Stars · Hollywood and beyond
Whoopi Goldberg
American actress, comedian, author and television personality (born 1955)
Whoopi Goldberg biography
Whoopi Goldberg is an American actress, comedian, author and television personality (born 1955), born on 13 November 1955 in New York City.
Whoopi Goldberg's screen career began in 1982 with Citizen: I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away.
Whoopi Goldberg has appeared in 127 films and 74 television or streaming titles.
The most recent films are Asali: Power of the Pollinators (2026), Outlaw Posse (2024), Babes (2024).
Whoopi Goldberg is best known for The Color Purple, Ghost, Sister Act, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.
Honours include Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Theatre World Award and Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Coming up next: Captain Zero: The Movie, Soapdish, Anansi Boys.
- Born
- 13 November 1955 (age 70)
- Birthplace
- New York City
- Work
- Television actor, Film actor, Radio personality, Singer-songwriter, Singer
- Film industries
- Hollywood and beyond
- Years active
- 1982 to present
- Known for
- The Color Purple, Ghost, Sister Act, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, The Whoopi Goldberg Show, Hollywood Squares
- Awards
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
- Theatre World Award
- Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
- Golden Globes
- Crystal Award
- honorary doctor of Brandeis University
Whoopi Goldberg filmography
128 films and 77 television or streaming titles, newest first.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Zero: The Movie | Upcoming | |||
| 2026 | Asali: Power of the Pollinators | Galbanum | Voice role; short film | |
| 2024 | Outlaw Posse | Stagecoach Mary | ||
| 2024 | Babes | Dawn's Breasts | Voice role | |
| 2023 | Atrabilious | Andrea Hart | ||
| 2023 | Ezra | Jayne | ||
| 2023 | The Color Purple | Midwife | Cameo | |
| 2022 | Till | Alma Carthan | Producer | |
| 2022 | My Father's Dragon | Cat | Voice role | |
| 2022 | Luck | The Captain | Voice role | |
| 2021 | JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2020 | Miss Americana | English | ||
| 2019 | The Most Magnificent Thing | The Narrator | Voice role; Short film | |
| 2018 | Nobody's Fool | Lola | ||
| 2018 | Furlough | Mrs. Stevens | ||
| 2017 | The Problem With Apu | English | ||
| 2017 | The Truth Is in the Stars | English | ||
| 2017 | 9/11 | Metzie | ||
| 2017 | Yamasong: March of the Hollows | Yari | ||
| 2017 | A Very Sordid Wedding | Priest | Cameo | |
| 2016 | The Beatles: Eight Days a Week | English | ||
| 2016 | King of the Dancehall | Loretta Brixton | ||
| 2016 | A Warrior's Tail | Mom Jozee | Voice role; English version | |
| 2014 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Bernadette Thompson | ||
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes To... | English |
Show all 128 films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Top Five | |||
| 2014 | Big Stone Gap | Fleeta | ||
| 2014 | TCB Baby | Dr. Reynolds | ||
| 2013 | Blackfish | English | ||
| 2013 | Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic | English | ||
| 2011 | The Muppets | English | ||
| 2011 | The Little Engine That Could | Tower | Voice role | |
| 2011 | A Little Bit of Heaven | God | ||
| 2011 | Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2010 | Teenage Paparazzo | English | ||
| 2010 | New York Street Games | English | ||
| 2010 | For Colored Girls | Alice | ||
| 2010 | Toy Story 3 | Stretch | Voice role | |
| 2009 | Stream | Jodi | Short film | |
| 2008 | Snow Buddies | Miss Mittens | Voice role | |
| 2008 | Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2008 | Descendants | Red Flower | Voice role | |
| 2007 | If I Had Known I Was a Genius | Mrs. Reed | ||
| 2007 | Farce of the Penguins | Helen | Voice role | |
| 2007 | Homie Spumoni | Thelma | Voice role | |
| 2006 | Everyone's Hero | Darlin' | Voice role | |
| 2005 | The Aristocrats | English | ||
| 2005 | Racing Stripes | Frannie | Voice role | |
| 2005 | Doogal | Ermintrude The Cow (US Version) | Voice role | |
| 2004 | Jiminy Glick in Lalawood | English | ||
| 2004 | Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 | English | ||
| 2004 | The Lion King 1½ | Shenzi | Voice role; Direct-to-video | |
| 2004 | Pinocchio 3000 | Cyberina | Voice role | |
| 2003 | Pauly Shore Is Dead | English | ||
| 2003 | Blizzard | Blizzard | Voice role | |
| 2003 | Bitter Jester | English | ||
| 2003 | Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis | Guinan | Uncredited | |
| 2002 | Searching for Debra Winger | English | ||
| 2002 | Quest for the Code | Moldy | Voice | |
| 2002 | My Fair Madeline | Miss Clavel | Voice role | |
| 2002 | It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | The Boss | ||
| 2001 | Rat Race | Vera Baker | ||
| 2001 | Monkeybone | Death | ||
| 2001 | Kingdom Come | Raynelle Slocumb | ||
| 2001 | Call Me Claus | Lucy Cullin | ||
| 2001 | The Hollywood Sign | Woman at Funeral | Cameo | |
| 2001 | Golden Dreams | Calafia, the Queen of California / Narrator | Short film | |
| 2000 | The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | Judge Cameo | Uncredited | |
| 2000 | More Dogs Than Bones | Cleo | ||
| 2000 | A Second Chance at Life | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 1999 | Girl, Interrupted | Valerie Owens, R.N. | ||
| 1999 | The Deep End of the Ocean | Detective Candace "Candy" Bliss | ||
| 1999 | Get Bruce | English | ||
| 1998 | Alice in Wonderland | Cheshire Cat | ||
| 1998 | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Delilah Abraham | ||
| 1998 | Junket Whore | English | ||
| 1998 | Jackie Chan : My Story | Cantonese | ||
| 1998 | Alegría | Baby Clown | ||
| 1998 | A Knight in Camelot | Dr. Vivien Morgan / Sir Boss | Herself | |
| 1998 | Titey | The Iceberg | Voice role | |
| 1998 | The Rugrats Movie | Ranger Margaret | Voice role | |
| 1998 | Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie | Stormella, The Evil Ice Queen | Voice role | |
| 1997 | Cinderella | English | ||
| 1997 | Pitch | English | ||
| 1997 | In the Gloaming | Nurse Myrna | ||
| 1997 | In & Out | English | ||
| 1997 | Destination Anywhere | "Cabbie" | ||
| 1997 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn | English | ||
| 1997 | A Christmas Carol | The Ghost of Christmas Present | Voice role | |
| 1997 | Mary Pickford: A Life on Film | Host / The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 1996 | Bogus | Harriet Franklin | ||
| 1996 | The Associate | Laurel Ayres / Robert S. Cutty | ||
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Myrlie Evers | ||
| 1996 | Eddie | Edwina "Eddie" Franklin | ||
| 1996 | Bordello of Blood | Hospital Patient | Uncredited | |
| 1996 | Theodore Rex | Katie Coltrane | ||
| 1995 | The Celluloid Closet | English | ||
| 1995 | Moonlight and Valentino | Sylvie Morrow | ||
| 1995 | Boys on the Side | Jane DeLuca | ||
| 1994 | The Pagemaster | Fantasy | Voice role | |
| 1994 | Star Trek Generations | Guinan | Uncredited | |
| 1994 | The Little Rascals | Buckwheat's Mom | ||
| 1994 | Corrina, Corrina | Corrina Washington | ||
| 1994 | The Lion King | Shenzi | Voice role | |
| 1994 | Liberation | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Deloris Van Cartier / Sister Mary Clarence | ||
| 1993 | Made in America | Sarah Mathews | ||
| 1993 | Loaded Weapon 1 | English | ||
| 1993 | National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 | Sgt. Billy York | Uncredited cameo | |
| 1993 | Naked in New York | Tragedy Mask on Theater Wall | ||
| 1992 | Sarafina! | Mary Masembuko | ||
| 1992 | The Player | Detective Susan Avery | ||
| 1992 | Sister Act | Deloris Van Cartier / Sister Mary Clarence | ||
| 1992 | The Magical World of Chuck Jones | Documentary | ||
| 1991 | Soapdish | Rose Schwartz | ||
| 1991 | House Party 2 | The Professor | Uncredited | |
| 1991 | Dragon and Slippers | Matilda The Witch | Voice; English version | |
| 1990 | Ghost | Oda Mae Brown | ||
| 1990 | The Long Walk Home | Odessa Cotter | ||
| 1989 | Homer and Eddie | Eddie Cervi | ||
| 1988 | Clara's Heart | Clara Mayfield | ||
| 1988 | The Telephone | Vashti Blue | ||
| 1987 | Fatal Beauty | Detective Rita Rizzoli | ||
| 1987 | Burglar | Bernice "Bernie" Rhodenbarr | ||
| 1986 | Jumpin' Jack Flash | Teresa "Terry" Doolittle | ||
| 1985 | The Color Purple | Celie Harris Johnson | ||
| 1982 | Citizen: I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away |
Television and streaming
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soapdish | Rose Schwartz | Upcoming | ||
| Big City Greens | Upcoming | |||
| Anansi Boys | Bird Woman | Upcoming | ||
| 2026 | Un posto al sole | Eleanor Price | Recurring role | |
| 2023 | The Conners | Ms. Glen | Episode: "The Contra Hearings and The Midnight Gambler" | |
| 2022 | Farewell | |||
| 2022 | The Star Gazer | |||
| 2022 | Star Trek: Picard | Guinan | 2 episodes | |
| 2022 | Caught in His Web | Executive producer | ||
| 2022 | Amphibia | Mother Olm | Voice; 3 episodes | |
| 2022 | A New Orleans Noel | Executive producer | ||
| 2021 | Tuca & Bertie | The Narrator | Voice; Episode: "The Flood" | |
| 2021 | Staged | Mary | 3 episodes | |
| 2021 | Marvel's M.O.D.O.K | Poundcakes | Voice; Episode: "If Saturday Be... for the Boys!" | |
| 2021 | Harlem | Dr. Elise Pruitt | 11 episodes | |
| 2021 | Godfather of Harlem | Miss Willa | 7 episodes | |
| 2021 | Bubble Guppies | Pirate Myra | Voice; Episode: "The Holiday Pirates!" | |
| 2020 | The Stand | Mother Abagail Freemantle | Limited series, 8 episodes | |
| 2019 | Summer Camp Island | Barb | Voice; Recurring character, 16 episodes | |
| 2018 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Good Witch | Episode: "Chadwick Boseman/Strangest Things" | |
| 2018 | Random Acts of Flyness | Officer Pearson | Episode: "Items outside the shelter but within reach" | |
| 2018 | Instinct | Joan Ross | 6 episodes | |
| 2018 | Elena of Avalor | Lama | Voice; 3 episodes | |
| 2018 | BoJack Horseman | Mikhaela | Voice; Episode: "The Light Bulb Scene" | |
| 2017 | Descendants 2 | Ursula | Voice; Television movie |
Show all 77 titles
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | When We Rise | Pat Norman | 3 episodes | |
| 2017 | Animals | Dorothy | Voice; Episode: "Dog." | |
| 2016 | The Stinky & Dirty Show | Meg | Voice; 10 episodes | |
| 2016 | Strut | Executive producer | ||
| 2016 | Miles from Tomorrowland | The GameMaster | Voice; 4 episodes | |
| 2016 | Blue Bloods | Regina Thomas | 3 episodes | |
| 2016 | Ask the Storybots | Tooth Fairy | Episode: "Why Do I Have to Brush My Teeth?" | |
| 2015 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Janette Grayson | Episode: "Institutional Fail" | |
| 2014 | The 7D | Magic Mirror | Voice; Recurring role | |
| 2014 | A Day Late and a Dollar Short | Viola | Television movie | |
| 2013 | Once Upon a Time in Wonderland | Mrs. Rabbit | Voice; 3 episodes | |
| 2012 | The Middle | Jane Marsh | Episode: "The Guidance Counselor" | |
| 2012 | Suburgatory | Yakult | Voice; Episode: "The Motherload" | |
| 2012 | Robot Chicken | HAL 9000 / Celie Harris Johnson / Spirit / Swift Wind | Episode: "Choked on Multi-Colored Scarves" | |
| 2012 | Glee | Carmen Tibideaux | 6 episodes | |
| 2012 | 666 Park Avenue | Maris Elder | Episode: "Hypnos" | |
| 2009 | The Cleaner | Paulina Kmec | 3 episodes | |
| 2008 | Life on Mars | Brother Lovebutter | Season 1 - Episode 5 | |
| 2008 | A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa | Taxi Driver | Television movie | |
| 2007 | The View | Moderator/co-host | ||
| 2006 | So Notorious | MaMa Belle | Episode: "Cursed" | |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Chesley Watkins | Episode: "To the Bone" | |
| 2006 | Just for Kicks | Developer and executive producer | ||
| 2006 | Everybody Hates Chris | Louise Clarkson | 2 episodes | |
| 2004 | Whoopi's Littleburg | Mayor Whoopi | 3 episodes | |
| 2003 | Whoopi | Mavis Rae | 22 episodes; also executive producer | |
| 2003 | Liberty's Kids | Deborah Samson / Robert Shurtliff | Voice; 1 episode | |
| 2003 | Good Fences | Mabel Spader | Television movie; also producer | |
| 2002 | Absolutely Fabulous | Goldie | Episode: "Gay" | |
| 2001 | What Makes a Family | Terry Harrison | TV movie; also executive producer | |
| 1999 | The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | The Grand Banshee | 2 episodes | |
| 1999 | Alice in Wonderland | Cheshire Cat | Television movie | |
| 1999 | Our Friend, Martin | Mrs. Peck | Voice; Video | |
| 1999 | Jackie's Back | Jackie's Sister | Television movie | |
| 1999 | Foxbusters | Ransome | Voice; all 26 episodes | |
| 1998 | Saturday Night Live | Iceberg (voice) | Episode: "Steve Buscemi/Third Eye Blind" | |
| 1997 | Tracey Takes On | God | Episode: "Supernatural" | |
| 1997 | Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella | Queen Constantina | Television movie | |
| 1995 | The Sunshine Boys | Nurse | TV movie; uncredited cameo | |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Mother/ Zenobia the Hoodoo Diva | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| 1993 | A Cool Like That Christmas | Mom / Irwin | Voice; Television movie | |
| 1992 | Defenders of Dynatron City | Ms. Megawatt | Voice; Television short | |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Peligre / Herself | Episode: "Dead Wait" | |
| 1991 | A Different World | Dr. Jordan | Episode: "If I Should Die Before I Wake" | |
| 1990 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Gaia, The Spirit of Earth | Voice; 60 episodes | |
| 1990 | Bagdad Cafe | Brenda | 15 episodes | |
| 1989 | My Past Is My Own | Mariah Johnston | Television movie | |
| 1989 | Kiss Shot | Sarah Collins | Television movie | |
| 1988 | Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special | English | ||
| 1988 | Whoopi Goldberg: Fontaine... Why Am I Straight? | Fontaine | TV movie; also writer | |
| 1988 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Guinan | 28 episodes | |
| 1986 | Moonlighting | Camille Brand | Episode: "Camille" |