Rosie O'Donnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosie O'Donnell
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O'Donnell in 2006
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| Born |
Roseann O'Donnell
March 21, 1962 Commack, New York, U.S.
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| Education | Dickinson College Boston University |
| Occupation | Television presenter, comedian, producer, actor, author |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Kelli Carpenter
(m. 2004; void. 2004)Michelle Rounds
(m. 2012; div. 2015) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Daniel J. O'Donnell (brother) |
Roseann O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962) is an American comedian, TV host, actress, and author. She started her comedy career as a teenager. She became famous on the TV show Star Search in 1984. After acting in many TV shows and movies, Rosie hosted her own talk show. The Rosie O'Donnell Show ran from 1996 to 2002. It won many Daytime Emmy Awards. During this time, people called her "Queen of Nice." She also became known for her charity work.
From 2006 to 2007, O'Donnell was a host on the talk show The View. She had some disagreements about politics on the show. She hosted Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio from 2009 to 2011. From 2011 to 2012, she hosted another talk show called The Rosie Show on OWN. O'Donnell returned to The View in 2014 for a short time. From 2017 to 2019, she acted in the comedy series SMILF on Showtime.
Besides comedy, film, and TV, O'Donnell has also been a magazine editor and author. She wrote several books about her life. These include Find Me (2002) and Celebrity Detox (2007). She used money from her book Find Me to start her For All Kids Foundation. She also encouraged other famous people on her show to help with charity projects.
She has also spoken out for LGBTQ+ rights and gay adoption. O'Donnell is a foster and adoptive mother. She was named The Advocate's Person of the Year in 2002. She also helps with R Family Vacations, a company for LGBTQ+ families.
Contents
Rosie's Early Life and Interests
O'Donnell was born and grew up in Commack, Long Island, New York. She is the third of five children. Her mother, Roseann Teresa, passed away from breast cancer in 1973. Rosie was almost 11 years old at the time. Her father, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, was an electrical engineer. Her older brother, Daniel J. O'Donnell, is now a member of the New York State Assembly.
While at Commack High School, O'Donnell was very popular. She was voted homecoming queen, prom queen, and senior class president. She also loved comedy. She started by doing skits in school, imitating famous comedians. After high school, she went to Dickinson College and Boston University but later left college.
Rosie's Career Journey
Starting Out in Comedy and Acting (1979–1995)
Rosie O'Donnell started as a stand-up comedian. She performed in clubs from 1979 to 1984.
After becoming known, she moved to TV shows. She appeared on Gimme a Break! in 1986. In 1988, she became a veejay for VH1, a music video channel. She also hosted Stand-up Spotlight, a show for new comedians. In 1992, she starred in the TV show Stand By Your Man.
Rosie's movie career also began to take off. She made her first movie in A League of Their Own (1992). She acted alongside stars like Tom Hanks and Madonna. She was considered for a role in Disney's Hocus Pocus but turned it down. She said she didn't want to play a scary evil witch.
Throughout her career, she took on many different roles. She was in Sleepless in Seattle as Meg Ryan's character's best friend. She played Betty Rubble in the live-action movie The Flintstones. She was also in Beautiful Girls. She played a federal agent in Exit to Eden. Rosie also voiced Terk, a tomboyish gorilla, in Disney's Tarzan. She even played a baseball-loving nun in Wide Awake.
Hosting The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996–2002)
In 1996, Rosie O'Donnell started her own daytime talk show. It was called The Rosie O'Donnell Show. The show was very popular. It won many Emmy Awards. Rosie became known as "The Queen of Nice" because she was friendly with her guests and audience. She often threw koosh balls to the crowd. She also often talked about her admiration for Tom Cruise.
The show was based in New York City. Rosie loved Broadway musicals. She often had cast members from Broadway shows as guests. She encouraged her audience to see plays and gave away tickets.
After the Columbine shootings in 1999, Rosie spoke out for gun control. She became a big supporter of the Million Mom March. She said that people should not own guns. She later explained that she supports legal gun ownership for hunting rifles. However, she believes handguns and assault weapons should not be allowed.
In 1999, Rosie ended her contract with Kmart. She had been their spokesperson for five years. Some people who liked guns complained because Kmart was a large gun retailer. Rosie said Kmart sold hunting rifles legally, which she supported. Both Rosie and Kmart said the contract was not ended because of this.
After the September 11, 2001, attacks, Broadway and tourism in New York City slowed down. Rosie encouraged people to visit and support the arts. She donated a lot of money to help with rescue efforts. She asked other famous people and citizens to give what they could.
In 2002, Rosie left her talk show. Another comedian, Caroline Rhea, took over the show for one more season. Rosie also appeared as a guest on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Being a Host on The View (2006–2007)
In September 2006, Rosie O'Donnell joined The View. This is a daytime talk show for women. She replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host. Rosie was known for her strong opinions, especially on politics. She often disagreed with former President Bush's policies, including the Iraq War.
Rosie's outspoken style made the show very popular. Ratings for The View went up by 27% during her first year. The show became one of the most watched daytime shows. Rosie often discussed news topics. She and fellow comedian Joy Behar shared their strong views. Elisabeth Hasselbeck often shared different opinions, leading to lively discussions.
Rosie's comments sometimes made news headlines. She felt that some media focused on her words instead of more important world issues. On April 25, 2007, ABC announced that Rosie would leave the show. They could not agree on a new contract.
In May 2007, Time magazine named Rosie O'Donnell one of the 100 most influential people. In 2008, The View won an Emmy Award for a special episode about Autism. Rosie helped create this episode.
New Shows and Online Presence (2007–2012)
In March 2007, Rosie started a video blog called Jahero on her website Rosie.com. She answered fan questions and shared behind-the-scenes stories. Her friends and co-workers often joined her. The blog became very popular. Rosie won the "best celebrity blogger" award in 2007.
Rosie was interested in hosting the game show The Price Is Right when Bob Barker retired. Barker had been a guest on her show and said she would be a good host. However, Rosie decided not to take the job because she didn't want to move her family to California.
In 2008, Rosie starred in and produced America. This was a TV movie for the Lifetime channel. She played a therapist helping a boy leaving the foster care system. In October 2009, she acted in the play Love, Loss, and What I Wore.
In November 2009, "Rosie Radio" started on Sirius XM Radio. It was a daily two-hour show where Rosie discussed news and events. The radio show ended in June 2011. In 2009, Rosie also made another guest appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In 2011, Rosie started working with the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). She hosted The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell. She also hosted specials for documentaries. In fall 2011, Rosie started her new show, The Rosie Show, for OWN. The show was filmed in Chicago. It started on October 10, 2011. OWN canceled The Rosie Show on March 16, 2012. The last show aired on March 29, 2012. Rosie thanked her viewers and the city of Chicago.
Acting Roles and Return to The View (2013–2016)
In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in several TV shows. She played a reporter in Bomb Girls. She voiced the Bouncing Bumble Queen in Jake and the Never Land Pirates. She also appeared as herself in two episodes of Smash and on Impractical Jokers.
In 2014, O'Donnell got a role as Rita Hendricks on The Fosters. She played a strong but caring woman who worked for the foster care system. She became a mentor to one of the Foster family members. This role lasted until 2016.
In the fall of 2014, Rosie returned to The View as a co-host. She joined Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez, and Nicolle Wallace. On February 6, 2015, Rosie announced she would leave the show again. She said it was due to personal issues.
In 2015, Rosie had a small role in Pitch Perfect 2. She played a co-host on The View in the movie. That same year, she appeared in an episode of Empire. She played Pepper O'Leary, a tough character who shared a prison cell with Cookie Lyon. Rosie also appeared as herself in two documentaries in 2015.
In 2016, O'Donnell appeared in two episodes of the CBS series Mom. She played Jeanine, the ex-girlfriend of Bonnie (Allison Janney). She was also a regular panelist on Match Game. She appeared on The $100,000 Pyramid and competed against Kathy Najimy. Later that year, Rosie played the gym teacher in Hairspray Live!.
Recent Acting Work (2017–Present)
In November 2016, Showtime announced Rosie had joined the cast of the comedy series SMILF. The show aired from 2017 to 2019. Rosie received great reviews for her role as Tutu. On April 3, 2019, it was announced that O'Donnell would play Lisa Sheffer in the HBO series I Know This Much Is True.
In 2021, Rosie O'Donnell was a guest star on the series Run the World and The L Word: Generation Q. In 2022, she voiced the subway announcements in the second season of the Netflix series Russian Doll. That same year, she appeared as Vi in the Amazon Prime Video series A League of Their Own (2022). She also played Detective Sunday in the series American ....
Other Projects and Interests
Rosie Magazine
In 2000, Rosie O'Donnell worked with the publishers of McCall's magazine. They changed the magazine to Rosie's McCall's, or simply Rosie. It was meant to compete with Oprah Winfrey's magazine, O. Rosie magazine covered topics important to O'Donnell. These included breast cancer and foster care. In 2000, she shared that she had struggled with depression.
The magazine started strong, but problems came up between Rosie and the editors. Rosie left the magazine in September 2002. She said that if her name was on the magazine, it had to be her vision. Rosie magazine stopped publishing in 2003.
Books Written by Rosie
In 1997, Rosie released a children's joke book. It was called Kids are Punny: Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show. A second book came out in 1998. An HBO special was also made based on the books. In April 2002, O'Donnell released Find Me. This book was a mix of her life story and a detective story. It focused on helping birth mothers reunite with their children. The book became a bestseller.
In October 2007, she released Celebrity Detox. This was her second book about her life. It talked about her experiences leaving her talk shows.
R Family Vacations
In 2003, O'Donnell and her former partner, Kelli Carpenter, started R Family Vacations. This company offers vacations for LGBT families. It was the first company to offer all-gay and lesbian family vacation packages. Families could bring their kids, friends, and parents. Rosie helped with the ideas for advertising and marketing. She also came up with the name.
The first cruise happened on July 11, 2004. It had 1600 passengers, including 600 children. Besides fun activities, the company also held discussions. These talks covered topics like adoption, insemination, and surrogacy for gay parenting. All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise, a documentary film about the trip, was shown on HBO in 2006. It was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Rosie said that people who had never met other gay families met them on the cruise, and it was a powerful experience.
Taboo Musical
In late 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway. She said producing the show was "the most fulfilling experience" of her career. The show closed in February 2004 after about 100 performances. Rosie has said she wants to bring the show back to Broadway someday.
Rosie's Charitable Work
Rosie O'Donnell is known for her charity work. She has raised a lot of money for good causes. In 1996, she received money to write a book. She used this money to start her For All Kids Foundation. This foundation helps set standards for day care centers across the country.
Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation has given over $22 million in grants. These grants help more than 900 non-profit groups that support children. In October 2006, she was honored by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. They praised her foundation's work for children. In November 2006, her foundation helped open The Children's Plaza and Family Center. This center was in a FEMA trailer park in Louisiana. It helped families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In 1997, a mouthwash company called Scope made a joke about Rosie. They called her "unkissable." In response, Rosie partnered with a competing mouthwash company, Listerine. Listerine donated mouthwash to her audience. They also donated $1,000 to charity every time a guest kissed Rosie on her show. Rosie helped raise over $350,000 this way.
In 2003, Rosie and Kelli O'Donnell started Rosie's Broadway Kids. This program gives free music and dance lessons to children in New York City public schools. It helps over 4,500 teachers, students, and their families. All profits from Rosie's 2007 book Celebrity Detox also go to Rosie's Broadway Kids.
In December 2006, it was confirmed that $50 million from Rosie's five-year contract was donated to charity. She has also given hundreds of thousands of dollars to help war veterans who lost limbs. On The Tyra Banks Show, it was mentioned that Rosie has given over $100 million to charity. In May 2007, Rosie and Pogo.com worked together to raise money for Rosie's For All Kids Foundation.
In the summer of 2007, Rosie was a guest on the True Colors Tour. This tour traveled through many cities in the U.S. and Canada. It was sponsored by the gay TV channel Logo. Profits from the tour helped groups like the Human Rights Campaign and P-FLAG. She appeared on the tour again in 2008.
Rosie's Family Life
Rosie O'Donnell used to live in Nyack, New York. She bought a Victorian home there in 1996. She also owns a home in West Palm Beach, Florida. In the early 2020s, she moved to the West Coast. Rosie is a member of the Democratic Party.
Rosie adopted her first child, Parker Jaren O'Donnell, as a baby in 1995. Later, Kelli Carpenter also adopted Parker. Parker is very interested in military history. In 2011, he convinced his mother to send him to Valley Forge Military Academy.
On February 26, 2004, Rosie O'Donnell married Kelli Carpenter in San Francisco. Kelli was a former marketing executive. They decided to marry after the mayor of San Francisco allowed same-sex couples to get marriage licenses. Rosie said they were inspired to marry because of then-President George W. Bush's comments about marriage. She said, "with Liberty and Social justice for all." The couple was married by San Francisco Treasurer Susan Leal. The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus sang for them.
Rosie and Kelli had four children together. In 2000, they took in a foster child named Mia. They planned to adopt her. But in 2001, the state of Florida removed Mia from their home. This was because of a Florida law that did not allow same-sex couples to adopt. Rosie has worked hard to change this law.
In 2009, Rosie shared that Kelli Carpenter had moved out of their home in 2007. Their marriage was later ended in August 2004. This happened when many same-sex marriages in California were made void by the state's Supreme Court.
Rosie O'Donnell started dating Michelle Rounds in mid-2011. On December 5, 2011, Rosie announced they were engaged. They got married in a private ceremony in New York on June 9, 2012. On January 9, 2013, they announced they had adopted a baby girl. In February 2015, Rosie filed for divorce from Michelle. Their divorce was finalized in October 2015. Rosie was given full custody of their child.
In August 2015, Rosie tweeted that her 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea, was missing from their home. Chelsea was found a week later in New Jersey.
Rosie's Health Journey
Rosie O'Donnell has talked about her health. She has shared that she struggles with depression, especially in the fall and winter. This is known as seasonal affective disorder.
Rosie had a heart attack in August 2012. She said an artery was almost completely blocked. Doctors inserted a stent to open it. She later shared that she would follow a plant-based diet to help her heart health.
Awards and Recognitions
Rosie O'Donnell has won many awards for her work.
- 1997 Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 1998 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 1998 Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won (tied with Oprah Winfrey)
- 1999 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 1999 Outstanding Talk Show Host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 2000 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 2000 Outstanding Talk Show Host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 2001 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 2001 Outstanding Talk Show Host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won (tied with Regis Philbin)
- 2002 Outstanding Talk Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 2002 Outstanding Talk Show Host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show won
- 1999 Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special, 52nd Annual Tony Awards won
- 1995 Favorite Movie Actress, The Flintstones won
- 2000 Hall of Fame Award
- 2014 Isabelle Stevenson Award "for her commitment to arts education for New York City's public school children."
- Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards
- 2002 Lucy Award for her excellent work in TV that helped how women are seen.
- Queerty Awards
- 2024 Icon Award for her work.
Rosie's Film and TV Roles
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–87 | Gimme a Break! | Maggie O'Brien | Cast member |
| 1988–91 | Stand-Up Spotlight | Host | Also producer |
| 1992 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Herself | Episode: "Destiny Rides Again" |
| Stand By Your Man | Lorraine Popowski | 6 episodes | |
| 1994 | The Ren & Stimpy Show | Scout Leader | Voice, episode: "Eat My Cookies" |
| Living Single | Sheri | Episode: "There's No Ship Like Kinship" | |
| 1995 | Bless This House | Peg | Episode: "I Am Not My Sister's Keeper" |
| The Larry Sanders Show | Herself | Episode: "Eight" | |
| 1996–2002 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Host | Also producer/executive producer |
| 1996 | The Nanny | Cozette/Herself | 2 episodes |
| Night Stand | Herself | Episode: "Is Bigger Better?" | |
| 1997 | The Twilight of the Golds | Jackie | Television film |
| Suddenly Susan | Herself | Episode: "The Ways and Means" | |
| 1997–2001 | Spin City | Episode: "An Affair to Remember" | |
| 1998 | Blue's Clues | Herself | Episode: "Blue's Birthday" |
| Murphy Brown | Ann Marie Delany Secretary No. 92 | Episode: "A Man and a Woman"; uncredited | |
| 1999 | Jackie's Back | Herself | Cameo |
| Time of Your Life | Archer Fitzwith's Receptionist | Episode: ""The Time She Came to New York"; uncredited | |
| Ally McBeal | Dr. Hooper | Episode: "Let's Dance" | |
| 2000 | Third Watch | Paramedic | Episode: "Officer Involved" |
| The Practice | Wedding Consultant | Episode: "Settling" | |
| 2002 | Will & Grace | Bonnie | Episode: "Dyeing Is Easy, Comedy Is Hard" |
| 2003 | Judging Amy | Judge Nancy Paul | Episode: "Judging Eric" |
| 2005 | Riding the Bus with My Sister | Beth Simon | Television film; also executive producer |
| Queer as Folk | Loretta Pye | Recurring role | |
| All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise | Herself | Also executive producer | |
| 2005–11 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Recurring role | |
| 2006–07 | The View | Moderator | |
| 2006–08 | Nip/Tuck | Dawn Budge | Recurring role |
| 2008 | Little Britain USA | Herself | Season 1, episode 1 |
| Rosie Live | Also executive producer | ||
| Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2008 | |||
| 2009 | America | Dr. Maureen Brennan | Television film; also producer |
| 2009–10 | Drop Dead Diva | Judge Madeline Summers | 4 episodes |
| 2011 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | Episode: "Rosie O'Donnell" |
| The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell | Host | ||
| 2011–12 | The Rosie Show | Also executive producer | |
| Web Therapy | Maxine DeMaine | Recurring role; 4 episodes | |
| 2012 | Happily Divorced | Katy O'Grady | Episode: "Mother's Day" |
| 2013 | Bomb Girls | Dottie Shannon | Episode: "Something Fierce" |
| Captain Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Bouncing Bumble Queen | Voice, episode: "Follow the Bouncing Bumble!" | |
| Smash | Herself | 2 episodes | |
| Impractical Jokers | Episode: "Everything's Just Rosie" | ||
| 2014–15 | The View | Co-host | |
| 2014–18 | The Fosters | Rita Hendricks | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Rosie O'Donnell: A Heartfelt Stand Up | Herself | Stand-up comedy special on HBO |
| Empire | Pepper O'Leary | Episode: "Sinned Against" | |
| 2016 | Mom | Jeanine | 2 episodes |
| Match Game | Herself | Recurring panelist | |
| Hairspray Live! | The Gym Teacher | TV special | |
| 2016–19 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | When We Rise | Del Martin | 2 episodes |
| Difficult People | Vanessa | Episode: "Code Change" | |
| 2017–19 | American Dad! | Townie | Voice, 2 episodes |
| SMILF | Tutu | Main cast; 18 episodes | |
| 2020 | I Know This Much Is True | Lisa Sheffer | Main cast; 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Run the World | Dr. Nancy Josephson | Episode: "My Therapist Says..." |
| The L Word: Generation Q | Carrie | 4 episodes | |
| 2022 | Russian Doll | Subway Announcer | Voice, 6 episodes |
| A League of Their Own | Vi | Episode: "Stealing Home" | |
| American ... | Detective Sunday | Main cast |
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | A League of Their Own | Doris Murphy | |
| 1993 | Sleepless in Seattle | Becky | |
| Another Stakeout | A.D.A. Gina Garrett | ||
| Fatal Instinct | The Pet Shop Lady | ||
| 1994 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Lucille Toody | |
| I'll Do Anything | Make-Up Person | ||
| The Flintstones | Betty Rubble | ||
| Exit to Eden | Sheila Kingston | ||
| 1995 | Now and Then | Roberta Martin | |
| Beautiful Girls | Gina Barrisano | ||
| 1996 | Harriet the Spy | Ole Golly | |
| A Very Brady Sequel | Herself | Cameo | |
| 1998 | Wide Awake | Sister Terry | |
| 1999 | Get Bruce | Herself | Documentary |
| Tarzan | Terk | Voice | |
| 2000 | The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | Octopus | Voice |
| 2001 | Artists and Orphans: A True Drama | Narrator | |
| Hedwig and the Angry Inch | Herself | Archive footage | |
| The Party's Over | Documentary | ||
| 2005 | The Lady in Question is Charles Busch | ||
| ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway | |||
| Pursuit of Equality | |||
| 2006 | All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise | Documentary; executive producer | |
| 2015 | Pitch Perfect 2 | The View Host |
Award Shows Hosted
- Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (Host) (1996–2003)
- 54th Annual Tony Awards (Host) (2000)
- 41st Annual Grammy Awards (Host) (1999)
- 42nd Annual Grammy Awards (Host) (2000)
Radio Show
- Rosie Radio SIRIUS XM (2009–11)
Theater Performances
- Grease (1994) as Betty Rizzo
- Seussical (2001) as the Cat in the Hat
- Pippin (2004) (benefit concert)
- Fiddler on the Roof (2004) as Golde
- No, No, Nanette (2008)
- Love, Loss, and What I Wore (2009)
- The Music Man (2019) as Mrs. Paroo
Rosie's Music Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Holiday | US | |||
| 1999 | A Rosie Christmas | 1 | 20 | |
| 2000 | Another Rosie Christmas | 3 | 45 | |
| Year | Single | US Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Santa on the Rooftop" (with Trisha Yearwood) | 72 | A Rosie Christmas |
Images for kids
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O'Donnell in 2006
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O'Donnell at the 1992 Emmy Awards
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O'Donnell at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival premiere for the I Am Because We Are documentary, about the millions of orphans in the African country of Malawi who lost parents and siblings to HIV and AIDS. Her passion for protecting children has led her to be outspoken on issues affecting them, including world affairs and adoption.
See also
In Spanish: Rosie O'Donnell para niños
- LGBT culture in New York City
- List of LGBT people from New York City
- NYC Pride March
