Career Timeline of Whoopi Goldberg: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Whoopi Goldberg built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, is a highly accomplished American actor, comedian, author, and television personality. She is one of the select few to have achieved EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Her contributions to American humor were recognized in 2001 with the Mark Twain Prize.
1985: Drama Desk Award
In 1985, Whoopi Goldberg received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for her solo performance on Broadway.
1985: Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording
In 1985, Whoopi Goldberg won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording for *Whoopi Goldberg: Original Broadway Show Recording*.
1986: Golden Globe Award for The Color Purple
In 1986, Whoopi Goldberg won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role in *The Color Purple*.
1991: Marijuana Use Before Academy Award
In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg stated that she smoked marijuana before accepting the Best Supporting Actress award for *Ghost*.
1991: American Comedy Award for Ghost
In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in *Ghost*.
1991: Awards for Ghost
In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in *Ghost*.
1993: Defense of Ted Danson's Blackface Performance
In 1993, Whoopi Goldberg defended Ted Danson after he appeared in blackface during his Friars Club roast. Goldberg wrote some of his jokes for the event.
1993: American Comedy Award for Sister Act
In 1993, Whoopi Goldberg won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in *Sister Act*.
1999: Awards for Supporting the Gay and Lesbian Community
In 1999, Whoopi Goldberg received the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Vanguard Award and the Women in Film Crystal Award.
February 8, 2001: Golden Dreams opened
On February 8, 2001, Golden Dreams opened at Disney California Adventure Park, featuring Whoopi Goldberg as Califia, the Queen of the Island of California.
2001: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
In 2001, Whoopi Goldberg became the first African-American female to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
2001: Hosted documentary and portrayed Death
In 2001, Whoopi Goldberg hosted the documentary short "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas" and portrayed Death in "Monkeybone".
2002: Completed EGOT
In 2002, Whoopi Goldberg completed the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards) when she received the Daytime Emmy Award for "Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel" and the Tony Award for "Thoroughly Modern Millie".
2002: Tony Award as Producer
In 2002, Whoopi Goldberg won a Tony Award as a producer of the Broadway musical *Thoroughly Modern Millie*.
2003: Returned to television and Broadway
In 2003, Whoopi Goldberg returned to television in "Whoopi", which was canceled after one season. She also starred as blues singer Ma Rainey in the Broadway revival of August Wilson's historical drama "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" at the Royale Theatre and appeared in the HBO documentary "Unchained Memories".
July 2004: Controversy at John Kerry Fundraiser
In July 2004, Whoopi Goldberg was involved in a controversy at a fundraiser for John Kerry at Radio City Music Hall in New York for making a sexual joke about President George W. Bush. As a result, Slim-Fast dropped her from their ad campaign.
July 2006: Became main host of Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour
In July 2006, Whoopi Goldberg became the main host of the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour.
August 2006: Hosted Wake Up with Whoopi
From August 2006, Whoopi Goldberg hosted "Wake Up with Whoopi", a nationally syndicated morning radio talk and entertainment program.
2006: Appeared during the 20th anniversary of Comic Relief
In 2006, Whoopi Goldberg appeared during the 20th anniversary of Comic Relief.
September 4, 2007: Became moderator and co-host of The View
On September 4, 2007, Whoopi Goldberg became the new moderator and co-host of The View, replacing Rosie O'Donnell.
October 2007: Announced retirement from acting
In October 2007, Whoopi Goldberg announced on the air that she was going to retire from acting because she was no longer sent scripts.
February 18, 2008: The Naked Brothers Band Performed on The View
Before the episode premiered, on February 18, 2008, The Naked Brothers Band performed on The View and the band members were interviewed by Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd.
March 2008: End of Hosting Wake Up with Whoopi
In March 2008, Whoopi Goldberg stopped hosting "Wake Up with Whoopi", a nationally syndicated morning radio talk and entertainment program.
July 14, 2008: Announced performance in Xanadu
On July 14, 2008, Whoopi Goldberg announced on The View that from July 29 to September 7, she would perform in the Broadway musical "Xanadu".
November 13, 2008: Announced production of Sister Act: The Musical
On November 13, 2008, Whoopi Goldberg announced on The View that she would be producing, along with Stage Entertainment, the premiere of "Sister Act: The Musical" at the London Palladium.
December 13, 2008: Guest Starred on The Naked Brothers Band
On December 13, 2008, Whoopi Goldberg guest starred on "The Naked Brothers Band", a Nickelodeon rock-mockumentary television series.
2008: Gave message at Junior Eurovision Song Contest and became contributor for wowOwow.com
In 2008, Whoopi Goldberg gave a short message at the beginning of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and became a contributor for wowOwow.com.
2008: Moderated panel at Alliance of Youth Movements Summit
In 2008, Whoopi Goldberg moderated a panel at the Alliance of Youth Movements Summit on how social networks can be used to fight violent extremism.
2009: Moderated panel at the UN on human rights
In 2009, Whoopi Goldberg moderated a panel at the UN on human rights, children and armed conflict, terrorism, and reconciliation.
2009: Daytime Emmy Award for The View
In 2009, Whoopi Goldberg won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host for her work on *The View*, sharing the award with her co-hosts.
January 14, 2010: Appeared in The Lion King
On January 14, 2010, Whoopi Goldberg made a one-night-only appearance at the Minskoff Theatre to perform in the mega-hit musical The Lion King.
April 1, 2010: Joined the Give a Damn Campaign launch
On April 1, 2010, Whoopi Goldberg joined Cyndi Lauper in the launch of her Give a Damn campaign to bring a wider awareness of discrimination of the LGBT community.
October 22, 2010: Return to Sister Act Performance
On October 22, 2010, Whoopi Goldberg returned to her performance in the musical *Sister Act* in London, after leaving temporarily due to her mother's death.
October 30, 2010: Show closed
On October 30, 2010, the Sister Act show closed.
2010: Starred in For Colored Girls and voiced Stretch in Toy Story 3
In 2010, Whoopi Goldberg starred in the Tyler Perry movie "For Colored Girls" and voiced Stretch in the Disney/Pixar animated movie "Toy Story 3".
2011: Had a cameo in The Muppets
In 2011, Whoopi Goldberg had a cameo in "The Muppets".
2012: Guest starred on The Middle
In 2012, Whoopi Goldberg guest starred as Jane Marsh, Sue Heck's guidance counselor on "The Middle".
2014: Portrayed character in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and starred in Big Stone Gap
In 2014, Whoopi Goldberg portrayed a character in the superhero film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)", appeared as herself in Chris Rock's "Top Five" and starred in the romantic comedy film "Big Stone Gap".
2015: Defense and Subsequent Change of Stance on Bill Cosby Allegations
In 2015, Whoopi Goldberg initially defended Bill Cosby against rape allegations, questioning the lack of arrest or trial. Later in 2015, she changed her stance, acknowledging the evidence suggested guilt and supporting the removal of the statute of limitations for rape cases.
April 2016: Launched Whoopi & Maya
In April 2016, Whoopi Goldberg co-founded Whoopi & Maya, a company that made medical cannabis products for women seeking relief from menstrual cramps.
2016: Executive produced Strut
In 2016, Whoopi Goldberg executive produced a reality television series called "Strut", based on transgender models from the modeling agency Slay Model Management in Los Angeles.
May 2017: Spoke in support of transgender rights
In May 2017, Whoopi Goldberg spoke in support of transgender rights at the 28th GLAAD Media Awards.
2017: Voiced Ursula in Descendants 2
In 2017, Whoopi Goldberg voiced Ursula, the Sea Witch and Uma's mother, in the TV movie "Descendants 2".
2017: Speaker at Women's March
In 2017, Whoopi Goldberg was a speaker at the Women's March in New York City.
2017: Disney Legend Award
In 2017, Whoopi Goldberg was named a Disney Legend for her contributions to the Walt Disney Company.
2018: Starred in Nobody's Fool and Furlough
In 2018, Whoopi Goldberg starred in the Tyler Perry's film "Nobody's Fool", and the comedy-drama film "Furlough".
2019: Voice used for the role of the Giant's Wife
In 2019, Whoopi Goldberg's voice was used for the role of the Giant's Wife in the Hollywood Bowl production of "Into the Woods".
January 22, 2020: Invited to reprise role in Star Trek: Picard
On January 22, 2020, Patrick Stewart invited Whoopi Goldberg on The View to reprise her role as Guinan during the second season of Star Trek: Picard, which she accepted.
February 2020: Whoopi & Maya ceased operations
In February 2020, Whoopi & Maya, a company that made medical cannabis products for women seeking relief from menstrual cramps, ceased operations.
January 24, 2021: Appeared on The George Lucas Talk Show
On January 24, 2021, Whoopi Goldberg appeared as a guest on the AmAIRican Grabbuddies marathon fundraising episode of "The George Lucas Talk Show", where she spoke of her time working on "Snow Buddies" and raised money for the ASPCA.
2021: Launched Emma & Clyde
In 2021, Whoopi Goldberg announced the launch of a new line of cannabis products, "Emma & Clyde", named for her late mother and brother.
2021: Starred in Till and guest starred on Amphibia
In 2021, Whoopi Goldberg starred in the biographical film "Till" and guest starred on the Disney Channel show "Amphibia" as Mother Olms.
January 31, 2022: Controversial Holocaust Comments and Apologies
On January 31, 2022, Whoopi Goldberg made controversial statements on *The View*, claiming the Holocaust was not about race. She apologized on Twitter and on *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* that same day. She further apologized on air the following day and was suspended from *The View* for two weeks.
2023: Appeared in The Color Purple and Ezra
In 2023, Whoopi Goldberg appeared in a cameo role in the musical film "The Color Purple" playing a midwife and took supporting roles in the drama "Ezra".
December 4, 2024: Returned to the stage in Annie
On December 4, 2024, Whoopi Goldberg returned to the stage playing Miss Hannigan in the musical "Annie" at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
2024: Took supporting role in Outlaw Posse
In 2024, Whoopi Goldberg took a supporting role in the western "Outlaw Posse".
January 5, 2025: End of limited engagement in Annie
On January 5, 2025, Whoopi Goldberg's limited engagement playing Miss Hannigan in the musical "Annie" at The Theater at Madison Square Garden came to an end.
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