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 |
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| 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, actress, and television host. She started her comedy career as a teenager. Her big break came in 1984 on the TV show Star Search. After acting in several TV shows and movies, she hosted her own popular talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, from 1996 to 2002. The show won many Daytime Emmy Awards.
During this time, she earned the nickname "Queen of Nice" for her friendly personality. She also became known for her charity work. O'Donnell is a strong supporter of rights for all families and is a foster and adoptive mother. In 2002, The Advocate magazine named her Person of the Year.
From 2006 to 2007, O'Donnell was a host on the talk show The View. This period included a well-known disagreement with Donald Trump. She also discussed her views on government policies, like the Iraq War. She later hosted other shows, including Rosie Radio and The Rosie Show. From 2017 to 2019, she starred in the comedy series SMILF.
Besides her work in entertainment, O'Donnell has been a magazine editor and has written books. She used the $3 million she received for her book Find Me to start her For All Kids foundation. This foundation supports many charity projects.
In early 2025, O'Donnell moved to Ireland and applied for Irish citizenship.
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Early life
Rosie O'Donnell was born on March 21, 1962, in Commack, New York. She was the third of five children. Her father, Edward, came from County Donegal, Ireland as a child. Her mother, Roseann, was Irish American. O'Donnell was raised in the Roman Catholic faith. Her brother, Daniel J. O'Donnell, is a politician in the New York State Assembly.
Tragedy struck her family when her mother died of breast cancer in 1973. This was just a few days before Rosie's eleventh birthday.
In Commack High School, O'Donnell was very popular. She was voted homecoming queen, prom queen, and senior class president. She was also known as the class clown. In high school, she started to explore her love for comedy. She once performed a skit where she imitated the comedian Gilda Radner.
After graduating in 1980, O'Donnell went to Dickinson College. She later attended Boston University but left before finishing her degree to pursue her career.
Career
1979–1995: Stand-up comedy and early acting roles
From 1979 to 1984, O'Donnell performed as a stand-up comedian in clubs. Her career took off after she appeared on the TV talent show Star Search. She explained that a woman whose father was Ed McMahon saw her perform and got her an audition. She won on the show for five weeks in a row, which made her famous across the country.
After her success on Star Search, she began acting in TV sitcoms. In 1986, she appeared on Gimme a Break!. She also hosted a show for the music channel VH1 called Stand-up Spotlight.
O'Donnell's movie career also began to grow. Her first major film was A League of Their Own in 1992. She starred alongside Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna. She and Madonna became good friends.
She appeared in many other movies during this time. She played Meg Ryan's best friend in Sleepless in Seattle. She was also Betty Rubble in the live-action movie The Flintstones. She voiced the gorilla Terk in the Disney movie Tarzan.
1996–2002: The Rosie O'Donnell Show
In 1996, O'Donnell started hosting her own daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show. The show was a huge success and won many Emmy Awards. Her friendly and cheerful interviews earned her the nickname "The Queen of Nice." She was known for tossing koosh balls into the audience and for her big crush on actor Tom Cruise.
O'Donnell loved Broadway musicals. She often had cast members on her show and gave away tickets to the audience. This helped many shows become more popular.
After the Columbine school tragedy in 1999, O'Donnell became a vocal supporter of gun safety. She discussed the topic on her show with guests like actor Tom Selleck.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, tourism in New York City dropped. O'Donnell encouraged her viewers to visit the city and support Broadway shows. She donated $1 million to help with rescue efforts. She left her talk show in 2002.
2006–2007: Joining The View
In 2006, O'Donnell became a co-host and moderator on the daytime talk show The View. Her arrival brought a 27% increase in ratings. The show became more focused on news and politics.
O'Donnell often shared her opinions on the policies of President George W. Bush, especially the Iraq War. This led to on-air debates with her co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who had different views.
In December 2006, O'Donnell criticized businessman Donald Trump on the show. This started a public feud between them that lasted for many years.
On May 23, 2007, O'Donnell and Hasselbeck had a heated argument on air. O'Donnell felt that the show's producers set up the argument for ratings. She decided to leave the show, and her contract ended two days later.
2013–2016: The Fosters and return to The View
In 2013, O'Donnell had a recurring role on the TV series The Fosters. She played Rita Hendricks, a caring woman who works in the foster care system.
In 2014, O'Donnell returned to The View as a co-host. However, she left again in February 2015, saying she needed to focus on her health and family.
2017–present: Focus on acting
Since 2017, O'Donnell has focused more on her acting career. She starred in the Showtime comedy series SMILF from 2017 to 2019. Her performance as the character Tutu received positive reviews.
In 2020, she appeared in the HBO series I Know This Much Is True. In 2022, she had roles in the Netflix series Russian Doll and the Amazon Prime Video series A League of Their Own.
Charity work
O'Donnell is well-known for her charity work. In 1996, she used a $3 million book advance to start her For All Kids Foundation. The foundation gives grants to programs that help young children. It has given over $22 million to more than 900 organizations.
After Hurricane Katrina, her foundation helped build a center for families who lost their homes.
In 2003, she co-founded Rosie's Broadway Kids. This organization provides free music and dance classes to students in New York City public schools. It helps over 4,500 students and their families.
O'Donnell has also supported many other causes. She has raised money for war veterans and participated in the True Colors Tour to support human rights. It has been reported that she has given over $100 million to charity throughout her career.
Personal life
O'Donnell is a mother to five children. She is a strong supporter of adoption and foster care. She has often spoken about the importance of providing loving homes for children.
In 2004, O'Donnell married Kelli Carpenter. Their marriage was later voided by the California Supreme Court. They have four children together. The couple separated in 2007.
In 2012, O'Donnell married Michelle Rounds. They adopted a daughter together. They divorced in 2015.
In January 2025, O'Donnell moved to Ireland with her child, Clay. She said the political situation in the U.S. was a reason for her move. She applied for Irish citizenship based on her family heritage.
Awards and nominations
O'Donnell has won many awards for her work.
- Daytime Emmy Awards: She won 11 Daytime Emmys for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, including six for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
- Emmy Awards: She won an Emmy in 1999 for producing the 52nd Annual Tony Awards.
- Kids' Choice Awards: She won Favorite Movie Actress in 1995 for The Flintstones.
- Tony Award: In 2014, she received the Isabelle Stevenson Award for her work with Rosie's Broadway Kids.
Images for kids
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O'Donnell in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Rosie O'Donnell para niños
