Though she’s largely known these days for her daytime television role on “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg also is an actress, a writer, an activist and a comedian. She’s one of just 12 people who have attained EGOT status — winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.
Goldberg, 59, was nominated for an Oscar for her first major movie role — “The Color Purple,” 30 years ago — and became the second African-American woman (after Hattie McDaniel) to win an Oscar for her supporting role as Oda Mae Brown in 1990’s “Ghost.” And after 1992’s “Sister Act,” she became one of the highest-paid women in Hollywood, and one of the busiest.
Here are some of the roles Goldberg has played in more than 100 movies.
o “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”: A banker who becomes involved with a spy ring. Goldberg’s role in Penny Marshall’s 1986 directorial debut was her first film after “The Color Purple.”
o “The Long Walk Home”: A woman in 1955 Montgomery, Ala. The 1990 drama also starred Sissy Spacek.
o “The Player”: A detective. Robert Altman directed this 1992 Hollywood satire starring Tim Robbins.
o “Made in America”: A mother whose surprise sperm donor is played by Ted Danson. During the filming of this 1993 movie, the two became an item.
o “The Lion King”: The voice of Shenzi, one of the hyenas in this 1994 classic and its sequel.
o “The Little Rascals”: Buckwheat’s mom in this 1994 remake.
o “Eddie”: A limousine driver who suddenly becomes the new York Knicks coach in this 1996 comedy with Frank Langella.
o “Ghosts of Mississippi”: Medgar Evers’s wife in this 1996 Rob Reiner film starring Alec Baldwin and James Wood.
o “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”: As Delilah, Goldberg persuades Stella to take her vacation in this 1998 romance starring Angela Bassett.
o “Girl, Interrupted”: A hospital nurse. Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for her role in this 1999 movie starring Winona Ryder.
o “Star Trek: Nemesis”: In this 2002 feature, Goldberg appears uncredited as Guinan, her recurring character on TV’s “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
o “Super Babies: Baby Geniuses 2”: Goldberg plays herself in this 2004 comedy starring Jon Voight and Scott Baio, considered one of the worst movies of all time.
o “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail”: A judge. “Whoopi is truly testing our faith,” the podcast “Disciples of Whoopi” said of this 2009 comedy.
o “Toy Story 3”: The voice of Stretch, the sticky purple octopus toy, in this 2010 hit.
o “For Colored Girls”: Goldberg is among the large cast of women in Tyler Perry’s 2010 adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s play.
o “Top Five”: Goldberg pops up as herself in Chris Rock’s well-received comedy last year.
