Oprah Winfrey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oprah Winfrey
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Winfrey in 2023
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Orpah Gail Winfrey
January 29, 1954 Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Tennessee State University (BA) |
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| Years active | 1973–present |
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| Partner(s) | Stedman Graham (1986–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Oprah Gail Winfrey (born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is a famous American talk show host, television producer, actress, and author. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. This show was broadcast from Chicago for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011.
Oprah is often called the "Queen of All Media." She was the richest African American person of the 20th century. At one point, she was the only black billionaire in the world. By 2007, many people considered her the most influential woman in the world.
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Early Life and Education
Orpah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954. Her birthplace was Kosciusko, Mississippi. Her mother, Vernita Lee, worked as a housemaid.
For the first six years of her life, Oprah lived with her grandmother, Hattie Mae. Her grandmother was very poor. Sometimes, Oprah wore dresses made from potato sacks.
When she was six, Oprah moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to live with her mother. She also spent time living with her father, Vernon, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Oprah attended Lincoln High School in Milwaukee. She later transferred to Nicolet High School. She often felt the difference between her own poverty and the lives of her classmates.
Later, she moved back to Nashville to live with her father, Vernon. He was strict but encouraged her education. Oprah became an honors student. She was voted Most Popular Girl and joined her high school speech team. She even placed second in the nation for dramatic interpretation.
Oprah won a speech contest. This earned her a full scholarship to Tennessee State University. This is a historically black institution. She studied communication. She finished her degree in 1987, after she had already become a successful TV star.
Oprah's Amazing Career
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The first episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired across the country on September 8, 1986. Oprah based her show on the popular Phil Donahue Show. Soon, her show became America's top daytime talk show.
In its early years, the show focused on celebrity news. But in the mid-1990s, Oprah started discussing bigger topics. These included health, world events, and spirituality. She interviewed famous people about social issues. She also hosted exciting giveaways on TV.
By 2008, Oprah's show was shown in 140 countries. About 46 million people in the U.S. watched it. The show was especially popular with women and people in certain parts of the U.S.
The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show was on May 25, 2011.
Other Ventures and Businesses
Besides her talk show, Oprah also produced and acted in other projects. She co-starred in the TV miniseries The Women of Brewster Place (1989). She also helped start the women's cable TV network Oxygen.
Oprah is the president of Harpo Productions. This company produces many popular shows. These include The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil, and Rachael Ray. In 2011, the Discovery Health Channel became OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
Oprah also worked as a special reporter for 60 Minutes from 2017 to 2018. She started creating new shows for Apple TV+ in 2018.
"The Oprah Effect"
Oprah's audience trusted her opinions a lot. When she suggested a book, a product, or even a political candidate, people often followed her advice. This strong influence became known as "The Oprah Effect." It showed how powerful her voice was.
Oprah's Personal Life
When she was 13, Oprah ran away from home. She faced a very sad time in her youth when she was 14.
Oprah and her partner, Stedman Graham, have been together since 1986. They were engaged in 1992, but they never had a wedding ceremony.
Close Friends
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Oprah's best friend since their early twenties is Gayle King. Gayle King used to host The Gayle King Show. She is now an editor for O, the Oprah Magazine.
Oprah also considered Maya Angelou a mentor and close friend. Maya Angelou was the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Oprah called Angelou her "mother-sister-friend." Oprah hosted a special cruise for Angelou's 70th birthday. She also threw a big 80th birthday party for her.
Personal Wealth
In 1986, at age 32, Oprah became a millionaire. Her wealth continued to grow. In 2003, at age 49, she became the first black woman billionaire in the world. Many believe Oprah is the richest African American person of the 20th century.
Religious Views
Oprah was raised as a Baptist. She has said that she is a Christian. Her favorite Bible verse is Acts 17:28. Oprah has attended The Potter's House Church in Dallas.
Philanthropy and Giving Back
Oprah created Oprah's Angel Network. This charity supported projects and gave money to non-profit groups worldwide. It ran from 1998 to 2010. One of its projects raised money for people affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In 2006, Oprah took her entire staff and their families on a vacation to Hawaii. This was to thank them for their hard work and to celebrate 20 years of her show. In total, 1,065 people went on the trip.
By 2012, Oprah had given about $400 million to education. This included over 400 scholarships to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 2013, Oprah donated $12 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Later that year, President Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is a very high honor.
Oprah Winfrey Quotes
- “Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
- “Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”
- “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”
- “Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher.”
- “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.”
- “You don't become what you want, you become what you believe.”
Interesting Facts About Oprah Winfrey
- Her first name was originally spelled Orpah on her birth certificate. This was after a biblical figure. But people often mispronounced it, and "Oprah" became the name everyone used.
- Oprah's grandmother, Hattie Mae, taught her to read before she was three years old. She also took Oprah to church. There, Oprah was nicknamed "The Preacher" because she could recite Bible verses.
- Oprah says her grandmother encouraged her to speak in public. She "gave me a positive sense of myself."
- As a child, she would play games. She would interview her corncob doll and the crows on her family's fence.
- A genetic test in 2006 showed that her family line came from the Kpelle people in what is now Liberia. Her genetic makeup was mostly African.
- Oprah had three younger half-siblings. Her half-brother Jeffrey died from HIV/AIDS-related causes in 1989.
- Oprah's first job as a teenager was working at a local grocery store.
- At age 17, Oprah won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant.
- Oprah started her media career as a newscaster. She worked at a local black radio station, WVOL, in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Oprah co-starred in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (1985). She played the character Sofia. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.
- In the 2008 presidential election, Oprah supported Barack Obama.
- In 2018, the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened a special exhibit. It showed how much Oprah influenced culture through television.
- In 2021, she interviewed Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry. This interview was watched globally.
- Oprah has written or co-written five books.
- She publishes O, The Oprah Magazine. She also published O At Home from 2004 to 2008.
- Oprah's company created the Oprah.com website. It offers resources and content related to her shows, magazines, book club, and charity.
- The Wall Street Journal created the term "Oprahfication." This means sharing personal confessions as a way to heal.
Awards and Recognition
Oprah Winfrey has received many important awards for her work:
- In 1989, she was accepted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame.
- In 1994, she was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame.
- She has won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards. These include a Lifetime Achievement Award.
- She has two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a Peabody Award.
- She also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy Awards. She has been nominated for two other Academy Awards.
- In 2021, Oprah was chosen as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Images for kids
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Winfrey joins Barack and Michelle Obama on the campaign trail (December 10, 2007)
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Winfrey in 2014
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Winfrey speaking at Moore's inauguration, 2023
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Winfrey filming in Denmark in 2009
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Filmography
Oprah Winfrey has acted in and produced many films and television shows throughout her career. Some notable roles include Sofia in The Color Purple and Gloria Gaines in The Butler. She has also lent her voice to animated characters and served as an executive producer for numerous successful projects.
See also
In Spanish: Oprah Winfrey para niños
