2000: Broke up with boyfriend of five years Frank Langella.

Discovered by director Mike Nichols.

1994: Became the very first woman to host the Academy Awards solo.

Dated Ted Danson.

Born at 12:48pm-EST.

Daughter: Alexandrea; Granddaughters: Amarah and Jerzey.

Travels to locations by bus since she hates flying.

She won a Grammy for "Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway."

Once worked in a mortuary where her job was applying makeup to corpses.

1985: Listed as one of 12 Promising New Actors of 1985 in "John Willis's Screen World," Vol. 37.

Was nicknamed Whoopi (as in "whoopi-cushion") because of being overly flatulent. She added the name Goldberg, taken from the Jewish side of her family.

Holds an honorary degree from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa.

Dropped out of high school and became addicted to heroin. She ended up marrying her drug counselor. She cleaned up and later divorced him. In 1974 she moved to California and helped found the San Diego Repertory Company, where she used the name, Whoopi Cushion. Before making it as an actress, she worked as a bank teller, a bricklayer and in a mortuary.

She was inspired to become an actress by watching Nichelle Nichols's portrayal of Uhura on "Star Trek" (1966).

Is dyslexic.

Mother of actress Alex Martin.

2002: Hosted the Oscar ceremonies.

Asked Gene Roddenberry for a role in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) because she was a big fan. She was given role of "Guinan", the head of the Ten-Forward lounge. Her character was named for legendary entertainer / nightclub owner Texas Guinan.

Spokesmodel of the "got milk?" campaign.

Is an avid Fiesta Ware (china) collector.

2002: Won a Tony as a producer for Best Musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie.".

1985: Won a Grammy for Best Comedy Performance Single or Album, Spoken or Musical for "Original Broadway Show Recording.".

Was the second African American woman to win an Oscar. The first was Hattie McDaniel.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 184-186. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.

Has over 4 different action figures modeled after her character, Guinan, from the "Star Trek" series and the films.

Is part-owner of Mary's Kitchen, a country store/kitchen in Malibu, California. It is staffed by "New Yorkers" and certain furnishings were imported from New York because Whoopi wanted a touch of home in Malibu.

In the "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992) series episode "Gay," she played a woman who arranges marriages. In her guest-starring role in "The Nanny" (1993) (episode "The Pre-Nup"). she played a wedding planner.

Has a tattoo of Woodstock (the bird from the Charles M. Schulz's "Peanuts" cartoon strip) on her shoulder.

Granddaughter Amarah Skye was born on her 34th birthday.

When she was only 8, she performed with the Children's Program and the Hudson Guild and The Rubenstein Children's Theatre.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991

Has her own production company, One Ho Productions, which backs most of her movies and television projects.

Michael J. Fox accompanied her to the 1986 Academy Awards when she was nominated for The Color Purple (1985).

Was one of the eulogists at Gene Roddenberry's funeral in 1991, along with other Star Trek stars Nichelle Nichols and Patrick Stewart.

Did a private stand-up comedy routine entitled "If E.T. landed in Oakland" in front of, among others, Steven Spielberg and Michael Jackson, which eventually won her the lead in The Color Purple (1985), which Spielberg directed.

One of only four actresses who won the quadruple crown of acting: The Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy.

Her performance as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost (1990) is ranked #95 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Is good friends with Patrick Stewart.

She was awarded The Annual Kennedy Centre Mark Twain Prize for Comedy.

The first woman to host the Academy Awards on her own. She hosted them in 2002, 1999, 1996 and 1994.

Is one of only 7 African-American actresses to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Angela Bassett and Halle Berry.

She is one of only 10 individuals who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award (counting Daytime Emmy Awards).

Worked as a Dishwasher at a restaurant called "Big Kitchen" at 3003 Grape St in San Diego.

Performed all her own singing in the "Sister Act" movies. Her co-stars have claimed that they were surprised at her vocal ability.

Has a brother who is seven years older than her.