“My name is Caryn Elaine Johnson, but everyone knows me as Whoopi Goldberg. I am an EGOT artist (meaning I hold the four most prestigious American entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony), signifying an actress who has excelled in everything—television, music, film, and theater. They say I have an irresistible charm and an energy so powerful that I could go to the Vatican and ask Pope Francis to act in Sister Act 3, while also celebrating on my American show the tribute paid to me by Fiorello on Italian TV. I won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Ghost in 1990 (becoming the second African American woman to win after Hattie McDaniel, who played Mammy in Gone with the Wind) and was nominated for Best Actress for Steven Spielberg””””s The Color Purple. I have also won two Golden Globes, two Emmys, a Saturn Award, four People””””s Choice Awards, five Kids”””” Choice Awards, seven Image Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and a BAFTA. In 2002, I was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I have directed and produced documentaries, musicals, and films acclaimed by both audiences and critics. I am an activist for human rights, AIDS research, and children””””s rights. I have appeared in countless American TV shows and series and, among other projects, co-hosted nine seasons of Comic Relief, a charitable television special benefiting the underprivileged, alongside Billy Crystal and Robin Williams. Since 2007, I have been one of the hosts of The View, a popular and progressive ABC program. At the age of 68, I wrote my autobiography titled Fragments of Memory. In this memoir, which I also wrote to help me cope with the loss of my mother Emma, I recount my life from my childhood (growing up in New York City’s housing projects, trips to Coney Island, ice skating shows, and museum visits) to my career, successes, and failures. The book is a tribute to the pivotal figures in my life—my mother and my brother Clyde, both of whom passed away in recent years. My mother, proud, practical, and indomitable, instilled in us the love and wisdom needed to succeed in life, always encouraging us to be honest, at least with ourselves.” Whoopi Goldberg

Born Caryn Elaine Johnson, but known worldwide as Whoopi Goldberg, she is a true legend in the entertainment industry. As an EGOT winner—having received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—she stands among the few artists who have excelled across television, music, film, and theater. Her career is marked by an irresistible charm, powerful energy, and an unmatched ability to captivate audiences worldwide. She once joked that she could go to the Vatican and convince Pope Francis to act in Sister Act 3 while also celebrating a tribute to her on Italian television.

Whoopi’s achievements speak for themselves. In 1990, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her unforgettable role in Ghost, becoming the second African American woman in history to win an Oscar after Hattie McDaniel, who was honored for her role in Gone with the Wind. Additionally, she was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple. Beyond the Academy Awards, Whoopi’s trophy case includes two Golden Globes, two Emmys, a Saturn Award, four People’s Choice Awards, five Kids’ Choice Awards, seven Image Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and a BAFTA. Her extraordinary contributions to entertainment were further recognized in 2002 when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Her impact extends far beyond acting. Whoopi has directed and produced documentaries, musicals, and films that have earned both critical and audience acclaim. She is also a dedicated activist, championing causes such as human rights, AIDS research, and children’s welfare. She has graced American television for decades, co-hosting the Comic Relief charitable specials alongside Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, helping raise funds for the underprivileged. Since 2007, she has been a key host on The View, the progressive, widely popular ABC talk show, where she continues to engage audiences with insightful discussions and bold opinions.

Now at age 68, Whoopi has shared her remarkable journey in her autobiography, Fragments of Memory. This memoir, written in part as a way to cope with the loss of her beloved mother, Emma, reflects on her life—from her childhood in New York City’s housing projects, to trips to Coney Island, ice-skating shows, and museum visits, and ultimately, her rise to stardom. She pays tribute to the two most important figures in her life—her mother Emma and her brother Clyde, both of whom passed away in recent years. Her mother, a strong, proud, and pragmatic woman, instilled in Whoopi and her brother the wisdom, resilience, and determination they needed to succeed, always encouraging them to be honest, at least with themselves.

Whoopi Goldberg’s story is one of perseverance, talent, and breaking barriers. From humble beginnings to Hollywood royalty, she remains a trailblazer in the entertainment industry and a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.