Whoopi Goldberg began her career in bit parts on Broadway, before making the move to California. Once there, she did stand up and then got into movies. It’s been a mixed career with box office disappointments and colossal hits. In 1985, she shot to fame as Celie in The Color Purple, and was nominated for an Oscar. Directed by Steven Spielberg and adapted from the Alice Walker novel, she starred alongside Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey.

Roles have come steadily over the years for Whoopi Goldberg. In the following year, she made the comedy thriller, Jumping Jack Flash with Stephen Collins and John Wood, and directed by Penny Marshall. It was in 1990 that Ghost was released, with Whoopi playing the zany character of Oda Mae Brown. It was a huge hit, directed by Jerry Zucker, and also starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Tony Goldwyn. Whoopi won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance.

Whoopi Goldberg put on a nun’s habit in the comedy Sister Act and the sequel, Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit. The first film was directed by Emile Ardolino and co-starred Maggie Smith as Mother Superior, Kathy Najimy and Wendy Makkena. Some of the original cast reprised their roles in the sequel, and were joined by Barnard Hughes, and James Coburn. Bill Duke directed this time. In the same year, Whoopi starred in Made In America, directed by Richard Benjamin and also starring Ted Danson, Will Smith and Nia Long.

The early 1990’s saw a dream come true for Whoopie Goldberg, when she got a recurring role in Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series. A lifelong Star Trek fan, Whoopi was thrilled to be part of the crew alongside Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, and Brent Spiner et al.

Whoopi Goldberg has also supplied the voices for a number of animated characters. She voiced Shenzi the Hyena in the Lion King for directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. The star-studded cast also included James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons and Matthew Broderick. She also did the voice of Fantasy for The Pagemaster, starring Macaulay Culkin, Ed Begley Jr., and Christopher Lloyd. Pixote and Maurice Hunt directed.

Whoopi has enjoyed a full romantic life alongside her career. Boyfriends have included Ted Danson and Frank Langella. She has one child, and has been married and divorced on three occasions. Actor Lyle Trachtenberg was one husband and cinematographer David Claessen was another.