Childhood and Education Journey of Whoopi Goldberg in Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Whoopi Goldberg. From birth to education, explore key events.
Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality renowned for her versatile talent. Notably, she is one of the select few to have achieved EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. In 2001, her contributions to American humor were recognized with the prestigious Mark Twain Prize.
1940: Hattie McDaniel
In 1940, Hattie McDaniel won the first black woman to win an Academy Award for acting.
1949: Birth of Brother Clyde
Around 1949, Whoopi Goldberg's brother, Clyde, was born. He passed away in 2015.
November 13, 1955: Whoopi Goldberg's Birth
On November 13, 1955, Caryn Elaine Johnson, known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg, was born. She is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.
1962: Reference to an old Musical
In 1996, Greg Evans of Variety regarded her "thoroughly modern style" as "a welcome invitation to a new audience that could find this 1962 musical as dated as ancient Rome".
May 9, 1973: Birth of Daughter Alexandrea Martin
On May 9, 1973, Whoopi Goldberg gave birth to her daughter, Alexandrea Martin, who also became an actress and producer.
1973: Marriage to Alvin Martin
In 1973, Whoopi Goldberg married Alvin Martin, a drug counselor. This marked her first marriage.
1978: Witnessed Midair Collision
In 1978, Whoopi Goldberg witnessed a midair collision of two planes in San Diego, resulting in a fear of flying and post-traumatic stress disorder.
1979: Divorce from Alvin Martin
In 1979, Whoopi Goldberg divorced Alvin Martin, ending her first marriage.
1986: Marriage to David Claessen
In 1986, Whoopi Goldberg married David Claessen, a cinematographer, marking her second marriage.
1987: Participated in March on Washington
In 1987, Whoopi Goldberg's high-profile support for LGBT rights and AIDS activism dates from the March on Washington, in which she participated.
1988: Divorce from David Claessen
In 1988, Whoopi Goldberg divorced David Claessen, ending her second marriage.
1990: Honorary Harlem Globetrotter
In 1990, Whoopi Goldberg was officially named an honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters exhibition basketball team.
1991: Marijuana Use Before Academy Awards
In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg has stated that she smoked marijuana before accepting the Best Supporting Actress award for Ghost.
1991: Speaking Out About Abortion
In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg spoke out about her abortion experiences in the book The Choices We Made: Twenty-Five Women and Men Speak Out About Abortion, revealing she had multiple abortions.
1994: Marriage to Lyle Trachtenberg
In 1994, Whoopi Goldberg married Lyle Trachtenberg, a union organizer, beginning her third marriage.
1995: Divorce from Lyle Trachtenberg
In 1995, Whoopi Goldberg divorced Lyle Trachtenberg, ending her third marriage.
1997: Recollection in Trekkies
According to an anecdote told by Nichelle Nichols in Trekkies in 1997, a young Whoopi Goldberg was inspired to see a black woman on television who was not a maid.
2000: Dating
In early 2000, Whoopi Goldberg's relationship with Frank Langella ended, it began during filming of Eddie in 1996.
2006: Appeared at Comic Relief's 20th anniversary
In 2006, Whoopi Goldberg appeared during the 20th anniversary of Comic Relief.
2006: Ancestry Revealed
In 2006, the PBS documentary "African American Lives" revealed the results of a DNA test, tracing part of Whoopi Goldberg's ancestry to the Papel and Bayote people of Guinea-Bissau.
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.
April 1, 2010: Joined Cyndi Lauper's Give a Damn Campaign
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.
August 29, 2010: Death of Mother Emma Johnson
On August 29, 2010, Whoopi Goldberg's mother, Emma Johnson, passed away after suffering a stroke.
2011: Statement on Heritage
In 2011, Whoopi Goldberg discussed her surname and heritage, stating that Goldberg is her family name and part of her heritage.
May 9, 2012: Stated membership in the National Rifle Association of America
On an episode of The View that aired on May 9, 2012, Whoopi Goldberg stated she is a member of the National Rifle Association of America.
2015: Death of Brother Clyde
In 2015, Whoopi Goldberg's brother, Clyde, died due to a brain aneurysm.
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: Speaker at Women's March in New York City
In 2017, Whoopi Goldberg was a speaker at the Women's March in New York City and was such again at the following year's event.
March 2019: Battle with Pneumonia and Sepsis
In March 2019, Whoopi Goldberg revealed that she had been battling pneumonia and sepsis, which caused her to take a leave of absence from The View.
2022: Comments on Abortion Rights
After the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum, Whoopi Goldberg claimed that God would support abortion rights because he gave women freedom of choice.
