History of Whoopi Goldberg in Timeline

Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, is a highly acclaimed American actor, comedian, author, and television personality. She has achieved EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award, a rare accomplishment. She also received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2001, recognizing her significant contributions to comedy and entertainment. Goldberg is a prominent figure in the entertainment industry with a career spanning decades.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1973: Marriage to Alvin Martin

In 1973, Whoopi Goldberg married drug counselor Alvin Martin.

May 9, 1974: Birth of daughter Alexandrea Martin

On May 9, 1974, Whoopi Goldberg gave birth to her daughter, Alexandrea Martin.

1979: Divorce from Alvin Martin

In 1979, Whoopi Goldberg divorced Alvin Martin.

1985: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show

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: Marriage to David Claessen

In 1986, Whoopi Goldberg married cinematographer David Claessen.

1986: Golden Globe for The Color Purple

In 1986, Whoopi Goldberg won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role in "The Color Purple".

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1988: Divorce from David Claessen

In 1988, Whoopi Goldberg divorced David Claessen.

1990: Honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters

In 1990, Whoopi Goldberg was officially named an honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters exhibition basketball team.

1991: Smoking marijuana before accepting Academy Award

In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg has stated that she smoked marijuana before accepting the Best Supporting Actress award for Ghost.

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1991: Speaking out about abortion in The Choices We Made

In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg spoke about her abortion experiences in "The Choices We Made: Twenty-Five Women and Men Speak Out About Abortion", revealing she had several abortions by age 25.

1991: Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for Ghost

In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in "Ghost".

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1991: American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in Ghost

In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress for her role in "Ghost".

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1993: Defense of Ted Danson's blackface performance

In 1993, Ted Danson appeared in blackface during his Friars Club roast. Whoopi Goldberg wrote some of his jokes for the event and defended Danson after a media furor.

1993: American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in Sister Act

In 1993, Whoopi Goldberg won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress for her role in "Sister Act".

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1994: Marriage to Lyle Trachtenberg

In 1994, Whoopi Goldberg married union organizer Lyle Trachtenberg.

1995: Divorce from Lyle Trachtenberg

In 1995, Whoopi Goldberg divorced Lyle Trachtenberg.

1999: Awards for supporting the LGBTQ+ Community and Women in Film

In 1999, Whoopi Goldberg received the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Vanguard Award for her continued work in supporting the gay and lesbian community, as well as the Women in Film Crystal Award.

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.

2002: Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie

In 2002, Whoopi Goldberg won a Tony Award as a producer of the Broadway musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie".

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2009: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host

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.

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July 2010: Ride of Fame Honor

In July 2010, Whoopi Goldberg was honored with a Ride of Fame double-decker tour bus in New York City for her life's achievements.

August 29, 2010: Death of mother Emma Johnson

On August 29, 2010, Whoopi Goldberg's mother, Emma Johnson, passed away after a stroke.

October 22, 2010: Return to Sister Act performance

On October 22, 2010, Whoopi Goldberg returned to perform in the musical "Sister Act" in London after leaving to attend to her mother's death.

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2011: Comments on marriage in Piers Morgan interview

In a 2011 interview with Piers Morgan, Whoopi Goldberg explained that she was never in love with the men she married and commented on her lack of commitment to marriage.

2015: Defense and 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 pointing to Cosby's guilt and supported removing the statute of limitations for rape cases.

2015: Death of brother Clyde

In 2015, Whoopi Goldberg's brother, Clyde, died of a brain aneurysm.

2017: Named a Disney Legend

In 2017, Whoopi Goldberg was named a Disney Legend for her contributions to the Walt Disney Company.

March 2019: Battling 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.

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January 31, 2022: Controversial comments about the Holocaust

On January 31, 2022, Whoopi Goldberg made controversial statements on "The View" claiming the Holocaust was not about race. She apologized on Twitter later that day and then on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", which drew further criticism. Goldberg was later suspended from "The View" for two weeks.

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