Fan mail address
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoop, Inc.
1650 Broadway
Suite 1400
New York, NY 10019-6985
USA
Address information
Whoop, Inc.
(Production Company)
1650 Broadway
Suite 1400
New York, NY 10019-6985
USA
Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson on November 13, 1955, is an American actress, comedian, author, and television personality renowned for her versatility, humor, and outspokenness. Her career spans over four decades, and she is one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Raised in a working-class family in New York City, Goldberg faced challenges early on, including a learning disability that was later identified as dyslexia. Despite these obstacles, her natural talent for performing and her unique voice allowed her to rise above her circumstances and become a pioneering figure in entertainment.
Goldberg’s early life was marked by hardship and struggle, which included dropping out of high school and battling substance abuse. She worked a variety of jobs, from bricklaying to funeral makeup, while trying to break into acting. In the 1970s, she relocated to California, where she honed her craft in avant-garde theater groups and began developing her distinctive one-woman shows, which addressed social issues with wit and raw honesty. Goldberg’s breakthrough came with her performance in her show, The Spook Show, which she debuted in Berkeley. The show was an instant success and attracted the attention of director Mike Nichols, who helped bring her to Broadway in 1984. Renamed Whoopi Goldberg, the production received widespread acclaim and showcased her ability to embody multiple characters and deliver biting social commentary.
Goldberg’s stage success led to her Hollywood debut in 1985 when she starred in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, an adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. In the role of Celie, a young African American woman facing abuse and oppression in the early 20th century, Goldberg delivered a powerful, sensitive performance that garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The Color Purple solidified Goldberg’s status as a major talent and demonstrated her ability to tackle dramatic roles with depth and compassion.
