Whoopi Goldberg: My Life & Story
Multi-hyphenate, award-winning artist WHOOPI GOLDBERG grew up in a Manhattan housing project and worked her way to international stardom. In this honest and vulnerable conversation, Goldberg reflects on her upbringing, career, and activism. From her mother’s instructive parables to her own experiences in the entertainment industry, Goldberg weaves a remarkable story with impeccable comedic timing, inspiring any audience.
Moderated by Whoopi Goldberg
Moderator of ABC’s The View and global star WHOOPI GOLDBERG is an experienced moderator. She has served as moderator during the program’s frequent debates for over a decade. Goldberg brings her award-winning sense of humor and on-air moderation experience to discussions, debates, and panels for any organization.
Commencement: Speaking to the Next Generation
Entertainment industry legend WHOOPI GOLDBERG inspires the next generation as a beloved commencement speaker. She has delivered commencement addresses at SCAD, Kean University, Goodwin College, and more. Graduating students and families arrive excited and hang onto her every word, absorbing her poignant, actionable, and motivational life advice.
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Whoopi Goldberg’s global health activism saves lives
Legendary artist and New York Times bestselling author WHOOPI GOLDBERG is a longtime advocate for childhood health initiatives as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She has lent her voice and passion to campaigns spanning children’s welfare, housing, human rights, substance abuse, and the battle against AIDS. In an interview with UNICEF’s #EveryChildALIVE campaign, Goldberg openly discussed her own health struggles to raise awareness about preventable pediatric pneumonia.
Goldberg has been an outspoken advocate for those with HIV/AIDS from the earliest days of the disease. She has been honored with the Elizabeth Taylor Legacy Award for AIDs Activism for her work over the past three decades. At the Global Citizens Festival, Goldberg led a crowd of sixty thousand in a powerful call and response: “You’re okay with me, and I stand with you.” Goldberg’s advocacy and activism work, fundraising, speaking, and advocating, has positively impacted the health of millions.
Watch Whoopi Goldberg’s digital campaign for UNICEF >>
Watch Whoopi Goldberg’s commencement speech at Goodwin College >>
Whoopi Goldberg inspires graduating students
EGOT winner and legendary performer WHOOPI GOLDBERG inspires students nationally with her commencement addresses. She has delivered remarks for Goodwin College, Kean University, SCAD, and more. Before giving her address to students, families, and faculty at Goodwin College, Goldberg walked onstage to spirited applause. She told the audience, “Your accomplishments are extraordinary because you chose to be here. You’ve done it. Remember that in the rough times…we’re not out here alone.”
Recounting the lessons learned over the course of her notable career, Goldberg provides much-needed perspective to graduating students. Kean University graduate Emely Hernandez recalls how personalized Golberg’s remarks felt and the impact they had on the audience, “I thought the ceremony was really nice… It was obvious it was for us and no one else.”
Watch Whoopi Goldberg’s commencement speech at Goodwin College >>
Event Success Story: Whoopi Goldberg shares wisdom with fans at DragCon NYC
Multi-hyphenate, award-winning artist and entrepreneur WHOOPI GOLDBERG thrilled audiences during her RuTalk at Dragcon NYC. The beloved performer teamed up with RuPaul to discuss fame, success, and self-actualization. Goldberg told RuPaul and the audience, “It is up to us to create the world we want. We can’t wait for other people to do it for us. We have to talk it into existence.”
Goldberg’s conversation at DragCon NYC was a refreshing reminder of her strong values, inspiring stories, and incredible comedic delivery. Goldberg motivates any audience to reach for the stars.
In 2002, Whoopi Goldberg became one of a very elite group of artists who have won the Grammy (Whoopi Goldberg, 1985), the Academy Award (Ghost, 1991), the Golden Globe (The Color Purple, 1985 and Ghost, 1991), the Emmy (as host of AMC’s Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel, 2002 and a Daytime Emmy for The View in 2009) and a Tony (Producer of Thoroughly Modern Millie, 2002). She is equally well-known for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of children, the homeless, human rights, education, substance abuse and the battle against AIDS, as well as many other causes and charities. Among her many charitable activities, Whoopi is a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations.
Whoopi has appeared in many films such as Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Sister Act, Corrina, Corrina, Boys on the Side, Eddie, The Associate, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Girl, Interrupted, and Rat Race. She has voiced characters in such animated features as The Lion King, Racing Stripes, Doogal, and Everyone’s Hero. She was part of Tyler Perry’s all-star film adaption of For Colored Girls… a Lifetime Original Movie, A Day Late and a Dollar Short, which she also executive produced, as well as Paramount/Nickelodeon Movies’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the upcoming feature film Big Stone Gap. She produced the documentary short, Coach, about legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer, for ESPN’s Nine for IX series. She produced and made her directorial debut with the documentary, Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley, which premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and premiered on HBO in November 2013.
On television she has appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation, hosted her own syndicated late-night talk show, starred in the NBC sitcom, Whoopi, which she executive produced, as well as the television movies, It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and Showtime’s Good Fences, which she co-produced with co-star Danny Glover. She produced and appeared on Nick Jr’s Whoopi’s Littleburg and guest starred opposite Benjamin Bratt in A&E’s The Cleaner. Whoopi most recently had recurring roles on ABC’s 666 Park Avenue, and in the FOX comedy series Glee. She currently appears on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning The View, for which she has won a Daytime Emmy Award.
As she has in every other facet of her career, Whoopi has made her mark as a producer on television and on Broadway including SISTER ACT, which is currently playing throughout the world.
In 1992, Whoopi made her debut as an author with her first children’s book, Alice. Her second literary endeavor, simply entitled Book, became a bestseller in the U.S. and around the world. Hyperion Books published Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners in 2006 and launched the Sugar Plum Ballerinas book series for young readers in 2008 with Plum Fantastic, followed by Toeshoe Trouble, Perfectly Prima, Terrible Terrel, Sugar Plums to the Rescue!, and Dancing Diva. Is It Just Me? and If Someone Says ‘You Complete Me,’ RUN! are her most recent books for adults.
Among her many awards and honors, Whoopi has placed prints of her hands, feet and braids in the forecourt of the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Kodak Theatre.
My Speaker List
