Trivia and Quotes
Quotes
 Nobody ever encouraged me in this business. I encouraged myself. I was a very dull and shy child. I was the last person you would expect to be a success in this business. But I always felt if I kept going something would happen. But I even surprised myself at times. When I was doing ensemble theater and comedy work, I felt I had some talents. But when I started doing my shows in Berkeley and found that I could be funny on my own, I was shocked. [at the 1996 MTV Movie Awards, when she was very pleased to see Bob Barker won the award for Happy Gilmore (1996)]: Any Motion Picture Award program would give a big hand to Bob Barker. I have to come to; because that`s very big, and Bob told me he was surprised at what happened. See, you never know, you never know!
[from a 1990 interview] None of the stuff I`ve done will ever cure cancer. It`s entertainment and some of it has been better entertainment than others. Ghost (1990) is a good little movie, like Jumpin` Jack Flash (1986), which I`ve changed my mind about and am finally able to watch. Burglar (1987) and Clara`s Heart (1988) are good little movies. There`s also a couple I don`t care for. The Telephone (1988) read brilliantly but was cockadoo on the screen. I`m also not crazy about Fatal Beauty (1987); it could have been a whole lot better. I`ve done good stuff and bad stuff. That`s what careers are all about.
Actors have no color. That`s the art form.
I`m a big old egoistical baby and that`s okay. I can accept it.
My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don`t believe in man-made religions.
[2002 interview, on working with the cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)] The connections between us is family. Its just family. And its unshakable, you know. Because you look around and you see a great part of your active adult life. Great part of my active adult life was spent with the cast and crew of "Star Trek".
[in 1994 interview, about "Star Trek" (1966)] I know I`m never going up, for real, in anybody`s rocket ship. I know this because I hate to fly. Gene Roddenberry`s vision always included a multi-ethnic group of people. I thought that was pretty amazing. Being on "Star Trek" has been a great way to sort of expand on the universe and be a part of it." (1994 interview)
[in 1994 interview, on African-American actors in Hollywood] I don`t know if I`m the one who should be commenting on the situation. I can`t complain about the amount of work that`s out there. I am black. But I didn`t become black yesterday. I`m black and I`m getting the work and I`m doing some good things, but I realize many black actors and actresses are not being given the opportunities. The industry has got to stop thinking in terms of black and white and has to start thinking in terms of who is right, regardless of color, for the role.
[in 1994 interview, on how she got cast in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)] I did it because, frankly, I couldn`t get any other work then. I liked the show, so I asked if I could be on it. As a matter of fact, I asked twice. The first time, I sent a message to LeVar Burton asking him to tell the producers that I would really like to be on the show. He got the message to the producers and they said, "Yeah, right. Whoopi wants to do "Star Trek". One of the members [Gates McFadden] left the show and I heard about it, so I approached the show`s producers again and said, "Listen, I don`t know if you know it or not, but I`ve been trying for a long time now to get on this show." They said LeVar had told them about it and they thought he was kidding. I told them I can`t do all the episodes but I would like to do some of them. "Can I have the job?" They finally said, "Sure, we`ll build you a bar". And they built me Ten-Forward. I got to go in and be really sage and wear great hats. I also got to hang out with some extraordinary people, like Patrick Stewart, LeVar and Jonathan Frakes.
[quip while hosting the The 71st Annual Academy Awards (1999) (TV)] Babe: Pig in the City (1998). Wasn`t that the Linda Tripp Story?
[speaking about Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple", on her efforts to get a part in the film (The Color Purple (1985)) that was made from it] I told her I would play a Venetian blind, dirt on the floor, anything." [about Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple", in which Goldberg eventually played a leading role]
[talking about critics, on the "Queen Latifah Show" (1999)] You can say whatever you want about me, but talk about my daughter and I`ll beat your ass up.
Trivia
Has a brother who is seven years older than her.
Is good friends with Patrick Stewart.
Is one of only 7 African-American actresses to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Angela Bassett and Halle Berry.
Performed all her own singing in the "Sister Act" movies. Her co-stars have claimed that they were surprised at her vocal ability.
She was awarded The Annual Kennedy Centre Mark Twain Prize for Comedy.
The first woman to host the Academy Awards on her own. She hosted them in 2002, 1999, 1996 and 1994.
Worked as a Dishwasher at a restaurant called "Big Kitchen" at 3003 Grape St in San Diego.
Did a private stand-up comedy routine entitled "If E.T. landed in Oakland" in front of, among others, Steven Spielberg and Michael Jackson, which eventually won her the lead in The Color Purple (1985), which Spielberg directed.
Granddaughter Amarah Skye was born on her 34th birthday.
Has a tattoo of Woodstock (the bird from the Charles M. Schulz`s "Peanuts" cartoon strip) on her shoulder.
Has her own production company, One Ho Productions, which backs most of her movies and television projects.
Her performance as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost (1990) is ranked #95 on Premiere Magazine`s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
In the "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992) series episode "Gay," she played a woman who arranges marriages. In her guest-starring role in "The Nanny" (1993) (episode "The Pre-Nup"). she played a wedding planner.
Michael J. Fox accompanied her to the 1986 Academy Awards when she was nominated for The Color Purple (1985).
One of only four actresses who won the quadruple crown of acting: The Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy.
Was one of the eulogists at Gene Roddenberry`s funeral in 1991, along with other Star Trek stars Nichelle Nichols and Patrick Stewart.
When she was only 8, she performed with the Children`s Program and the Hudson Guild and The Rubenstein Children`s Theatre.
1985: Won a Grammy for Best Comedy Performance Single or Album, Spoken or Musical for "Original Broadway Show Recording.".
2002: Won a Tony as a producer for Best Musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie.".
Asked Gene Roddenberry for a role in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) because she was a big fan. She was given role of "Guinan", the head of the Ten-Forward lounge. Her character was named for legendary entertainer / nightclub owner Texas Guinan.
Has over 4 different action figures modeled after her character, Guinan, from the "Star Trek" series and the films.
Is an avid Fiesta Ware (china) collector.
Is dyslexic.
Is part-owner of Mary`s Kitchen, a country store/kitchen in Malibu, California. It is staffed by "New Yorkers" and certain furnishings were imported from New York because Whoopi wanted a touch of home in Malibu.
She was inspired to become an actress by watching Nichelle Nichols`s portrayal of Uhura on "Star Trek" (1966).
Spokesmodel of the "got milk?" campaign.
Was the second African American woman to win an Oscar. The first was Hattie McDaniel.
1994: Became the very first woman to host the Academy Awards solo.
Born at 12:48pm-EST.
Daughter: Alexandrea; Granddaughters: Amarah and Jerzey.
Discovered by director Mike Nichols.
Dropped out of high school and became addicted to heroin. She ended up marrying her drug counselor. She cleaned up and later divorced him. In 1974 she moved to California and helped found the San Diego Repertory Company, where she used the name, Whoopi Cushion. Before making it as an actress, she worked as a bank teller, a bricklayer and in a mortuary.
Holds an honorary degree from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa.
Once worked in a mortuary where her job was applying makeup to corpses.
She won a Grammy for "Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway."
Travels to locations by bus since she hates flying.
Was nicknamed Whoopi (as in "whoopi-cushion") because of being overly flatulent. She added the name Goldberg, taken from the Jewish side of her family.
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