Rosie O'Donnell is an American comedian, actress, and talk show host. She gained recognition on Star Search in 1984 before transitioning into film and television roles. Her career reached its peak with The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996-2002), a successful daytime talk show that earned her the nickname "Queen of Nice" due to her positive persona and philanthropic activities. The show received multiple Daytime Emmy Awards.
In 1933, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, Rosie O'Donnell's father, was born.
In 1934, Roseann Teresa Murtha, Rosie O'Donnell's mother, was born.
On March 21, 1962, Roseann O'Donnell, who would later become a well-known talk show host, comedian, and actress, was born.
On March 17, 1973, four days before Rosie O'Donnell's eleventh birthday, her mother, Roseann, died from breast cancer, impacting her early life.
In 1973, Roseann Teresa O'Donnell (née Murtha), Rosie O'Donnell's mother, died.
From 1979, Rosie O'Donnell began touring as a stand-up comedian in clubs.
In 1980, Rosie O'Donnell graduated from Commack High School.
In 1984, Rosie O'Donnell got her first big break on Star Search.
In 1984, Rosie O'Donnell had her breakthrough on the television series Star Search, which launched her career.
In 1986, Rosie O'Donnell made her series debut as Nell Harper's neighbor on Gimme a Break!
In 1988, Rosie O'Donnell joined VH1's lineup of veejays and started hosting Stand-up Spotlight.
In 1992, Rosie O'Donnell starred in the sitcom Stand By Your Man and made her film debut in A League of Their Own.
In 1995, Rosie O'Donnell adopted her first child, Parker Jaren O'Donnell, as an infant.
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.
In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell began hosting her daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which became very 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.
In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell purchased "Pretty Penny", a Victorian river home previously occupied by Helen Hayes, in Nyack, New York.
In 1997, Mia, who later became a foster child in Rosie O'Donnell's family, was born.
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.
In 1997, after Procter & Gamble designated Rosie O'Donnell as "unkissable" in a promotion for Scope mouthwash, O'Donnell 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, raising over $350,000.
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.
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, and an HBO special was made based on the books.
On April 19, 1999, during her talk show broadcast, Rosie O'Donnell stated her views on gun ownership following the Columbine shootings, advocating for stricter gun control.
In May 1999, a month after the Columbine shootings, Rosie O'Donnell interviewed Tom Selleck and questioned him about his involvement with the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the NRA's stance on assault weapons.
Later in 1999, Rosie O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman due to complaints from gun enthusiasts.
In May 2000, Rosie O'Donnell's bodyguard applied for a concealed firearm permit due to threats, with O'Donnell stating the need for protection for her and her family.
In the September 2000 issue of Rosie's McCall's magazine, Rosie O'Donnell shared that she had struggled with depression her entire life and decided to start medications when she realized her fears were affecting her family.
In 2000, Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter's family took in Mia, a foster child born in 1997, with the intention of adopting her.
In 2000, Rosie O'Donnell sold "Pretty Penny", a Victorian river home in Nyack, New York, to businessman Edward M. Kopko.
In the summer of 2000, Rosie O'Donnell suffered a staphylococcal infection after accidentally cutting her finger, which incapacitated her for weeks and nearly led to her hand being amputated.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosie O'Donnell encouraged viewers to support New York City's performing arts and donated 1 million dollars for rescue efforts.
In 2001, Mia was removed from Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter's home by the State of Florida, due to laws prohibiting same-sex family adoption, leading O'Donnell to advocate for the repeal of the law.
On January 31, 2002, Rosie O'Donnell appeared on the sitcom Will & Grace, playing a lesbian mother.
On March 14, 2002, Diane Sawyer interviewed Rosie O'Donnell on PrimeTime Thursday, where O'Donnell discussed her life and the Florida ban on gay adoption, highlighting the case of two gay men facing the removal of their foster child due to the state's discriminatory laws.
In April 2002, Rosie O'Donnell released "Find Me", a combination of memoir, mystery and detective story with an underlying interest in reuniting birth mothers with their children. The book reached number two on The New York Times bestseller list.
In September 2002, Rosie O'Donnell quit Rosie's McCall's magazine following a dispute over editorial control, stating that if her name and brand were on the magazine, it had to be her vision.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell left her talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which was then replaced by The Caroline Rhea Show.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell publicly came out as a lesbian and became an outspoken advocate for lesbian rights and gay adoption issues.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell published her memoir, Find Me, and used the US$3 million advance to establish her For All foundation.
In 2002, Rosie O'Donnell was named Person of the Year by The Advocate magazine, honoring her for her public journey and advocacy.
In 2002, 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.
On February 24, 2003, during an episode of Phil Donahue's talk show, Rosie O'Donnell commented on the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Boston, expressing her hope that the Church would be sued until the end of time.
In May 2003, Rosie O'Donnell became a regular columnist for The Advocate magazine, adding her voice to the publication's chorus.
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.
In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell partnered with Gregg Kaminsky and Kelli Carpenter to launch R Family Vacations, catering to LGBT families, creating the first all gay and lesbian family vacation packages.
In 2003, Rosie magazine folded. In late 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and the publishers sued each other for breach of contract. The judge dismissed the case, ruling that neither side should receive damages.
In late 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway, hiring Charles Busch to rewrite the book and focus on the rise to fame of Boy George.
On February 8, 2004, the musical "Taboo", which Rosie O'Donnell brought to Broadway, closed after about 100 performances and mostly bad reviews.
On February 26, 2004, Rosie O'Donnell married Kelli Carpenter in San Francisco, following the authorization of marriage licenses for same-sex couples. This act was a statement against President George W. Bush's stance on the Federal Marriage Amendment. The marriage took place in San Francisco.
On July 11, 2004, the first R Family Vacations cruise was held with 1600 passengers including 600 children, partnering with Provincetown's Family Pride to host discussions on topics relevant to gay parenting.
In August 2004, Rosie O'Donnell's marriage to Kelli Carpenter was voided by the California Supreme Court along with thousands of others.
In 2005, Rosie O'Donnell's addition to The View led to ratings increase. The show scored record ratings with an average of 3.4 million viewers, up 15% versus the same time in 2005.
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.
In September 2006, Rosie O'Donnell replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator on The View.
On October 30, 2006, Rosie O'Donnell was honored by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for her Rosie's for All Kids Foundation's contributions to child-related organizations.
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 to assist families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
In November 2006, Rosie O'Donnell commented on Kelly Ripa's complaint about Clay Aiken on Live with Regis and Kelly, suggesting that Kelly made a homophobic comment.
On December 5, 2006, Rosie O'Donnell imitated Chinese newscasters using a series of "ching chongs." This action was met with disappointment from Vanessa Hua of the San Francisco Chronicle, especially considering O'Donnell's support for LGBT rights.
In December 2006, Rosie O'Donnell publicly criticized Donald Trump for reinstating Miss USA Tara Conner, accusing him of exploiting her scandal for publicity and questioning his moral authority due to his past marital affairs and business bankruptcies. Trump responded with a media campaign, threatening to sue O'Donnell and insulting her, leading to tension between O'Donnell and Barbara Walters.
In December 2006, at a charity event on the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, Elizabeth Birch, executive director for the Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, confirmed that $50 million from Rosie O'Donnell's five-year contract were donated in an irrevocable trust to charity.
In 2006, Rosie O'Donnell started her controversial run as the moderator on the daytime talk show The View.
In March 2007, Rosie O'Donnell started a video blog called Jahero on her website Rosie.com. This blog featured O'Donnell, her hair and makeup artist Helene Macaulay, and writer Janette Barber answering fan questions and sharing behind-the-scenes content. It became popular, earning O'Donnell the "Best Celebrity Blogger" award in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards.
On April 19, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and The View panel discussed the Supreme Court's ruling in Gonzales v. Carhart, with O'Donnell questioning the influence of Catholicism on the court's decision, which led to accusations of "anti-Catholic bigotry".
On April 25, 2007, ABC announced that Rosie O'Donnell would be leaving The View before the end of the year due to the inability to reach an agreement on a new contract.
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 where winners could meet O'Donnell and attend a charity function.
In May 2007, Time magazine included Rosie O'Donnell in their annual list of the 100 most influential people. She was also named "The Most Annoying Celebrity of 2007" by a PARADE reader's poll, a title she humorously accepted.
On May 17, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell questioned who the terrorists were, given the number of Iraqi civilian deaths caused by the U.S. invasion. She stated that if another country invaded the United States and killed a similar number of citizens, the Iraqis would call the United States terrorists.
On May 23, 2007, a heated discussion ensued between Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View, because of what O'Donnell perceived as Hasselbeck's unwillingness to defend O'Donnell from criticisms regarding her statements about the Iraq War. O'Donnell felt betrayed and hurt by Hasselbeck's on-air behavior.
On May 25, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell and ABC agreed to cut short her contract on The View. O'Donnell cited feeling set up by the show's director and producer as a contributing factor, leading to her decision to leave.
During the summer of 2007, Rosie O'Donnell was a guest on the multi-artist True Colors Tour, which began on June 8, 2007, and traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada, benefiting 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 The Price Is Right, despite expressing initial interest. She noted her reluctance to move her family to California as the primary reason.
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.
In 2007, Kelli Carpenter moved out of the home she shared with Rosie O'Donnell.
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell announced her opinion concerning the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, in which she questioned NIST conclusions, and alleged the United States government's involvement in the attacks.
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell continued her controversial run on The View, which included public feuds and on-air disputes.
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell donated all net profits from her book Celebrity Detox to Rosie's Broadway Kids.
In 2007, Rosie O'Donnell published her memoir, Celebrity Detox.
In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell said that she was not an alcoholic, and had temporarily given up alcohol to lose weight, noting the difficulty of losing weight while drinking and her inability to have only one drink.
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, a 16-year-old boy.
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 herself and the other two winners, Christian McKiernan and Andrew Smith.
Rosie O'Donnell appeared again on the True Colors Tour in 2008.
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. She was approached by the company after appearing on Howard Stern's show.
In November 2009, Rosie O'Donnell publicly disclosed that Kelli Carpenter had moved out of their home in 2007 and that their marriage had ended in August 2004.
In 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). O'Donnell moderated live panel discussions after premieres of OWN Documentaries.
In June 2011, Rosie O'Donnell's radio show, 'Rosie Radio,' on Sirius XM Radio, came to an end.
On October 10, 2011, "The Rosie Show" debuted on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The show was taped at the former Chicago studio of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and received generally positive reviews.
In October 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted specials for "Becoming Chaz" and "Miss Representation" on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
On December 5, 2011, Rosie O'Donnell announced her engagement to Michelle Rounds to her studio audience during a break in the taping of The Rosie Show.
In 2011, Parker Jaren O'Donnell successfully lobbied his mother, Rosie O'Donnell, to attend Valley Forge Military Academy.
In 2011, Rosie O'Donnell hosted a second talk show on OWN, called The Rosie Show.
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".
On March 16, 2012, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) canceled "The Rosie Show." The last show was taped on March 20, 2012, on the eve of 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. An artery was 99 percent blocked and a stent was inserted. She later announced she would adopt the whole foods, plant-based diet.
In 2012, The Rosie Show came to an end after a short run.
On January 9, 2013, Rosie O'Donnell and Michelle Rounds announced that they had adopted a baby girl.
In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in several 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' called "Everything's Rosie".
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell landed a recurring role as Rita Hendricks on "The Fosters," portraying a compassionate woman working for the foster care system who becomes a mentor.
In 2014, Rosie O'Donnell returned to The View, leaving after five months due to personal issues.
On February 6, 2015, Rosie O'Donnell confirmed she would exit The View again. She cited health concerns and a need to fix her personal life as the reasons for her departure.
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 in 'Roseanne For President!', a documentary film about Roseanne Barr's 2012 presidential bid. She appeared alongside Michael Moore and Sandra Bernhard.
In August 2015, Rosie O'Donnell tweeted that her 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea, and her therapy dog, went missing from their home in Nyack. Chelsea was found a week later in Barnegat, New Jersey.
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 participated to help "bring his mother into focus." She appeared in the film alongside other celebrities.
In 2015, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, Rosie O'Donnell's father, passed away.
In November 2016, Showtime announced that Rosie O'Donnell had joined the cast of the comedy pilot SMILF.
Following President Trump’s first election victory in 2016, Rosie O'Donnell started drinking again due to severe depression.
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell concluded her role as Rita Hendricks on "The Fosters."
In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell made a two-episode appearance in the CBS series "Mom," playing Jeanine, the ex-girlfriend of Bonnie (Allison Janney). She was also a regular panelist on "Match Game," appeared in one episode of "The $100,000 Pyramid," and played the gym teacher in "Hairspray Live!".
On September 15, 2017, Michelle Rounds, Rosie O'Donnell's ex-wife, died by suicide.
On November 5, 2017, the series SMILF aired, featuring Rosie O'Donnell as Tutu, a role for which she received critical acclaim.
In 2017, Rosie O'Donnell starred on the Showtime comedy series SMILF.
On March 31, 2019, the series SMILF, in which Rosie O'Donnell played Tutu, ended.
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'.
In 2019, Rosie O'Donnell's role on the Showtime comedy series SMILF came to an end.
On June 15, 2021, Rosie O'Donnell was announced to star as Detective Sunday, alongside Jon Bernthal, in a series reboot of American Gigolo on Showtime, which would premiere 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. That same year, she 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, facing charges including child neglect, domestic abuse, maintaining a drug trafficking facility, possession of methamphetamine, and other drug-related offenses after her child was found in a hazardous environment.
In October 2024, Chelsea, Rosie O'Donnell's daughter, was arrested again, this time in Oconto County, and charged with bail jumping, felony possession of methamphetamine and narcotic drugs, and misdemeanor counts involving possession of drug paraphernalia.
In November 2024, Chelsea, daughter of Rosie O'Donnell, was arrested a third time in Marinette County, facing felony counts of bail jumping, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of narcotic drugs.
In March 2025, Rosie O'Donnell revealed in a TikTok video that she had moved to Ireland with her child, Clay, that January, citing political reasons and personal needs. She applied for Irish citizenship through descent and initially lived in Howth before moving to Sandymount.
In July 2025, Donald Trump threatened to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's birthright US citizenship after she moved to Ireland.
TikTok also known as Douyin in China is a social...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Oprah Winfrey an American talk show host television producer actress...
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...
5 minutes ago Mike Evans' Recovery Timeline: Encouraging Update for Buccaneers and Fantasy Managers Alike
5 minutes ago Kyle Schwarber sparks free agency buzz: Phillies, Pirates show interest in slugger.
1 hour ago Man Arrested in Blakely After Pointing Gun at Family; Police Respond.
2 days ago Michelle Obama: America 'not ready' for a woman president, cites sexism concerns.
1 hour ago ASEAN Tackles Child Online Protection: Malaysia Strengthens Rights Amid Rising Abuse Cases.
1 hour ago Clash in Dearborn: Quran Burning Attempt Sparks Protests and Community Tension
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...
Candace Owens is an American conservative political commentator and author...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
Bill Clinton the nd U S President - served as...
Michelle Obama is an American attorney author and former First...