Oprah Winfrey, an American actress, producer, writer, magazine publisher, and TV talk show host, was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Oprah's mother, Vernita Lee, was a housemaid, and her father, Vernon Winfrey, was a coal miner. He later worked as a barber before becoming a city councilman.
Oprah landed her first job, at the age of nineteen, as a reporter for a radio station in Nashville. Later, she attended the Tennessee State University to pursue a career in radio and television broadcasting. In 1976, Oprah hosted a TV show in Baltimore called "People Are Talking." In 1983, Winfrey relocated to Chicago to host WLS-TV's morning talk-show, A.M. Chicago and later was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1986. Oprah's ratings were more successful than Phil Donahue Show. In 2002, Oprah created a production called the Harpo Productions.
Oprah has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time. Winfrey was called "arguably the world's most powerful woman" and "the most influential woman in the world."
In 1985, Oprah starred in "The Color Purple" for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. Some of her other films are Beloved (1998), Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) by Harpo Productions, voiced in Charlotte's Web (2006) and Bee Movie (2007).
In 1998, Oprah began Oprah's Angel Network, which supports charitable projects and provides grants to nonprofit organizations around the world. The Network has raised more than $51,000,000. Jon Bon Jovi donated $1 million. Oprah Winfrey has published two successful magazines called O, The Oprah Magazine and O at Home. She has created a website called Oprah.com., and in 2006 established a new radio channel called Oprah and Friends.
Oprah Winrfrey has been romantically involved with Roger Ebert, an American film critic and screenwriter and Stedman Graham, an author and educator.
That is so wonderful how Oprah found out about her half-sister Patricia!
Posted by: Sarah Mcgill
I saw the Color Purple. It's definitely a must see! Oprah is a powerful and very influential woman. Her endorsements are very effective. For example, when she endorsed the purple "Toywatch" http://www.christinejewellers.com/toywatch.html which are literally plastic watches, practically all my friends (Oprah fans) bought it!!
Posted by: Dana
The Oprah Winfrey Show is one of my favorite shows.
Posted by: Katrina L.
Oprah is an amazing woman. She has truely transformed herself into one of the most successful women in history.
Posted by: Heather Thompson
Oprah is a true icon. The Color Purple is a movie one must see.. She is an amazing actress and entrepreneur.
