Chicago, IL | Kosciusko, MS | Oak Park, IL
Also known as: Oprah
Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954) is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her multi-award-winning talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show which was the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011. Dubbed the "Queen of All Media" she has been ranked the richest African-American of the 20th century, the greatest black philanthropist in American history, and is currently North America's only black billionaire. She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world. In 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and an honorary doctorate degree from Harvard.
Also known as: oprahwinfrey
Oprah Winfrey lives to make a difference in the lives of others, which led to the creation of the public charity Oprah's Angel Network in 1998. To date, Oprah's Angel Network has raised more than $50 million, with 100% of audience donations going to non-profit organizations across the globe. Oprah's Angel Network has helped establish scholarships and schools, support women's shelters and build youth centers and homes—changing the future for people all over the world. Oprah's commitment to children also led her to initiate the National Child Protection Act in 1991, when she testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to establish a national database of convicted child abusers. On December 20, 1993, President Clinton signed the national "Oprah Bill" into law. back to top TELEVISION PROGRAMMING CREATOR In September 2002, Harpo Productions, Inc. created Dr. Phil, a syndicated daytime talk show produced by Paramount Domestic Television. Dr. Phil, which had the highest-rated talk show launch since The Oprah Winfrey Show, consistently ranks second among all U.S. talk shows. Dynamic television personality and best-selling author Rachael Ray announced a partnership with Harpo Productions, Inc., King World Productions, and Scripps Networks to host a daily, one-hour, talk show that will begin airing in September 2006. Slated to air in early 2008 on the ABC Television Network, Oprah's Big Give™ is the first primetime series created by Harpo Productions, Inc's television development group. The episodes will center on the competition, drama and emotion as millions of dollars are given away to make a difference in people's lives across the country. Oprah's Big Give is produced by Harpo Productions in conjunction with Profiles Television Productions, LLC. back to top SATELLITE RADIO PROGRAMMER Through a recent joint venture, Oprah announced the launch of Oprah & Friends, a new channel on XM Satellite Radio, which launched in September 2006. Oprah & Friends will feature a broad range of original daily programming from Harpo Radio, Inc., including regular segments hosted by popular personalities from The Oprah Winfrey Show and O, The Oprah Magazine and an exclusive 30-minute listener call-in weekly radio show, "Talk to Me" with Oprah Winfrey. back to top BROADWAY PRODUCER Twenty years after she made her movie debut as "Sofia" in The Color Purple, Oprah made her Broadway debut as a producer for the musical The Color Purple, which opened on December 1, 2005, at the Broadway Theatre in New York City. back to top HONORARY ACHIEVEMENTS In recognition of her extraordinary achievements and contributions, Oprah has received numerous honors, including the most prestigious awards and highest industry acknowledgments. 2007 * Time Magazine—100 Most Influential People in the World * The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity—2007 Humanitarian Award 2006 * Time Magazine—100 Most Influential People in the World * The New York Public Library—Library Lion 2006 2005 * National Civil Rights Museum – 2005 National Freedom Award * National Association for the Advancement of Colored People — Hall of Fame * Time Magazine — 100 Most Influential People in the World * International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences — 2005 International Emmy Founders Award 2004 * United Nations Association of the United States of America – Global Humanitarian Action Award * National Association of Broadcasters – Distinguished Service Award * Time Magazine – 100 Most Influential People in the World 2003 * Association of American Publishers – AAP Honors Award 2002 * 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards® – Bob Hope Humanitarian Award * Broadcasting & Cable – Hall of Fame 1999 * National Book Foundation – 50th Anniversary Gold Medal 1998 * National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences® – Lifetime Achievement Award The following year, after accepting this pinnacle honor, Oprah removed herself from future Emmy® consideration and the show followed suit in 2000. Oprah and The Oprah Winfrey Show received more than 40 Daytime Emmy Awards®: seven for Outstanding Host; nine for Outstanding Talk Show; more than 20 in the Creative Arts categories; and one for Oprah's work as supervising producer of the ABC After School Special Shades of Single Protein. * Time Magazine – 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century 1997 * Newsweek – Most Important Person in Books and Media * TV Guide – Television Performer of the Year 1996 * International Radio & Television Society Foundation – Gold Medal Award * George Foster Peabody Awards – 1995 Individual Achievement Award --------- When young Oprah Winfrey dated movie critic Roger Ebert, he persuaded her to take her successful Chicago talk show into syndication. By 1986, The Oprah Winfrey Show had become the highest-rated talk show in TV history. Now worth more than a billion dollars, Winfrey has succeeded on many fronts – as an Oscar-nominated actress (The Color Purple), activist, magazine editor, producer, book club sponsor and radio host. She has raised and personally donated millions of dollars to victims of poverty and disease and openly speaks about her own experience with sexual abuse as a child, the baby she had at 14 who did not survive, and of her drug use as a young adult. But, according to Winfrey, none of her achievements make her more proud than the two schools she opened for South Africa's neediest girls. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Extra Specs.
