Biography
A one-woman multi-media empire simultaneously embraced as a relatable "friend" figure by millions of loyal fans, Oprah Winfrey's business acumen and personal accessibility made her one of the most powerful and beloved figures in America. Winfrey's daytime television staple "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (syndicated, 1986-) was the number one daytime talk show for over 20 years, and positioned Winfrey as a powerful, inspiring, voice unafraid to be …
Latest Tv Credits
1 - 4 of 4
Oprah Winfrey SlideShow
1 - 4 of 14
Career Milestones
2011 | Received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | |
2011 | Launched OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network; programming included "Oprah's Next Chapter" and "Oprah Presents: Master Class" | |
2009 | Voiced the title character's mother Eudora in Disney animated feature "The Princess and the Frog" | |
2009 | Announced plans to end highly rated "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2011 after 25 years | |
2009 | Teamed with Tyler Perry to produce the drama "Precious," a movie based on the novel Push by Sapphire | |
2007 | Voiced Judge Bumbleden in "Bee Movie," co-starring the voices of Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger | |
2007 | Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications announced plans to create OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network | |
2007 | Invested $40 million and much of her time establishing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg in South Africa (opened in January) | |
2006 | Voiced Gussy the goose in live-action/computer-animated feature film "Charlotte's Web" | |
2006 | Signed on with Simon & Schuster to pen a book about weight control, reportedly receiving more than $12 million | |
2006 | Signed a three-year, $55 million deal to debut a new XM Satellite Radio channel titled "Oprah & Friends"; channel aired programming related to fitness, health, and self-improvement | |
2005 | Produced and invested more than $1 million in the Broadway musical adaptation "Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple"; the show earned 11 Tony nominations | |
2003 | Made Forbes magazine's Billionaire's list, the first black woman to do so and only the second African-American billionaire (after BET founder Robert Johnson) with a reported net worth of $1 billion | |
2002 | In March, signed deal to remain with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" through the 2005-06 season | |
2001 | Executive produced another popular TV movie "Amy & Isabelle" (ABC) | |
2000 | Launched the magazine O, The Oprah Magazine (April) | |
2000 | Began honoring everyday heroes on her talk show via the "Use Your Life" award | |
1999 | Executive produced the highly-rated TV-movie "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays With Morrie" (ABC); won Emmy as Outstanding Made for Television Movie | |
1999 | In July, announced joint venture with Hearst Magazines to publish new magazine aimed at women and covering spiritual issues | |
1998 | In November, joined with Geraldine Laybourne (of Oxygen Media) and Marcy Carsey (of Carsey-Werner-Mandabach) in announcing plans to create Oxygen, a new cable channel aimed specifically at women | |
1998 | Starred in and produced an adaptation of Toni Morrison's novel "Beloved" | |
1998 | Served as executive producer of the ABC remake of "David and Lisa" | |
1998 | Signed contract to host TV talk show through the 2001-02 season | |
1998 | At start of 13th season on TV, introduced "change your life television" featuring numerous guests culled from the ranks of self-help authors; also debuted a new theme to show "Run On," which she sang lead vocals; also began Oprah's Angel Network | |
1998 | Executive produced the ABC miniseries "The Wedding," adapted from the novel by Dorothy West | |
1998 | Stayed in Amarillo, TX for six weeks, defending herself in $10 million libel suit brought by a group of cattlemen over some offhand remarks uttered on her talk show; she won in a victory for the First Amendment | |
1997 | Renewed contract with King World to continue talk show through the year 2000 | |
1997 | Appeared as a therapist on the celebrated "coming out" episode of "Ellen" (ABC) | |
1996 | Began regular segment "Oprah's Book Club" | |
1995 | Renewed contract with King World to continue hosting talk show through 1997; signed deal with Capital Cities/ABC Inc to provide primetime programming beginning in the 1996-97 TV season; signed multi-picture deal with Walt Disney Company and announced first feature would be an adaptation of Toni Morrison's "Beloved" | |
1994 | Finished a marathon (26.2 miles) alongside trainer Bob Greene | |
1993 | Portrayed LaJoe Rivers in "There Are No Children Here" (ABC) | |
1993 | Executive produced "Michael Jackson Talks...To Oprah - 90 Primetime Minutes With the King of Pop" (ABC) | |
1990 | Executive produced and acted on the short-lived ABC spin-off series "Brewster Place" | |
1989 | Executive produced and acted in the TV movie "Women of Brewster Place" (ABC) | |
1988 | Assumed ownership and production of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" through Harpo Productions | |
1986 | Landed second film role as Mrs. Thomas, the mother of an accused murderer in "Native Son" | |
1987 | Hosted first TV special "A Star-Spangled Celebration" | |
1986 | "The Oprah Winfrey Show" picked up for national syndication; premiered in syndication on September 8 | |
1985 | Breakthrough acting debut, "The Color Purple"; earned Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination | |
1985 | "AM Chicago" expanded to one hour and renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show" | |
1984 | Moved to Chicago; hosted own half-hour TV show "AM Chicago" | |
1978 | Co-hosted morning talk show "People Are Talking" | |
1976 | Moved to Baltimore; worked as TV feature reporter and co-anchor for WJZ-TV | |
1973 | At age 19, became the first black anchor on Nashville's WVOL nightly newscast; later moved to the CBS affiliate WTFV-TV (1975) | |
1972 | Started as radio reporter while still a Nashville high school student | |
1971 | Competed in Miss Black America pageant | |
1971 | Won Miss Black Tennesee pageant | |
1971 | Crowned Miss Fire Prevention in Nashville at age 17 | |
| Went to live with father in Nashville, TN where she became an honor student and joined drama club | ||
1960 | Moved to Milwaukee to live with her mother at age six | |
| Raised on grandmother's farm in Mississippi | ||
Awards
2011 | Daytime Emmy Award for Chairman's Crystal Pillar Award |
2000 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made For Television Movie in Amy and Isabelle |
1999 | Producers Guild of America Award for Long-Form Television in Tuesdays With Morrie |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Special in Michael Jackson Talks... To Oprah -- 90 Primetime Minutes With the King of Pop |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries in The Women of Brewster Place |
1985 | Academy Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in The Color Purple |
1985 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in The Color Purple |