'Donnell tweeted that her 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea, had gone missing from their home in Nyack, New York, along with her therapy dog.
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 helped to "bring his mother into focus" along with other celebrities.
In October 2015, Rosie O'Donnell's divorce from Michelle Rounds was settled, with O'Donnell awarded full custody of their child.
In 2015, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, Rosie O'Donnell's father, passed away.
In November 2016, Rosie O'Donnell joined the cast of the comedy pilot SMILF, which aired from November 5, 2017, until March 31, 2019. O'Donnell received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Tutu.
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in two episodes of the CBS series Mom, playing Jeanine, Bonnie's ex-girlfriend. She was also a regular panelist on Match Game, appeared in an episode of The $100,000 Pyramid, and played the role of the gym teacher in Hairspray Live!
Rosie O'Donnell's character, Rita Hendricks, lasted through the 2016 season of The Fosters.
On September 15, 2017, Michelle Rounds, Rosie O'Donnell's ex-wife, died by suicide.
On November 5, 2017, the comedy series SMILF, featuring Rosie O'Donnell, premiered. She played the role of Tutu and received critical acclaim.
From 2017, Rosie O'Donnell starred on the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
On March 31, 2019, the series SMILF, in which Rosie O'Donnell played the role of Tutu, aired its final episode.
On April 3, 2019, Rosie O'Donnell was announced to play the role of Lisa Sheffer in the HBO series I Know This Much Is True.
In 2019, Rosie O'Donnell's starring role on the Showtime comedy series SMILF came to an end.
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, alongside Jon Bernthal.
In 2022, Rosie O'Donnell voiced the role of the MTA subway announcements in the second season of the Netflix series Russian Doll. She also appeared as Vi in the Amazon Prime Video series A League of Their Own (2022).
In 2023, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular contributor to The Advocate magazine, continuing her advocacy work.
In September 2024, Rosie O'Donnell's daughter, Chelsea, was arrested in Marinette County, Wisconsin on multiple charges, including child neglect, domestic abuse, maintaining a drug trafficking facility, and drug possession, after her child was found in unsafe living conditions.
In October 2024, Chelsea, Rosie O'Donnell's daughter, faced another arrest in Oconto County, leading to charges including bail jumping and drug possession.
In November 2024, Chelsea was arrested for a third time in Wisconsin, facing multiple felony counts related to bail jumping and drug possession.
In early 2025, Rosie O'Donnell moved to Ireland and began the process of securing Irish citizenship through descent.
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