Caryn Elaine Johnson, better known by her stage name of Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1949) is a well-known movie actress, comedian and singer. She was born in New York, New York.

Goldberg essentially began her career by playing the character of Selie in the Steven Spielberg directed movie adapation of the award-winning novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple. This performance garnered her an Oscar nomination for best actress in 1986. She followed up this performance with a sell-out, highly acclaimed one-woman show on Broadway. The majority of the films she made in the 1980s featured here in tough-woman comedic roles (Burglar, Fatal Beauty, Jumpin' Jack Flash), though she regularly balanced them out by performing in family-oriented films (Clara's Heart).

In danger of fading from public acclaim she revitalized her career in the role of a fake "spiritualist" who manages to actually make contact with the dead in the tear-jearker Ghost, for which she won her first Oscar award for best supporting actress. She cemented her status as a legendary comedic actress in 1991 as a lounge singer who is hidden in a nunnery (and consequently revitalises their choir) in Sister Act. She had a recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Guinan.

Goldberg has appeared in 149 films as of October 2002. She has received two Oscar nominations and won one. She has received five Daytime Emmy nominations, winning one. She has received five Emmy nominations. She has received three Golden Globe nominations, winning two. She has won three People's Choice Awards. In 1999 she received the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Vanguard Award for her continued work in supporting the gay and lesbian community. She has been nominated for five American Comedy Awards with two wins. In 2001 she won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. She also hosted the Oscars in 1999.

Goldberg is scheduled to appear in her own sitcom Whoopi in fall 2003 on NBC.

Goldberg owns a hotel in New York City called the Le Mont Hotel.

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