Oprah Winfrey

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Producer

Serving Life (TV documentary) (executive producer) (2011)

Extraordinary Moms (TV documentary) (executive producer) (2011)

Your OWN Show (TV series) (executive producer) (2011)

The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special (TV movie) (executive producer) (2010)

Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special (TV special) (executive producer) (2009)

The Oprah Winfrey Show (supervising producer) (2 episodes, 1989-2009)

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) (executive producer)

"The Dr. Oz Show" (2009) TV series (executive producer)

The Great Debaters (2007) (producer)

Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day (2007) (TV) (executive producer)

Building a Dream: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy (2007) (TV) (executive producer)

The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special (2007) (TV) (executive producer)

"The Big Give" (2007) TV series (executive producer)

Legends Ball (2006) (TV) (executive producer)

Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) (TV) (executive producer)

"Oprah After the Show" (2002) TV series (executive producer)

Amy & Isabelle (2001) (TV) (executive producer) (producer)

Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) (TV) (executive producer)

David and Lisa (1998) (TV) (executive producer)

Beloved (1998) (producer,actress)

The Wedding (1998) (TV) (executive producer)

Before Women Had Wings (1997) (TV) (producer,actress)

Michael Jackson Talks to... Oprah Live (1993) (TV) (executive producer)

"ABC Afterschool Specials" (producer) (1 episode) Shades of a Single Protein (1993)

Overexposed (1992) (TV) (executive producer)

Nine (1992) (TV) (executive producer)

The Women of Brewster Place (1989) (TV) (executive producer,actress)

Actress

Sesame Street (TV series) (2010)

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf (2011)

The Princess and the Frog (2009) (voice)

Bee Movie (2007) (voice)

Charlotte's Web (2006) (voice)

Our Friend, Martin (1999) (voice)

"Ellen" (2 episodes, 1997)

There Are No Children Here (1993) (TV)

Lincoln (1992) (TV) (voice)

"Brewster Place" (1990) TV series

Native Son (1986)

The Color Purple (1985)

Appearances

The Oprah Winfrey Show (663 episodes, 1986-2011)

Nyhetsmorgon (TV series) (2011)

Access Hollywood Live (TV series) (2011)

Oprah Presents: Master Class (TV series documentary) – Oprah Winfrey: Part 1 (2011)

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (2011)

Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes (TV series) (2011)

Piers Morgan Tonight (TV series) (2011)

The Talk (TV series) (2011)

Oprah's Guide to OWN (TV movie) (2011)

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (TV special) (2010)

Breakfast (TV series) (2010)

The Barbara Walters Special (TV series) (2004-2010)

The 7PM Project (TV series) (2010)

Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (documentary) (2010)

The Daily Show (TV series) (2010)

Jeopardy! (TV series) (2010)

Oprah & Tyler: A Project of Passion (video documentary short) (2010)

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (2010)

The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special (TV movie) (2010)

Life (TV series documentary) 10 episodes (2009)

Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special (TV special) (2009)

It's Complicated (2009)

Entertainment Tonight (118 episodes, 2003-2010)

"60 Minutes" (1 episode, 2009)

"TMZ on TV" (1 episode, 2009)

Access Hollywood (1 episode, 2009)

"The Jay Leno Show" (1 episode, 2009)

'Hick' Town (2009)

Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (1 episode, 2009)

"Showbiz Tonight" (2 episodes, 2006-2008)

30 Rock (1 episode, 2008)

The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards 2008 (TV)

Rachael Ray (4 episodes, 2006-2008)

"Jon & Kate Plus 8" (1 episode, 2008)

"The Big Give" (9 episodes, 2008)

"The Insider" (1 episode, 2008)

We Have a Dream (2008) (TV)

Entertainment Weekly & TV Land Present: The 50 Greatest TV Icons (2007) (TV)

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

"Larry King Live" (6 episodes, 2003-2007)

Larry King Live: The Greatest Interviews (2007)

Charlotte's Web: Some Voices (2007)

Building a Dream: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy (2007) (TV)

"Film '72" (1 episode, 2007)

Oprah's Roots: An African American Lives Special (2007) (TV)

Forbes 20 Richest Women in Entertainment (2007) (TV)

"Inside Edition" (1 episode, 2006)

The 2006 Black Movie Awards (2006) (TV)

Forbes Celebrity 100: Who Made Bank? (2006) (TV)

The 60th Annual Tony Awards (2006) (TV)

Legends Ball (2006) (TV)

The View (1 episode, 2006)

"African American Lives" (4 episodes, 2006)

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2005) (TV)

"Corazón de..." (1 episode, 2005)

Late Show with David Letterman (1 episode, 2005)

"Signé Chanel" (1 episode, 2005)

36th NAACP Image Awards (2005) (TV)

Emmanuel's Gift (2005) (Narrator)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (3 episodes, 1996-2005)

An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Quincy Jones (2005) (TV)

"The Barbara Walters Special" (1 episode, 2004)

Bolero (2004)

"E! True Hollywood Story" (1 episode, 2004)

"Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon" (2 episodes, 1990-2004)

2004 Women's World Awards (2004) (TV)

Cristina: El 15 aniversario (2004) (TV)

"On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" (1 episode, 2004)

The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004) (TV)

Good Morning America (1 episode, 2004)

Brothers of the Borderland (2004) (pre-show narrator)

Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2003) (TV)

Extra (1 episode, 2003)

"Second Opinion with Dr. Oz" (1 episode)

A Collaboration of Spirits: Casting and Acting 'The Color Purple' (2003)

ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2003) (TV)

100 Years of Hope and Humor (2003) (TV)

Oprah in Africa: A Personal Journey, a Global Challenge (2003) (TV)

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003)

MADtv (1 episode, 2002)

The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2002 (TV)

"Oprah After the Show" (2002) TV series

The Cosby Show: A Look Back (2002) (TV)

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2001) (TV)

"American Masters" (1 episode, 2001)

A Prayer for America: Yankee Stadium Memorial (2001) (TV)

"Use Your Life" (2001) TV series

"Bette" (1 episode, 2000)

The Rosie O'Donnell Show (2 episodes, 1998-2000)

"Mundo VIP" (1 episode, 2000)

ABC 2000: The Millennium (1999) (TV)

"The Hughleys" (1 episode, 1999)

The 26th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards 1999 (TV)

A Celebration: 100 Years of Great Women (1999) (TV)

Parkinson (1 episode, 1999)

Home Improvement (1 episode, 1999)

"Celebrity Profile" (1 episode, 1999)

Tina Turner: Celebrate Live 1999 (1999)

Quincy Jones... The First 50 Years (1998) (TV)

The 24th Annual People's Choice Awards (1998) (TV)

The 23rd Annual People's Choice Awards (1997) (TV)

About Us: The Dignity of Children (1997) (TV)

Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony Magazine (1996) (TV)

27th NAACP Image Awards (1996) (TV)

The 67th Annual The Academy Awards (1995) (TV)

All-American Girl (1 episode, 1995)

10th Annual TV Academy Hall of Fame (1994) (TV)

"ABC Afterschool Specials" (4 episodes, 1992-1994)

Michael Jackson Talks to... Oprah Live (1993) (TV)

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1 episode, 1992)

Scared Silent: Ending and Exposing Child Abuse (1992) (TV)

"The Arsenio Hall Show" (1 episode, 1992)

"Gabriel's Fire" (1 episode, 1990)

Grammy Legends (1990) (TV)

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (1990)

"Ebony/Jet Showcase" (3 episodes, 1986-1990)

Diet America Challenge (1989) (TV)

The 10th Annual Black Achievement Awards (1989) (TV)

"Lou Rawls Parade of Stars" (1 episode, 1988)

Christmas Special (1988) (TV)

20th NAACP Image Awards (1988) (TV)

Living the Dream: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1988) (TV)

Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

"Dolly" (1 episode, 1987)

The 59th Annual The Academy Awards (1987) (TV)

Saturday Night Live (1 episode, 1986)

The 58th Annual The Academy Awards (1986) (TV)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1 episode, 1985)

"A.M. Chicago" (1974) TV series (unknown episodes, 1984-1986)

O, The Oprah Magazine

O at Home

The Academy Awards

1986 Nominated Oscar Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: The Color Purple (1985)

Acapulco Black Film Festival

1999 Nominated Black Film Award Best Actress for: Beloved (1998)

Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden

1994 Won TV Prize Best Foreign TV Personality - Female (Bästa utländska kvinna)

Black Movie Awards

2005 Nominated Black Movie Award Outstanding Television Movie for: Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) (TV). Shared with: Kate Forte, Quincy Jones, Matthew Carlisle

Black Reel Awards

2010 Nominated Black Reel Best Ensemble for: The Princess and the Frog (2009). Shared with: Anika Noni Rose, Terrence Howard, Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Bruno Campos, Elizabeth M. Dampier & Jim Cummings

Christopher Awards

2008 Won Christopher Award Feature Films for: The Great Debaters (2007). Shared with: Denzel Washington (director); Robert Eisele (screenwriter); Todd Black, Kate Forte & Joe Roth (producers); Molly Allen (co-producer); Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein & David Crockett (executive producers)

Daytime Emmy Awards

2002 Nominated Daytime Emmy Outstanding Special Class Special for: A Prayer for America: Yankee Stadium Memorial (2001) (TV). Shared with: David Stern & Marcia Lee (executive producers); Adam Cooper, Annette Jolles & Eric Duke (producers)

1999 Nominated Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Shared with: Dianne Atkinson Hudson (executive producer); Ellen Rakieten, Dana Newton, Michael Tanaka & Alice McGee (supervising senior producers); Randall Barone (senior producer); Mollie Allen, Kandi Amelon, Amy Craig, Katy Murphy Davis (senior producers); Lisa Erspamer, Angie Kraus-Bell, Laura Grant Sillars & Jill Van Lokeren (producers)

1998 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Tied with Rosie O'Donnell for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996)

1998 Nominated Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Shared with: Dianne Atkinson Hudson (executive producer); David Boul, Alice McGee, Dana Newton & Ellen Rakieten (supervising senior producers); Mollie Allen, Kandi Amelon, Amy Craig, Katy Murphy Davis, Angie Kraus-Bell, Laura Grant Sillars & Jill Van Lokeren (producers)

1998 Lifetime Achievement Award

1995 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Shared with: Dianne Atkinson Hudson & Debra Di Maio (executive producers); Ellen Rakieten, David Boul & Alice McGee (senior producers); Dana Newton & LaGrande Green (producers)

1995 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1994 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Shared with: Debra Di Maio (executive producer); Dianne Atkinson Hudson (supervising senior producer); Alice McGee, Ellen Rakieten & Mary Kay Clinton (senior producers), David Boul, LaGrande Green, Rudy Guido & Dana Newton (producers)

1994 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1993 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Children's Special for: "ABC Afterschool Specials" (1972). Shared with: Debra Di Maio (executive producer); Tod Lending (coordinating producer); Ray Nunn (senior producer); John Watkin & Eamon Harrington (producers) for: episode "Shades of a Single Protein"

1993 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1992 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Show for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Shared with: Debra Di Maio (executive producer); Mary Kay Clinton, Ellen Rakieten, David Boul, Dianne Atkinson Hudson, Rudy Guido & Alice McGee (producers)

1992 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1991 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Show for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Shared with: Debra Di Maio (executive producer); Ray Nunn (senior producer); David Boul, Mary Kay Clinton, Rudy Guido, Dianne Atkinson Hudson, Alice McGee, Lou Oaks & Ellen Rakieten (producers)

1991 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1989 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Program for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986). Shared with: Debra Di Maio (executive producer); Ellen Rakieten, Dianne Atkinson Hudson, Mary Kay Clinton, Angela Thame & Alice McGee (producers)

1989 Nominated Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1988 Nominated Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1987 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk or Service Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

Emmy Awards

2002 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award

2000 Won Emmy Outstanding Made for Television Movie for: Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) (TV). Shared with: Kate Forte (executive producer); Jennifer Ogden (supervising producer)

1993 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Informational Special for: Michael Jackson Talks to... Oprah Live (1993) (TV). Shared with: Debra Di Maio (producer); Wendy Roth (coordinating producer)

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Miniseries for: The Women of Brewster Place (1989) (TV). Shared with: Carole Isenberg (executive producer); Karen Hall (supervising producer); Patricia K. Meyer & Reuben Cannon (producers); Barbara Black (line producer)

Golden Apple Awards

1987 Won Golden Apple Female Star of the Year

Golden Globe Awards

1986 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for: The Color Purple (1985)

Image Awards

2005 Hall of Fame

1999 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for: Beloved (1998)

1991 Special Award Entertainer of the Year

International Emmy Awards

2005 Founders Award

PGA Awards

2008 Won Stanley Kramer Award for: The Great Debaters (2007). Shared with: Todd Black & Kate Forte

2000 Won Television Producer of the Year Award in Longform for: Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) (TV). Shared with: Kate Forte (executive producer)

Peabody Awards

1996 Won Personal Award

People's Choice Awards

2008 Nominated People's Choice Award Favorite Talk Show Host

2007 Nominated People's Choice Award Favorite Talk Show Host

2006 Nominated People's Choice Award Favorite Daytime Talk Show Host

2005 Nominated People's Choice Award Favorite Daytime Talk Show Host

2004 Won People's Choice Award Favorite Talk Show Host

1998 Won People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Performer

1997 Won People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Performer

1988 Won People's Choice Award Favorite Talk Show Host

TV Guide Awards

2001 Nominated TV Guide Award Talk-Variety Star of the Year

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Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954) is the American multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated talk show in the history of television. She is also an influential book critic, an Academy Award-nominated actress, and a magazine publisher. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time, and the world's only black billionaire for three straight years. She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world.


Born in rural Mississippi to a poor unwed teenaged mother, and later raised in a Milwaukee ghetto. Sent to live with the man she calls her father, a barber in Tennessee, Winfrey landed a job in radio while still in high school and began co-anchoring the local evening news at the age of 19. Her emotional ad-lib delivery eventually got her transferred to the daytime talk show arena, and after boosting a third rated local Chicago talk show to first place, she launched her own production company and became internationally syndicated.


Credited with creating a more intimate confessional form of media communication, she is thought to have popularized and revolutionized the tabloid talk show genre pioneered by Phil Donahue, which a Yale study claimed broke 20th century taboos and allowed gays, transsexuals, and transgender people to enter the mainstream. By the mid 1990s she had reinvented her show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality. Though criticized for unleashing confession culture and promoting controversial self-help fads, she is generally admired for overcoming adversity to become a benefactor to others.

She permanently withdrew herself and her show from consideration for a Daytime Emmy Award after being awarded the Lifetime Achievement in 1998. She was quoted as saying, "After you've achieved it for a lifetime, what else is there?"

Was sued by Texas cattlemen who claimed that Oprah defamed beef on her talk show. The case went to trial, causing Oprah to have to relocate her show's production to Amarillo, Texas, for the duration of the trial. She was found not liable.

Is the first woman in history to own and produce her own talk show.

Gave birth to a baby boy when she was just 14. The baby died after 2 weeks, from complications of being born 2 months premature.

Was instrumental in the passage of the Oprah Bill, in the early 1990s. The bill was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, and is aimed at stopping child abuse.

Added to Forbes Billionare list, making her the first African American woman to do so. [February 2003]

Purchased a house at 3330 Radcliffe Avenue, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This superb 11,000 sq ft waterfront property was on sale for Cdn $18 million, at the time British Columbia's most expensive house, but she paid Cdn $17 million (US$13 million). [June 2004]

Was a guest at friends Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger's star-studded wedding

First African-American woman to become a billionaire in American history.

After years of publicly criticizing David Letterman's late-night television show, "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993), she and Letterman finally settled their differences when she agreed to appear on the December 1, 2005 episode, during which time she was to be in New York to promote her musical of The Color Purple (1985). During the Superbowl of 2007, they appeared in an advertisement together for Letterman's show. In the ad, they sat together on a couch watching the Superbowl, wearing opposing team jerseys. [2005]

Had two half siblings from her mother. Her half brother passed away from AIDS in December 1988 and her half sister, Patricia, died under mysterious circumstances in 2003.

"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity."

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the Limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the Limo breaks down."

"All my life I have always known I was born to greatness."

"The essential question is not, "How busy are you?' but 'What are you busy at?' 'Are you doing what fulfills you?'"

"Some women have a weakness for shoes... I can go barefoot if necessary. I have a weakness for books."

"My philosophy is that doing your best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment."

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