Roseann Teresa O'Donnell is an Emmy-award winning American talk show host, television personality, comedian, film, television, and stage actress

Rosie O'Donnell


O'Donnell at a tailgate party before a Barbara Streisand concert.
Birth name     Roseann Theresa O'Donnell
Born     March 21, 1962 (age 44)
Flag of United States Bayside, Queens, New York, United States
Height     5' 7" (1.70 m)
Years active     1979 - present
Spouse(s)     Kelli Carpenter
Later legally voided, the two are still a couple.
Official site     Rosie.com
Notable roles     Host of The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The View
Betty Rubble in The Flintstones (film)
Emmy Awards
Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Tony Awards
Host of program broadcast, 1997

Roseann Teresa O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962 in Bayside, Queens, New York) is an Emmy-award winning American talk show host, television personality, comedian, film, television, and stage actress.

After beginning as a stand-up comic, O'Donnell gained notice for hosting her own daytime talk show The Rosie O'Donnell Show, from 1996 to 2002. Currently, she is a co-host and moderator of the ABC talk show, The View.
Contents

    * 1 Early life
    * 2 The Rosie O'Donnell Show
    * 3 Magazine
    * 4 Autobiography
    * 5 Disclosure of sexuality
    * 6 Image change
    * 7 Family life
    * 8 Television comeback
          o 8.1 The View
          o 8.2 Nip/Tuck
    * 9 Charities
          o 9.1 Personal contribution
          o 9.2 Rosie's For All Kids Foundation
          o 9.3 Rosie's Broadway Kids
    * 10 Controversies
          o 10.1 Gun control controversy
          o 10.2 Clay Aiken / Kelly Ripa Controversy
          o 10.3 "Ching-chong" controversy
          o 10.4 Donald Trump controversy
          o 10.5 Comments on Anna Nicole Smith
    * 11 Works
          o 11.1 Television
          o 11.2 Theatre
          o 11.3 Filmography
          o 11.4 Award ceremonies
          o 11.5 Autobiography
    * 12 Awards
    * 13 References
    * 14 External links

Early life

As a child, O'Donnell was raised in Commack, New York with four other siblings, three brothers and one sister.

Four days before her 11th birthday, on March 17, 1973, her mother died of breast cancer.[1]

In high school, she began exploring her comic interests beginning with a high school skit in which she imitated Gilda Radner's character Roseanne Rosannadanna.[1]

After graduating, O'Donnell briefly attended Dickinson College, later transferring to Boston University but dropped out to pursue comedy. Rosie toured standup clubs from 1979 to 1984.[2] Her heavy-set appearance and tomboyish, husky Long Island accent stood her apart from other actresses and comediennes. She got her first big break on Star Search, explaining on Larry King Live:[3]
"     I was 20 years old, and I was at a comedy club in Long Island. This woman came over to me and she said, I think you're funny. Can you give me your number? My dad is Ed McMahon. I was like, yeah, right. I gave her my father's phone number. I was living at home, I'm like, whatever. And about three days later, the talent booker from Star Search called and said, we're going to fly you out to L.A. [...] I won, like, five weeks in a row. And it gave me national exposure.     "

After this success, she moved on to television sitcom comedy, making her series debut as Nell Carter's neighbor on Gimme a Break! in 1986.

In 1988, she transitioned to VH1, where she hosted Stand-up Spotlight, a showcase for up-and-coming comedians. She soon after made her feature film debut in A League Of Their Own.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show
O'Donnell on the set of her daytime talk show The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
O'Donnell on the set of her daytime talk show The Rosie O'Donnell Show.

In 1996, she began hosting a daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show. The show proved extremely successful, winning multiple Emmy awards, and earning O'Donnell the title of "The Queen of Nice" for her style of light-hearted banter with her guests and interactions with the audience. As part of her playful banter with her studio audience, O'Donnell often flung koosh balls at the crowd and camera.[4]

On the show, O'Donnell frequently highlighted various charitable projects, often boosting awareness and donations to these causes.

In 2002, O'Donnell left her talk show. The show was then hosted by comedian Caroline Rhea (the show was renamed The Caroline Rhea Show) and lasted one season more.

Magazine

In 2000, O'Donnell partnered with the publishers of McCall's to revamp the magazine as Rosie's McCall's (or, more commonly, Rosie). The magazine was launched as a competitor to fellow talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey's monthly magazine. Rosie covered issues including depression, breast cancer, foster care, and other socially relevant matters.

Rosie the magazine folded in 2003. At the time, difficulties in securing advertising at satisfactory rates was given as a reason for the magazine becoming defunct.

In late 2003, O'Donnell entered into a legal battle with the publishers of Rosie magazine. They claimed that the failure of the magazine was due to O'Donnell's uncooperative, rude and violent behavior within the magazine's offices. They claimed that by removing herself from the magazine's publication, she was in breach of contract. O'Donnell claimed that there was no way she could in good conscience continue to be a part of the magazine, because they were moving away from her vision.

The trial received considerable press coverage. O'Donnell would often give brief press interviews outside of the courtroom responding to various allegations. Of note was a former magazine colleague and breast cancer survivor who testified that O'Donnell said to her on the phone that "people who lie die of cancer".[5] Ultimately, the judge ruled against both sides and dismissed the case.

In 2006, O'Donnell responded to a question on the Ask Ro Section of her website in which she stated that she would love to do another magazine. O'Donnell also said she has written a new book, due out this summer. It is to be called Celebrity Detox.

Autobiography

In 2002, O'Donnell also published an autobiography entitled Find Me. In addition to cataloging her childhood and early adulthood, the book delved into O'Donnell's relationship with a woman with Multiple Personality Disorder who posed as an under-aged teen who had become pregnant by rape. The book was critically acclaimed and reached number two on the New York Times bestseller list.

Disclosure of sexuality

Shortly before leaving her talk show, O'Donnell confirmed the rumors about her sexuality when she came out of the closet as a lesbian. Within the gay community this was common knowledge[citation needed], and the tabloids had been hinting at it.[citation needed] In her January 31, 2002, appearance on the gay-themed sitcom Will & Grace, she played a lesbian character. She claimed various reasons for coming out, including the need for publicity and to put a familiar face to homosexuality, but her primary reason was that as a lesbian adoptive mother (with a long-time lover) she was infuriated that adoption agencies, particularly in Florida, were refusing adoptive rights to able gay parents. She hoped that by coming out, she would increase awareness of this subject.
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Image change

After leaving her show and coming out, O'Donnell underwent a minor image change. She returned to stand-up comedy, and within her first few shows made fun of various celebrities, among them Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross, Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Winona Ryder, and Joan Rivers.

She also received a somewhat masculine haircut. O'Donnell told the press that her haircut was meant to mimic the haircut of former Culture Club backup singer Helen Terry.[6] She subsequently attributed the haircut as a way to emulate Boy George, in hopes that he would allow her to produce his stage show Taboo in the United States. O'Donnell subsequently did invest in and produce the show, but it was an expensive failure on Broadway.

Family life

On February 26, 2004, O'Donnell entered legal union with her partner Kelli Carpenter, a former Nickelodeon marketing executive, in San Francisco, some two weeks after mayor Gavin Newsom authorized the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Her decision to marry Carpenter came after O'Donnell blasted President Bush over his support for the Federal Marriage Amendment. The license was later voided by the California Supreme Court.

The couple are parents to adopted children Parker Jaren (born May 25, 1995), Chelsea Belle (born September 20, 1997), and Blake Christopher (born December 5, 1999). Their fourth child, Vivienne Rose (who was conceived through sperm donation) was born November 29, 2002 to Carpenter.

Television comeback

The View

During the 2006 Daytime Emmy Awards, Barbara Walters announced that O'Donnell would become a co-host on the talk show The View.

On September 5, 2006, she officially replaced Meredith Vieira as the moderator of the show.

Nip/Tuck

In September 2006, O'Donnell made her first guest appearance on TV show, Nip/Tuck, in the role of Dawn Budge. A spin-off starring O'Donnell as the Budge character[7] was reportedly being considered and confirmed by O'Donnell on her blog.[8] On October 16, 2006, O'Donnell indicated that negotiations had concluded and that she had accepted the offer.[9]

Charities

Personal contribution

On December 15, 2006 Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director for the Rosie's For All Kids Foundation confirmed that $50 million dollars from her five year contract with the Rosie O'Donnell Show were donated in an irrevocable trust to charity.

Rosie's For All Kids Foundation

Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in Early Childhood Care and Education program grants to over 900 nonprofit organizations that provide opportunities for thousands of America's kids. Through the Cutie Patootie™ Center capital grants program, 27 early education centers in large cities across the United States have received nearly $8 million to expand their services. On October 30, 2006 The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children honored Rosie O'Donnell at its 2006 gala for her commitment to protecting endangered children.[10] "It's our privilege to be honoring and hosting Rosie," said NYSPCC president David Stack in a statement. "Her Rosie's for All Kids Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in grants to over 1,400 child-related organizations, and that's just one of her many impressive activities on behalf of children."

On November 1, 2006 ABC-TV Nightline aired a video report[11] about the opening of The Children's Plaza and Family Center in Renaissance Village, a FEMA trailer park in Louisiana. This was an emergency response initiative of Rosie's For All Kids Foundation with the help of many local nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses, all efforts were to assist the families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Rosie's Broadway Kids

In 2003 Rosie and Kelli O'Donnell collaborated with Artistic Director Lori Klinger to create this organization, dedicated to providing high quality instruction in music and dance at no cost to New York City public schools or students. Eighty-five percent of students who participate in Rosie's Broadway Kids are from low-income families. Rosie's Broadway Kids serves more than 4,500 teachers, students, and their family members at 21 schools. Currently programs are in Harlem, Midtown West, Chelsea, Lower East Side, East Village, and Chinatown

Controversies

Gun control controversy

O'Donnell is an outspoken supporter of gun control and a major figure in the Million Mom March. During the April 19, 1999, broadcast of her talk show, she stated, "You are not allowed to own a gun, and if you do own a gun, I think you should go to prison." O'Donnell has since regretted making the remarks and has attempted to reconcile her stance by remarking, "I don't personally own a gun." In 1999, O'Donnell interviewed actor Tom Selleck, who was promoting a film. During the promotional interview, in what some critics perceived as an "ambush", O'Donnell confronted him about his stance on guns and his involvement with the NRA, making it an infamously tense TV moment.[12] According to Selleck, the two had agreed not to discuss the topic prior to his appearance on the show. O'Donnell maintains that Selleck and his publicist had been informed that the topic would be discussed. However, she did subsequently say on her show that the interview did not go as she hoped it would.

Also in May 1999, Bernadette Peters and the rest of the cast from Annie Get Your Gun was to appear for taping and perform the song "Anything You Can Do". O'Donnell insisted that the line "I can shoot a partridge with a single cartridge" be removed from the song. Peters refused, and the cast sang a different song without Peters. Later in 1999, O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman, because of her opinion of the large retailer's sale of firearms.

Clay Aiken / Kelly Ripa Controversy

On November 20, 2006, O'Donnell raised controversy when she commented on Live with Regis and Kelly co-host Kelly Ripa's actions during a taping of her own show. Ripa and guest co-host Clay Aiken bantered causing Aiken to jokingly put his hand over Ripa's mouth, as if to stop her from talking, while she was conducting an interview. Seeing that Ripa didn't appreciate his joke, Aiken said, "Oh, I'm in trouble." Ripa responded, "No, I just don't know where that hand's been, honey." Ripa's comment caused O'Donnell to call Ripa a homophobe, saying "Now listen, to me that was a homophobic remark. If that was a straight man, if that was a cute man, if that was a guy that she didn't question his sexuality, she would have said a different thing". Within minutes, Ripa was on the phone, responding to O'Donnell's comments and defending her reactions to the mouth-covering incident by saying she was concerned as it was in fact "cold and flu season" and Aiken had been shaking hands with audience members before the show. According to Barbara Walters, both O'Donnell and Ripa have spoken and moved on from the incident. Aiken, who has declined to publicly discuss his sexuality, did not comment.

"Ching-chong" controversy

On December 5, 2006, O'Donnell raised controversy with some Asian-Americans. A comment was made in reference to the publicity a November 29, 2006 appearance on The View by Danny DeVito had garnered. O'Donnell implied that she was amazed the controversy had become such a prevailing topic,[13] suggesting that it was being talked about as far away as China. "You know, you can imagine in China it's like, 'Ching-chong, ching-chong. Danny DeVito. Ching-chong, ching-chong-chong. Drunk. The View. Ching-chong.'"[14]

The remarks sparked considerable media backlash, with some labeling O'Donnell as a hypocrite, given her stance against any kind of homophobic taunting or jokes. [15] O'Donnell later said, "To anyone who was offended at my Chinese, Asian, pseudo-Japanese, sounded a little Yiddish accent that I was doing, you know, it was never [my] intent to mock, and I'm sorry for those who felt hurt or were teased on the playground." She followed up the statement by warning those offended that she may do it again, saying, "But I'm also gonna give you a fair warning that there's a good chance I'll do something like that again, probably in the next week — not on purpose. Only 'cause it's how my brain works.""[16][17]

Donald Trump controversy

On December 20, 2006, O'Donnell criticized billionaire Donald Trump on The View a day after he appeared before reporters with Miss USA, Tara Conner, to announce sympathetically that "everyone deserves a second chance" and that he would allow her to continue acting as Miss USA, despite her violation of pageant guidelines by partying and drinking.[18] In response to O'Donnell's comments, Trump began a media blitz that included Access Hollywood, Extra, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Comments on Anna Nicole Smith

On February 8, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell said (live) on The View that she was sick of seeing Anna Nicole Smith in the news, because of all of her paternity tests and how she was dealing with personal problems, and further went on to mock her exhausted sounding voice, suggesting that substance abused could be involved. Coincidentally, Smith died three hours later, and the next day's show was pre-recorded the same day that Thursday's show was aired live, so Rosie did not have a chance to say anything until the beginning of next week on Monday, February 12.

O'Donnell was not alone in her assessment. Smith's own mother spoke of concern that her daughter had been under the influence of drugs. [1] "Although the medical examiner found no obvious evidence that Smith's death was drug-related, Smith's mother believes it is. 'I think she had too many drugs, just like Danny (Smith's late son),' her mother, Vergie Arthur, told ABC's Good Morning America today. 'I tried to warn her about drugs and the people she hung around with. She didn't listen. She was too drugged up.'"

Works

Television

    * Gimme a Break! (cast member from 1986–1987)
    * Stand-Up Spotlight (1988–1991)
    * Stand by Your Man (1992) (canceled after 2 months)
    * The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996–2002) (also producer and executive producer)
    * The Twilight of the Golds (1997)
    * Jackie's Back! (1999) (cameo)
    * Will & Grace (2002)
    * Riding the Bus with My Sister (TV movie, 2005) (also executive producer)
    * Queer as Folk (TV series, 2005)
    * The View (2006–Present)
    * Nip/Tuck (2006)

Theatre

    * Grease (1994)
    * Seussical (2001) (replacement for David Shriner)
    * Fiddler on the Roof (2004) (replacement for Andrea Martin in 2005)

Filmography

    * A League of Their Own (1992)
    * Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
    * Another Stakeout (1993)
    * Fatal Instinct (1993)
    * Car 54, Where Are You? (1994)
    * I'll Do Anything (1994)
    * The Flintstones (1994)
    * Exit to Eden (1994)
    * Now and Then (1995)
    * Beautiful Girls (1995)
    * Harriet the Spy (1996)
    * A Very Brady Sequel (1996) (Cameo)
    * Wide Awake (1998)
    * Get Bruce (1999) (documentary)
    * Tarzan (1999) (voice)
    * The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) (voice only)
    * Artists and Orphans: A True Drama (2001) (short subject) (narrator)
    * Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) (Archive footage)
    * Last Party 2000 (2001) (documentary)
    * The Lady in Question Is Charles Busch (2005) (documentary)
    * Show Business (2005) (documentary)
    * Pursuit of Equality (2005) (documentary)
    * All Aboard: Rosie's Family Cruise (2006) (documentary) (also executive producer)

Award ceremonies

    * Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (Host) (1997-2003)
    * 54th Annual Tony Awards (Host) (2000)
    * 42nd Annual Grammy Awards (Host) (2000)

Autobiography

    * Find Me (2002)

Awards

Daytime Emmy Awards

    * 1997 Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host, Rosie O'Donnell

    * 1998 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show
    * 1998 Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host, Rosie O'Donnell (tied with Oprah Winfrey)

    * 1999 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show
    * 1999 Outstanding Talk Show Host, Rosie O'Donnell

    * 2000 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show
    * 2000 Outstanding Talk Show Host, Rosie O'Donnell

    * 2001 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show
    * 2001 Outstanding Talk Show Host, Rosie O'Donnell (tied with Regis Philbin)

    * 2002 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show
    * 2002 Outstanding Talk Show Host, Rosie O'Donnell

Emmy Awards

    * 1999 Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special, 52nd Annual Tony Awards

References

   1. ^ a b Rosie O'Donnell Biography, Biography.com
   2. ^ Rosie O'Donnell profile, E! Online
   3. ^ "Highlights of Interviews With Rosie O'Donnell", CNN Larry King Weekend, March 16, 2002
   4. ^ "Balls & Spheres", TV Acres
   5. ^ Cancer survivor: Rosie O'Donnell told her liars 'get cancer'
   6. ^ http://hollywood.outsidethebeltway.com/category/notables/rosie-odonnell/
   7. ^ http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/09/02/rosie-odonnell-starring-in-a-nip-tuck-spin-off/
   8. ^ http://www.rosie.com/sections/ask-ro/
   9. ^ http://www.rosie.com/sections/ask-ro/
  10. ^ http://www.yourlifemagazine.com/town.html
  11. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2622927
  12. ^ Transcript: Tom Selleck Visits "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", NRAWinningTeam.com
  13. ^ http://youtube.com/watch?v=UnSuZz3gWuE
  14. ^ Serpe, Gina. "Rosie Really Sorry for "Ching-Chong" Crack", E! News, 2006-12-14. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.
  15. ^ Chung, L.A. , `Ching-chong' joke spreads ignorance, The Mercury News 2006-12-06, retrieved on 2007-01-20
  16. ^ Carlson, Erin. "Group not satisfied with Rosie's apology", Associated Press.
  17. ^ http://hotair.com/archives/2006/12/14/video-rosie-apologizes-for-ching-chong/
  18. ^ Dagostino, Mark; B. Orloff (2006-12-20). Rosie Slams Trump, The Donald Fires Back. People Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.