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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?"

In addition to being a news anchor on WJZ-TV13 in Baltimore, Maryland, Winfrey was co-host with Richard Sher (a reporter) on a local talk show called "People are Talking" on that station.

Graduated from East Nashville High School in Nashville, Tennessee (1971), where she was voted most popular.

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.

She was ranked first in Entertainment Weekly's 1998 list of the most powerful people in show business, but dropped to sixth in the 1999 list. Still, she was the highest ranking performer, as well as the highest ranking woman, and the only African-American to make the list.

Graduate of Tennessee State University, with a degree in Speech and Performing Arts.

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

The given name on her birth certificate is Orpah, but the spelling was eventually changed to Oprah after others had difficulty pronouncing her name.

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1985" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 37.

Announced that Oprah would receive $130,000,000 for continuing her talk show through the 1999-2000 TV season. [15 September 1997]

Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1997.

Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca, New York. [1994]

She and Stedman Graham are teaching "Dynamics of Leadership" class at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. [Fall 1999]

Given an honorary National Book Award for her "influential contribution to reading and books". [October 1999]

Awarded (lst) 50th anniversary medal by National Book Foundation, NYC. [November 1999]

Her immensely popular TV talk show is a Harpo Production. Harpo is Oprah spelled backwards. Harpo is also the name of a character in The Color Purple (1985) (Oprah's film debut) played by 'Willard E. Pug'.

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.

Raised in abject poverty, she received her first pair of shoes in 1959 at age 6. She learned to read at age 2½. In fact, when it was time for her to start kindergarten, she wrote a note to her teacher insisting she should be in first grade. The teacher agreed and after finishing that grade she was then skipped to third grade.

Partner is Stedman Graham. [1986 - present]

Born at 7:51 PM EST

She and her former personal trainer Bob Greene announced they are buying seven shoreline lots from Getty Family Trust to build several homes, including one on 102-acre lot for Oprah. They plan to put conservation first and keep site development low key. [April 2002]

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

Ranked #1 on VH1's list of the "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons" (2003)

Measurements: 36-25-37 (as 18 year-old pageant contestant), 44D-29-40 (in 1990 at 200#+), 36C-25-35 (after 1995 diet), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Elected to the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY

Ranked #1 Pop Culture Icon on VH1's "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons" (2003), beating out Superman and Elvis.

Net worth is estimated to be US$1.1 billion. [2004]

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]

Natural daughter of Vernon Winfrey by Vernita Lee (born 2 May 1935).

According to Forbes magazine, her 2005 net worth is $1.3 billion. She was the first African-American women to make the list of billionaires, in 2003.

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 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]

Has a cameo playing herself in Throw Momma from the Train (1987). In a "clip" from her show, she interviews a writer (the ex-wife of Billy Crystal's character) whose plagiarized and embellished "life story" is at the top of the bestseller lists (foreshadowing the James Frey controversy twenty years later).

Was #3 on the annual Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 list in 2006

Collapsed from heat exhaustion during a recent visit to her hometown of Kosciusko, Mississippi. [October 2006]

Winfrey's name was originally "Orpah," after the biblical figure in the book of Ruth. Several different stories allude to the fact that either a misspelling on her birth certificate or a struggle with the pronunciation of her name eventually led to "Oprah" being adopted as her given name.

Has Native American ancestry.

Appearing on the annual "Time 100" list, Time's ranking of the 100 most influential people in the world, in 2007 again, she is the only person who has been on that list five times (May 2007).

Her two-year-old golden retriever, Gracie, died after accidentally choking to death on another dog's ball [July 2007].

In 2006, she gave $58,300,000 to charity to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Oprah's Angel Network, and other groups.

In 2006, she earned an estimated $260 million in salary from her various interests including syndication, cable television, and print magazines.

Thanked by Shawn Colvin in the liner notes of her album "A Few Small Repairs".

An only child.

Ranked #1 in the 2008 Forbes The Celebrity 100 list.

The Princess and the Frog (2009) (filming) (voice) .... Eudora

Bee Movie (2007) (voice) .... Judge Bumbleton

Charlotte's Web (2006) (voice) .... Gussy the Goose

Our Friend, Martin (1999) (V) (voice) .... Coretta Scott King

Beloved (1998/I) .... Sethe

Before Women Had Wings (1997) (TV) .... Zora Williams

Ellen .... Therapist (2 episodes, 1997)

There Are No Children Here (1993) (TV) .... LaJoe Rivers

Lincoln (1992) (TV) (voice) .... Elizabeth Keckley

Brewster Place (1990) TV series .... Mattie Michael (unknown episodes)

The Women of Brewster Place (1989) (TV) .... Mattie Michael

Native Son (1986) .... Mrs. Thomas

The Color Purple (1985) .... Sofia

Academy Awards, USA

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/I)

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)

Christopher Awards

2008 Won Christopher Award Feature Films for: The Great Debaters (2007)

Daytime Emmy Awards

2002 Nominated Daytime Emmy Outstanding Special Class Special for: A Prayer for America: Yankee Stadium Memorial (2001) (TV)

1999 Nominated Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk Show for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

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). - Lifetime Achievement Award

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

Outstanding Talk Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

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

Outstanding Talk Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

1993 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Children's Special for: "ABC Afterschool Specials" (1972)

For episode "Shades of a Single Protein". Outstanding Talk Show Host for: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

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

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)

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)

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)

1993 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Informational Special for: Michael Jackson Talks... to Oprah: 90 Primetime Minutes with the King of Pop (1993) (TV) )

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Miniseries for: The Women of Brewster Place (1989) (TV)

Golden Apple Awards

1987 Won Golden Apple Female Star of the Year

Golden Globes, USA

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/I)

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)

2000 Won Television Producer of the Year Award in Longform for: Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) (TV)

Peabody Awards

1996 Won Personal Award

People's Choice Awards, USA

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