Rosie O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
 O'Donnell in 2008 | |
| Born | Roseann O'Donnell[1] (1962-03-21)March 21, 1962 (age 63) Commack, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Dickinson College Boston University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Daniel J. O'Donnell (brother) |
| Website | rosie |
Roseann O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962) is an American talk show host, comedian, and actress.[1] She began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television seriesStar Search in 1984. After a series of television and film roles that introduced her to a larger national audience, O'Donnell hosted her own syndicated daytimetalk show,The Rosie O'Donnell Show, between 1996 and 2002, which won severalDaytime Emmy Awards. During this period, she developed the nickname "Queen of Nice", as well as a reputation for philanthropic efforts.
O'Donnellcame out as alesbian in 2002. An outspoken advocate forlesbian rights andgay adoption issues, she is afoster andadoptive mother. NamedThe Advocate's 2002 Person of the Year, she became a regular contributor to the magazine in 2023. O'Donnell also continues to be a television producer and a collaborative partner in theLGBT family vacation companyR Family Vacations.
From 2006 to 2007, O'Donnell endured a controversial run as the moderator on the daytime talk showThe View, which included a public feud with future presidentDonald Trump and on-air disputes regarding theBush administration's policies with theIraq War. She hostedRosie Radio onSirius XM Radio between 2009 and 2011, and from 2011 to 2012 hosted a second, short-lived talk show onOWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network),The Rosie Show. O'Donnell returned toThe View in 2014, leaving after a brief five-month run due to personal issues. From 2017 to 2019, she starred on theShowtime comedy seriesSMILF.
In addition to comedy, film, and television, O'Donnell has been a magazine editor, celebrityblogger, and author of several memoirs, includingFind Me (2002) andCelebrity Detox (2007). She used theFind MeUS$3 million advance to establish her For All foundation and promote other charity projects, encouraging celebrities on her show to take part.
In early 2025, shortly after Trump was inaugurated for asecond presidential term, O'Donnell moved toIreland and applied forIrish citizenship through descent. In July 2025, Trump threatened to revoke her U.S.-bornbirthright citizenship.[2]
O'Donnell was born on March 21, 1962, inCommack, New York,[3] the third of five children of Roseann Teresa (née Murtha; 1934–1973) and Edward Joseph O'Donnell (1933–2015).[4] Her father immigrated fromCounty Donegal, Ireland, during his childhood; her mother wasIrish American.[1]
O'Donnell and her siblings were sexually abused by their father as children, and she stated that her family has a history of "generational abuse and alcoholism".[5] "There were a lot of tragic deaths, early deaths and alcoholism. There was a lot of abuse," she said of her father's family.[5] She was raisedRoman Catholic.[1][6] Her brother isDaniel J. O'Donnell, the first openly gay man elected to theNew York State Assembly.[7] On March 17, 1973, four days before O'Donnell's eleventh birthday, her mother Roseann died frombreast cancer.[1]
While O'Donnell attendedCommack High School, she was votedhomecoming queen,prom queen, seniorclass president, and class clown.[3] During high school, she began exploring her interest in comedy, beginning with a skit performed in front of the school in which she imitatedGilda Radner's character,Roseanne Roseannadanna.[8] After graduating in 1980, O'Donnell briefly attendedDickinson College, later transferring toBoston University before ultimately dropping out of college.[3]
O'Donnell toured as a stand-up comedian in clubs from 1979 to 1984.[9] She got her first big break onStar Search, explaining onLarry King Live:[10]
I was 20 years old, and I was at a comedy club inLong Island. This woman came over to me and she said, I think you're funny. Can you give me your number? My dad isEd McMahon. I was like, yeah, right. I gave her my father's phone number. I was living at home, I'm like, whatever. And about three days later, the talent booker fromStar Search called and said, we're going to fly you out to L.A. ... I won, like, five weeks in a row. And it gave me national exposure.
After this success, she moved on to television sitcoms, making her series debut asNell Harper's neighbor onGimme a Break! in 1986.[3] In 1988, she joined music video stationVH1's lineup ofveejays.[3] She started hosting a series for VH1,Stand-up Spotlight, a showcase for up-and-coming comedians.[3] In 1992, she starred inStand By Your Man, aFox Network sitcom co-starringMelissa Gilbert.[11] The show bombed at the same time as her film career took off. O'Donnell made her feature film debut inA League of Their Own (1992) alongsideTom Hanks,Geena Davis, andMadonna, the latter of whom became a lifelong friend.[6][12] She was originally considered for the role of Mary Sanderson in Disney'sHocus Pocus, but it was ultimately given toKathy Najimy. O'Donnell claimed on her blog that she turned down the offer to work withBette Midler because she refused to portray a frightening evil witch. Throughout her career, she has taken on an eclectic range of roles: she appeared inSleepless in Seattle asMeg Ryan's character's best friend; asBetty Rubble in thelive-action film adaptation ofThe Flintstones withJohn Goodman,Elizabeth Perkins, andRick Moranis; as one ofTimothy Hutton's co-stars inBeautiful Girls; as a federal agent comedically paired withDan Aykroyd inExit to Eden; as the voice of a tomboyish female gorilla named Terk inDisney'sTarzan;[citation needed] and as a baseball-loving nun inM. Night Shyamalan'sWide Awake.[13]
O'Donnell was considered for the role ofElaine Benes onSeinfeld.[14]
In 1996, she began hosting adaytime talk show,The Rosie O'Donnell Show, for her production company KidRo Productions.[15][16] The show proved very successful, winning multipleEmmy Awards,[17] and earning O'Donnell the title of "The Queen of Nice" for her style of light-hearted banter with her guests and interactions with the audience.[16] As part of her playful banter with her studio audience, O'Donnell often launchedkoosh balls at the crowd and camera.[18] She also professed an infatuation withTom Cruise.[3]
With New York City as the show's home base, O'Donnell displayed her love ofBroadway musicals and plays by having cast members as guests, encouraging the audience to see shows, premiering production numbers as well as promoting shows with ticket giveaways.
After theColumbine shootings, O'Donnell became an outspoken supporter ofgun control and a major figure in theMillion Mom March.[19] During the April 19, 1999, broadcast of her talk show, she stated, "You are not allowed to own a gun, and if you do own a gun, I think you should go to prison."[20] O'Donnell previously had remarked, "I don't personally own a gun, but if you are qualified, licensed and registered, I have no problem."[21] In May 1999, a month after the Columbine shootings, O'Donnell interviewedTom Selleck, who was promotingThe Love Letter. O'Donnellinterrogated him about his recent unpaid commercial for theNational Rifle Association of America (NRA) and questioned him about the NRA's position on the use of "assault weapons". She said at the end of the segment the conversation had "not gone the way I had hoped" and added "if you feel insulted by my questions, I apologize because it was not a personal attack. It was meant to bring up the subject as it is in the consciousness of so many today."[22][23] Ironically, O'Donnell at that time was a multi-million dollar paid spokesperson for 5 years forKmart, which was the largest volume firearms retailer in the United States.[24][25] Around the same time, the cast fromAnnie Get Your Gun was to appear on the show but refused O'Donnell's request to remove the line "I can shoot a partridge with a single cartridge" from the song "Anything You Can Do" and agreed to perform "My Defenses Are Down" instead.[26]
Later in 1999, O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman, as gun enthusiasts complained that she should not be the spokesperson for the largest gun retailer. O'Donnell countered that Kmart sells hunting rifles, not handguns or assault weapons and does so legally, which she supports. Both Kmart and O'Donnell denied publicly that Kmart had terminated the contract.[27] In May 2000, O'Donnell's bodyguard applied for aconcealed firearm permit. O'Donnell stated that the security firm contracted byWarner Bros. requested the gun. O'Donnell stated that because of threats, she and her family need protection.[28]
After theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks, Broadway and tourism in New York City was down and many shows were in danger of closing. O'Donnell was among many in the entertainment field who encouraged viewers to visit and support the performing arts. She announced that she would donate 1 million dollars for aid in the rescue efforts and encouraged other celebrities and citizens alike to "give till it hurts".[29]
In 2002, she left her talk show.[30] The show was replaced byThe Caroline Rhea Show, with comedianCaroline Rhea, which ran for one additional season.
O'Donnell was a guest star on an episode ofHBO showCurb Your Enthusiasm entitled "The Bowtie".[31]
In September 2006, O'Donnell replacedMeredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator ofThe View, a daytime women-oriented talk show.[32]Star Jones, a co-host on the show, quit, with some speculating Jones's conservative views would be in constant tension with O'Donnell's more liberal counterpoint. O'Donnell had also disputed Jones's route of rapid weight loss, alluding that it must have been throughgastric bypass surgery, rather than dieting and exercise alone as Jones had insisted, which also fed speculation about certain tension between the two. (Jones later confirmed that surgery was involved.) O'Donnell is credited with keeping the show's "buzz factor up".[33] She is also credited with making it more news-focused, though it still embraced the "fluff" of daytime TV talk shows (celebrities, fashion, and food).[34] Despite an overall downward trend for most daytime broadcast shows, ratings rose by 27% during O'Donnell's first year onThe View.[35] The show was the fourth-most-watched in all of daytime in the key demographic of women ages 18–49 and scored record ratings in the total viewer category with an average of 3.4 million viewers—up 15% versus the same time in 2005.[35] O'Donnell moderated the opening "Hot Topics" portion of the show, where news items were discussed. O'Donnell gave the show a more political slant, and she and fellow comicJoy Behar often gave strong opinions against former President Bush'sdomestic andforeign policies, including theIraq War. As a conservative counterpoint,Elisabeth Hasselbeck would usually support theBush administration's policies and the two would get into an adversarial give-and-take.
In November 2006, Rosie commented onKelly Ripa's complaints toRegis Philbin about guest co-hostClay Aiken onLive with Regis and Kelly. Kelly said she was angry at Aiken for jokingly putting his hand over her mouth during an interview segment. Rosie told the other panelist on The View that Kelly made a homophobic comment about Clay. Kelly was watching the segment and quickly called into the live segment to tell Rosie that Kelly's complaint about Aiken was not about homophobia; the issue was it is flu season.[36]Kelly has in the past placed her hand over Regis' mouth as a joke during non-flu season.[37]
Encouraged by the show to be outspoken, O'Donnell sometimes provoked debate, at one time stating "radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam."[38] On the February 24, 2003, episode ofPhil Donahue's talk show, O'Donnell referred to thesexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Boston resulting in $157 million awarded to 983 claimants,[39] stating "I hope the Catholic Church gets sued until the end of time. Maybe, you know, we can melt down some of the gold toilets in the Pope'sVatican and pay off some of the lawsuits because, the whole tenet of living a Christ-like life, has been lost in Catholicism."[40]
O'Donnell joked about communion rituals alongside co-host Behar's drunk priest comments.[41] On April 19, 2007, the panel discussed theSupreme Court of the United States's ruling inGonzales v. Carhart, a decision upholding thePartial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. O'Donnell cited aFlorynce Kennedy quote, "If men could get pregnant abortion would be asacrament" and askedrhetorically "How many Supreme Court judges are Catholic?" and "How aboutseparation of church and state?"[42] Some conservative commentators deemed her statements "anti-Catholic bigotry" and suggested that such statements against other religions would not be tolerated.[42][43][44][45] O'Donnell's outspokenness and spontaneousness sometimes led to her views being recirculated by other media outlets, often surprisingThe View co-hosts including O'Donnell.[46][47][48] Frequently portrayed unfavorably by conservative media outlets and what she deemed asRepublicanpundits,[49] O'Donnell lamented that they were focusing on her comments instead of more important national and world issues.[47]
On December 5, 2006, O'Donnell used a series ofching chongs to imitate newscasters in China.[50][51] Vanessa Hua of theSan Francisco Chronicle expressed disappointment in O'Donnell, given the comedian's championing ofLGBT rights.[52] On December 14, O'Donnell apologized to those she offended, explaining that "Some people have told me it's as bad as then-word. I was like, really? I didn't know that."[53] O'Donnell warned that "there's a good chance I'll do something like that again, probably in the next week, not on purpose. Only 'cause it's how my brain works."Time called it a "pseudo-apology".[52][54] O'Donnell later wrote inCelebrity Detox that "I wish I had been a bit more pure in my public apology."[55]
In December 2006, O'Donnell criticizedDonald Trump for holding a press conference to reinstate Miss USATara Conner, who had violated pageant guidelines, accusing him of using her scandal to "generate publicity for theMiss USA Pageant" (to which he owned the rights) by announcing he was giving her a second chance.[56][57] O'Donnell commented that due to Trump's multiple marital affairs and questionable business bankruptcies, he was not amoral authority for young people in America. She stated, "Left the first wife, had an affair. Left the second wife, had an affair – but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America."[57] In response, Trump began a "vicious" mass media blitz in which he appeared on various television shows, either in person or by phone, threatening to sue O'Donnell (he never did).[58] He called her names, insulted her by saying he'd "send one of my friends to pick up her girlfriend [Kelli] and I think it would be easy", and claimed that Barbara Walters regretted hiring her.[58][59][60][61] Walters was stuck in the middle as a social acquaintance of Trump's, and said O'Donnell did not feel like Walters defended her enough, which led to what both women agreed was an unfortunate confrontation in one of the dressing rooms.[62] "I had pain and hurt and rejection," O'Donnell said, "sometimes [my emotions] overwhelm me. Sometimes I get flooded."[62] Walters denied that she was unhappy with O'Donnell, saying, "I have never regretted, nor do I now, the hiring of Rosie O'Donnell."[61] Rosie and Donald Trump have a history of feuding on social media and on television since December 2006.[63]
On April 25, 2007, ABC announced that O'Donnell would be leaving the show before the end of the year because of a failure to reach agreement on a new contract.[64]
O'Donnell condemned many of the Bush administration's policies, especially thewar in Iraq and the resultingoccupation.[65] She also questioned the official explanation for the destruction of the World Trade Center, and stating in one episode, "I do believe that it's thefirst time in history that fire has ever melted steel".[66][67] She consistently mentioned recent military deaths and news about the war and criticized the U.S. media for its lack of attention to these issues compared to media coverage throughout the world. This led to a series of heated exchanges with co-host Hasselbeck, as well as "the most-discussed moment of her professional life."[62] On May 17, 2007, O'Donnell rhetorically asked, "655,000 Iraqi civilians dead. Who are the terrorists? ... if you were inIraq and another country, the United States, the richest in the world, invaded your country and killed 655,000 of your citizens, what would you call us?"[68] Conservative commentators criticized O'Donnell's statements, saying that she was comparing American soldiers to terrorists.[49] On May 23, 2007, a heated discussion ensued, in part, because of what O'Donnell perceived as Elisabeth Hasselbeck's unwillingness to defend O'Donnell from the criticisms; O'Donnell asked Hasselbeck, "Do you believe I think our troops are terrorists?" Hasselbeck answered in the negative but also stated "Defend your own insinuations."[49][69][70][71] O'Donnell was hurt and felt Hasselbeck had betrayed her friendship: "there's something about somebody being different on TV toward you than they are in the dressing room. It didn't really ring true for me."[62] O'Donnell stated that Republican pundits were mischaracterising her statements and the right-wing media would portray her as a bully, attacking "innocent pure Christian Elisabeth" whenever they disagreed.[49] O'Donnell decided to leave the show that day, but afterwards stated that the reason was not the argument itself, but rather the fact that she saw on the studio monitor that the camera had shown asplit screen, with her and Hasselbeck on either side. O'Donnell felt that the show's director and producer "had to prepare that in advance ... I felt there was setup egging me into that position. The executive producer and I did not gel."[62] O'Donnell andABC agreed to cut short her contract agreement on May 25, 2007.[72]ABC News reported that her arguments with Hasselbeck brought the show its best ratings ever.[73] O'Donnell was replaced byWhoopi Goldberg as the moderator ofThe View.
In May 2007,Time magazine included O'Donnell in their annual list of the100 most influential people.[74][75] O'Donnell was named "The Most Annoying Celebrity of 2007" by aPARADE reader's poll, in response she said, "Frankly, most celebrities are annoying ... and I suppose I am the most annoying, but, whatever."[76]
In 2008,The View won an Emmy for "Outstanding Special Class Writing" for a specially themedAutism episode that O'Donnell helped create.Janette Barber, O'Donnell's longtime friend and producer/writer ofThe Rosie O'Donnell Show, accepted the award on behalf of herself and the other two winners, Christian McKiernan and Andrew Smith.[77][78]
In March 2007, O'Donnell started a video blog,Jahero, on her website Rosie.com answering fans questions, giving behind the scenes information and serving as a video diary. Originally featuring only O'Donnell and her hair and makeup artistHelene Macaulay, they were soon joined by her writer fromThe Rosie O'Donnell Show,Janette Barber.[79] CalledJahero, a name composed of the first two letters of each of their first names, they occasionally had short cameo appearances byView co-hosts Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Barbara Walters.Jenny McCarthy appeared once briefly, as has Hasselbeck's mother-in-law and O'Donnell's mother-in-law, her (now) ex-wife Kelli's mother.Kathy Griffin also appeared, where she read some of the questions. It became so popular that O'Donnell and her creative team considered an "on the road" version of the video blog using fan-submitted suggestions. O'Donnell was the front runner for the "best celebrity blogger" category in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards which she won.[80]
O'Donnell expressed interest in replacing long time hostBob Barker when he retired fromCBS's game showThe Price Is Right. Barker was a frequent guest on her talk show and told reporters that she "would make a fine host". Although it was reported he had "endorsed" her as a "possible successor", Barker said that he had no role in choosing his replacement.[81][82] In June 2007, she announced on her blog it was not going to happen and noted she was reluctant to uproot her family to move to California.
In 2008, O'Donnell starred in and executive producedAmerica, aLifetime channel film in which she plays the therapist of the title character, a 16-year-old boyaging out of the foster care system. The film is based on theE.R. Frank book of the same name.[83] In October 2009, she appeared in the original cast ofLove, Loss, and What I Wore.[84]
In November 2009, "Rosie Radio", a daily two-hour show with O'Donnell discussing news and events onSirius XM Radio, premiered. O'Donnell said she was approached by the company after she appeared onHoward Stern's Sirius XM show.[85][86] The radio show ended in June 2011. In 2009, O'Donnell made another guest appearance onCurb Your Enthusiasm, where she beat up Larry twice, in an episode titled Denise Handicapped.[31]
In 2011, O'Donnell began producing material for theOprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In May 2011,The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell premiered, a show where O'Donnell moderated live panel discussions following premieres of OWN Documentaries. She has hosted specials forBecoming Chaz in May 2011 andMiss Representation in October 2011. In fall 2011, O'Donnell began full-time work on her new show,The Rosie Show, for OWN. The show taped at the Chicago studio formerly home toThe Oprah Winfrey Show. The show debuted on October 10, 2011, to generally positive reviews.[87] OWN canceledThe Rosie Show on March 16, 2012, with the last show taped March 20, on the eve of O'Donnell's 50th birthday. The final show aired on OWN on March 29, 2012. In a statement, Oprah Winfrey said:
I thank Rosie from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this journey. She has been an incredible partner, working to deliver the best possible show every single day. As I have learned in the last 15 months, a new network launch is always a challenge and ratings grow over time as you continue to gather an audience. I'm grateful to Rosie and the dedicated Rosie Show team for giving it their all.[88]
O'Donnell responded to the cancellation by thanking her viewers and the host city of Chicago:
I loved working with Oprah in the amazing city of Chicago. I was welcomed with open arms and will never forget the kindness of all I encountered. It was a great year for me—I wish the show was able to attract more viewers—but it did not. So I am headed back to my home in New York—with gratitude. On we go![88]
In 2011, O'Donnell made another guest appearance onCurb Your Enthusiasm, competing for the affection of a bisexual woman with Larry in an episode called "The Bi-Sexual".[31][89]
In 2013, O'Donnell appeared in a number of television shows. First, she played "brash but astute" reporter Dottie Shannon in an episode ofBomb Girls,[90] followed by playing the voice of the Bouncing Bumble Queen inJake and the Never Land Pirates.[91] After that, also in 2013, she appeared in two episodes ofSmash as herself.[92] That same year she also appeared as herself in an episode ofImpractical Jokers called "Everything's Rosie".[93]
In 2014, O'Donnell landed a reoccurring role as Rita Hendricks onThe Fosters, "a tough yet compassionate woman who works for the foster care system and becomes a mentor to a member of the Foster family."[94] The character lasted through their 2016 season.[95]
In the fall of 2014, O'Donnell returned toThe View as a co-host, with a newly re-vamped version of the show, along withWhoopi Goldberg returning as moderator and new co-hostsRosie Perez andNicolle Wallace.[96] On February 6, 2015, representatives for O'Donnell confirmed she would once again exit the panel. In a statement, made toThe Hollywood Reporter, O'Donnell said, "[My health] got a little bit worse right before the holidays — [my doctor] was kind of concerned. ... I can't really fix [my personal life] right away, but I can fix [my job]."[97]
In 2015, O'Donnell made a cameo inPitch Perfect 2, playing a co-host onThe View. Deadline called the cameo "a bit that already seems dated."[98] That same year, she appeared in an episode ofEmpire, playing Pepper O'Leary, "a tough criminal who shared a cell for years with Cookie Lyon."[99] In preparation for the role, she hired an acting coach and stated, "I prepared for this like I've never prepared for anything in my career, because I didn't want to disappoint and I understood the pace at which they work."[99] O'Donnell also appeared as herself in two documentaries that same year. In April 2015,Roseanne For President! was released, a film aboutRoseanne Barr's presidential bid in 2012. O'Donnell appeared in the film alongsideMichael Moore andSandra Bernhard.[100] In September 2015, the documentaryEverything Is Copy was released, a film by Jacob Bernstein about his motherNora Ephron. O'Donnell appeared in the documentary to help "bring his mother into focus" along with a number of other celebrities.[101]
In 2016, O'Donnell made a two-episode appearance in the CBS seriesMom, playing Jeanine, "the ex-girlfriend of Bonnie (Allison Janney)".[102] That same year, she was also a regular panelist onMatch Game and appeared in one episode ofThe $100,000 Pyramid, where she competed againstKathy Najimy.[103] Later that year, O'Donnell also played the role of the gym teacher inHairspray Live![104]
In November 2016,Showtime announced she had joined the cast of the comedy pilotSMILF.[105] The series aired from November 5, 2017, until March 31, 2019, and O'Donnell received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Tutu. On April 3, 2019, it was announced that O'Donnell would play the role of Lisa Sheffer in the HBO seriesI Know This Much Is True.[106]
In 2021, O'Donnell guest starred on the seriesRun the World andThe L Word: Generation Q. On June 15, 2021, it was announced that she would star as Detective Sunday, alongside Jon Bernthal, in a series reboot ofAmerican Gigolo on Showtime, premiering in 2022.[107] In 2022 she voiced the role of the MTA subway announcements in the second season ofNetflix seriesRussian Doll starringNatasha Lyonne.[108] That same year she appeared as Vi in theAmazon Prime Video seriesA League of Their Own (2022).[109]
In 2000, O'Donnell partnered with the publishers ofMcCall's to revamp the magazine asRosie's McCall's (or, more commonly,Rosie).[110] The magazine was launched as a competitor to fellow talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey's monthly magazineO.Rosie covered issues including breast cancer, foster care, and other matters of concern to O'Donnell. In the September 2000 issue, she shared that "she has struggled with depression her entire life" and decided to start medications when she realized her fears were affecting her family.[111] With a strong start and a circulation close to 3.5 million, things looked promising, but the magazine stumbled as conflicts emerged between O'Donnell and the editors.[112] The contract gave O'Donnell control over editorial process and editorial staff but veto power remained with publisher Gruner+Jahr USA.[113] O'Donnell quit the magazine in September 2002, following a dispute over editorial control.[113] "If I'm going to have my name and my brand on the corner of a magazine, it has to be my vision" she toldPeople.[114]
Rosie magazine folded in 2003. In late 2003, O'Donnell and the publishers each sued the other forbreach of contract. The publishers said that, by removing herself from the magazine's publication, she was in breach of contract. The trial received considerable press coverage. O'Donnell would often give brief press interviews outside of the courtroom responding to various allegations. Of note was a former magazine colleague and breast cancer survivor who testified that O'Donnell said to her on the phone that people who lie "get sick and they get cancer. If they keep lying, they get it again".[115] O'Donnell apologized the next day and stated, "I'm sorry I hurt her the way I did, that was not my intention." The judge,Ira Gammerman of theNew York Supreme Court in Manhattan, dismissed the case, ruling that neither side should receivedamages.[116]
In 1997, Rosie released the children's bookKids are Punny: Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show, which contained jokes she had received from children. A sequel titledKids are Punny 2: More Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show was released a year later in 1998, and anHBO special was made based on the books. In April 2002, O'Donnell releasedFind Me, a combination of memoir, mystery and detective story with an underlying interest in reuniting birth mothers with their children.[117] In addition to cataloging her childhood and early adulthood, the book delved into O'Donnell's relationship with a woman withdissociative identity disorder who posed as an underage teen who had become pregnant by rape. The book reached number two onThe New York Times bestseller list.
In October 2007, she releasedCelebrity Detox, her second memoir which focuses on the struggles with leaving fame behind, noting her exits fromThe Rosie O'Donnell Show andThe View.
In 2003, O'Donnell and Carpenter partnered with travel entrepreneur Gregg Kaminsky to launchR Family Vacations catering to LGBT families, "the very first all gay and lesbian family vacation packages" where "gays and lesbians can bring their kids, their friends, and their parents."[118] Although O'Donnell is not involved on a day-to-day basis, she does contribute to the creative aspects of "advertising and marketing materials" and initiated the idea for the company when she filled in as a last-minute replacement headliner on one of Kaminsky'sAtlantis Events gay cruises and also came up with the name "R Family Vacations".[119] On July 11, 2004, the first cruise was held with 1600 passengers[120] including 600 children.[121] In addition to traditional entertainment and recreational activities, the company partnered withProvincetown'sFamily Pride, a 25-year-old Washington, D.C.–based organization that advocates forLGBT families[122] to host discussions on "adoption,insemination,surrogacy, and everything else that would be helpful togay parenting."[123]All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise, a documentary film about the trip debuted on HBO on April 6, 2006, and was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Of the experience, O'Donnell stated "we didn't really realize the magic that was going to take place. People who had never met another gay family met other families and it was powerful."[121]
In late 2003, O'Donnell brought the musicalTaboo to Broadway. She hiredCharles Busch to re-write thebook, and the story became "bitchier" and more focused on the rise to fame of the character based onBoy George.[124] It closed on February 8, 2004, after about 100 performances and "mostly bad" reviews.[125] O'Donnell described the show's production as "by far the most fulfilling experience of my career".[125] She has stated that she intends to bring the show back to Broadway, although Scott Miller writes that people are hesitant to get involved after the "train wreck" of the original production.[124]
Over her career, O'Donnell has developed a reputation for raising funds and her own philanthropy to charitable causes. In May 1996,Warner Books advanced O'Donnell $3 million to write a memoir.[114] She used the money to seed her For All Kids Foundation to help institute national standards for day care across the country.[114]
Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, overseen byElizabeth Birch, has awarded more than $22 million in Early Childhood Care and Education program grants to over 900 nonprofit organizations.[126] On October 30, 2006, she was honored by theNew York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.[127] "It's our privilege to be honoring and hosting Rosie," said NYSPCC president David Stack in a statement.[127] "Her Rosie's for All Kids Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in grants to over 1,400 child-related organizations, and that's just one of her many impressive activities on behalf of children."[127] In November 2006,Nightline aired a video report about the opening of The Children's Plaza and Family Center in Renaissance Village, aFEMA trailer park inLouisiana.[128] This was an emergency response initiative of Rosie's For All Kids Foundation with the help of many local nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses, all efforts were to assist the families displaced byHurricane Katrina.
San Franciscopublic relations firm Fineman Associates awarded top prize toProcter & Gamble's designation of O'Donnell as "unkissable" in a promotion forScope mouthwash on the 1997 annual list of the nation's worst public relations blunders.[129] In response to the promotion, O'Donnell partnered withWarner–Lambert's competitorListerine, who donated bottles of mouthwash to the studio audience and donated $1,000 to charity every time a hosted guest would kiss her in exchange for O'Donnell promoting their product.[3] On occasion, the guests would offer multiple kisses, andPeople reported O'Donnell "smooched her way to more than $350,000".[3]
In 2003, O'Donnell and Kelli O'Donnell collaborated with Artistic Director Lori Klinger to createRosie's Broadway Kids, dedicated to providing free instruction in music and dance to New York City public schools or students. Rosie's Broadway Kids serves more than 4,500 teachers, students, and their family members at 21 schools.[130] Currently, programs are inHarlem,Midtown West,Chelsea,Lower East Side,East Village, andChinatown. All net profits from O'Donnell's 2007 bookCelebrity Detox are also being donated to Rosie's Broadway Kids.[55]
In December 2006, at a one-night charity event on theNorwegian Pearl cruise ship,Elizabeth Birch, executive director for the Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, confirmed that $50 million from O'Donnell's five-year contract were donated in an irrevocabletrust to charity.[131] She is also reported to have contributed several hundred thousand dollars for rehabilitation therapies for war veterans who have lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan wars. OnThe Tyra Banks Show,[132] Banks brought up to O'Donnell that people don't realize that O'Donnell has given more than $100 million to charity.[133] In May 2007, O'Donnell andPogo.com announced a joint effort to raise money for Rosie's All Kids Foundation.[134] EA, which owns Pogo.com, committed $30,000 and more money can be raised based on the amount of playing time people spend on certain games.[134] They also held a sweepstakes in which winners get to fly to New York and meet O'Donnell and attend a charity function as her guest.[134]
During the summer of 2007, O'Donnell was a guest on the multi-artistTrue Colors Tour, which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada.[135] The tour, sponsored by the gay cable channelLogo, began on June 8, 2007. Hosted by comedianMargaret Cho and headlined byCyndi Lauper, the tour also includedDebbie Harry,Erasure,The Gossip,Rufus Wainwright,The Dresden Dolls,The MisShapes,Indigo Girls,The Cliks, and other special guests. Profits from the tour helped to benefit theHuman Rights Campaign as well asP-FLAG andThe Matthew Shepard Foundation.[136] She appeared again onTrue Colors Tour 2008.
O'Donnell was a resident ofNyack, New York, after her 1996 purchase of "Pretty Penny", aVictorian river home previously occupied byHelen Hayes. O'Donnell later sold the home to businessmanEdward M. Kopko in 2000.[137] She has lived inSouth Nyack, New York,[138] and owns a home inWest Palm Beach, Florida.[139] O’Donnell relocated to theWest Coast in the early 2020s.[140]
O'Donnell is aDemocrat.[141] She has contributed funds to multiple political campaigns, includingto the campaign to elect Senator Doug Jones of Alabama.[142]
On numerous occasions, O'Donnell has been outspoken about controversial topics. In 2007, she announced her opinion concerning theSeptember 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on theWorld Trade Center, in which she questionedNIST conclusions, and alleged the United States government's involvement in the attacks.[143]
In March 2025, shortly after Trump was inaugurated for a second term, O'Donnell revealed in aTikTok video that she had moved toIreland with her child, Clay, that January. She said "It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically, and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know." She went on to say that she and Clay "just felt like we needed to take care of ourselves and make some hard decisions and follow through".[144] O'Donnell applied forIrish citizenship through descent.[145] Trump threatened in July 2025 to revoke US-born O'Donnell'sbirthright US citizenship. Initially O'Donnell moved to theDublin coastal village ofHowth in a rental house. After a few months, influenced by the localspecialist school for her autistic daughter, they moved to the Dublin coastal suburb of Sandymount.[146]
In her January 31, 2002, appearance on thesitcomWill & Grace, she played a lesbian mother. A month later, as part of her act at the Ovarian Cancer Research benefit atCaroline's Comedy Club, O'Donnellcame out as a lesbian, announcing "I'm a dyke! ... I don't know why people make such a big deal about the gay thing. ... People are confused, they're shocked, like this is a big revelation to somebody."[147] The announcement came two months before the end of her talk show. Although she also cited the need to put a face to gays and lesbians, her primary reason was to bring attention toLGBTQ adoption issues. O'Donnell is a foster and adoptive mother. She protested against adoption agencies, particularly in Florida, that refused adoptive rights to gay and lesbian parents.
Diane Sawyer interviewed O'Donnell in a March 14, 2002, episode ofPrimeTime Thursday. O'Donnell toldUSA Today that she chose to talk to Sawyer because she wanted an investigative piece on Florida's ban on gay adoption. She told Sawyer if that was done, "I would like to talk about my life and how (the case) pertains to me." She spoke about two gay men in Florida who faced having a foster child they raised removed from their home. State law wouldn't let them adopt because Florida banned gay couples and lesbian couples from adopting.[147] O'Donnell's coming out drew criticism from some LGBTQ activists, who cited her repeated references to being enamored ofTom Cruise onThe Rosie O'Donnell Show as deceptive.[147] She responded in her act stating, "I said I wanted him to mow my lawn and bring me a lemonade. I never said I wanted to blow him."[148] After leaving her show and coming out, O'Donnell returned to stand-up comedy and cut her hair, telling the press that her haircut was meant to mimic that of formerCulture Club backup singerHelen Terry.[149]
O'Donnell was named 2002's Person of the Year byThe Advocate, and, in May 2003, she became a regular columnist for the magazine.[150] The magazine's editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, stated, "Today, Rosie's long and brave journey has led her not only to the cover ofThe Advocate – Rosie was honored with the magazine's Person of the Year Award for 2002 – but now to its chorus of voices, as a columnist."[150]
O'Donnell adopted her first child, Parker Jaren O'Donnell, as an infant in 1995.[3][151][152] Later, her wife Kelli Carpenter also adopted Parker. Parker is an aficionado of military history and in 2011 successfully lobbied his mother to send him toValley Forge Military Academy.[153][154]
Carpenter and O'Donnell have four children together.[3][155] In 2000, the family took infoster child Mia (born in 1997), and announced intentions to adopt her. In 2001, theState of Florida removed Mia from their home, and O'Donnell has since worked extensively to bring an end to the Florida law prohibiting same-sex family adoption.[156][157]
On February 26, 2004, O'Donnell married Carpenter,[158] a formerNickelodeon marketing executive, in San Francisco two weeks afterMayorGavin Newsom authorized the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Her decision to marry Carpenter in San Francisco was seen as a show of defiance against then-PresidentGeorge W. Bush over his support for theFederal Marriage Amendment. She said in 2004, "We were both inspired to come here after the sitting President made the vile and hateful comments he made ... [O]ne thought ran through my mind on the plane out here – with Liberty and Social justice for all."[159][160] The couple was married by San Francisco TreasurerSusan Leal, one of the city's highest-ranking lesbian officials, and serenaded by theSan Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.[159] O'Donnell said during the trial overRosie magazine she had decided to marry Carpenter, in part because even though they acted as spouses they legally were no closer than friends: "We applied forspousal privilege and were denied it by the state. As a result, everything that I said to Kelli, every letter that I wrote her, every e-mail, every correspondence and conversation was entered into the record ... I am now and will forever be a total proponent of gay marriage."[159]
In mid-November 2009, O'Donnell disclosed that Carpenter had moved out of their home in 2007. Their marriage had ended in August 2004, when it was among thousands voided by theCalifornia Supreme Court.[161][162]
O'Donnell began dating 40-year-old executive-search consultant Michelle Rounds in mid-2011. On December 5, 2011, during a break in the taping ofThe Rosie Show, O'Donnell announced to her studio audience that she and Rounds were engaged.[163] The two married in a private ceremony in New York on June 9, 2012.[164] On January 9, 2013, the couple announced they had adopted a baby girl.[165] In February 2015, O'Donnell filed for divorce from Rounds after two years of marriage,[166] and it was settled by October.[167] O'Donnell was awarded full custody of their daughter.[168] Rounds died by suicide on September 15, 2017.[169]
In August 2015, O'Donnell tweeted that her 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea, had gone missing from their home in Nyack along with hertherapy dog.[170] Chelsea was found a week later inBarnegat, New Jersey. In 2024, Chelsea was arrested several times on charges involving drugs,child neglect,domestic abuse, andbail jumping[171].
O'Donnell has suffered with mental issues her entire life, attributing it to the sexual abuse that was inflicted on her by her father when she was a child. She struggles withmajor depressive disorder,PTSD,anxiety issues, and body-image issues and takesantidepressants. On her body-image struggles, she said, "I think it’s what your body does to protect you if you’re a kid who’s sexually abused, which I was."[172][173][174]
In the summer of 2000, O'Donnell suffered astaphylococcal infection after she accidentally cut a finger,[65] which incapacitated her for weeks and nearly led to her hand being amputated.[175] O'Donnell has acknowledged her struggles with recurrentmajor depressive episodes during the fall and winter months consistent withseasonal affective disorder.[176]
In 2008, O'Donnell said that she was not an alcoholic, and had temporarily given up alcohol to lose weight. She wrote on her blog: "'Cause I was drinking too much, 'cause I didn't want to any more, 'cause it is hard to lose weight when drinking, 'cause I can never have only one."[177] She started drinking again following President Trump’s first election victory in 2016, revealing, "I was very, very depressed. I was overeating. I was overdrinking … I was so depressed."[178]
O'Donnell suffered aheart attack in mid-August 2012. She said an artery was 99 percent blocked and astent was inserted.[179][180] She later posted onTwitter that to reverse her heart disease she would adopt thewhole foods,plant-based diet promoted byCaldwell Esselstyn.[181]
O'Donnell hasType 2 diabetes.[182]
| Award | Year | Work | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime Emmy Awards | 1997 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Outstanding Talk Show | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host | Won | ||||
| 1998 | Outstanding Talk Show | Won | |||
| Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host | Won (tied withOprah Winfrey) | ||||
| Outstanding Writing – Special Class | Nominated | ||||
| 1999 | Outstanding Talk Show | Won | |||
| Outstanding Talk Show Host | Won | ||||
| Outstanding Writing – Special Class | Nominated | ||||
| 2000 | Outstanding Talk Show | Won | |||
| Outstanding Talk Show Host | Won | ||||
| 2001 | Outstanding Talk Show | Won | |||
| Outstanding Talk Show Host | Won(tied withRegis Philbin) | ||||
| 2002 | Outstanding Talk Show | Won | |||
| Outstanding Talk Show Host | Won | ||||
| 2007 | Outstanding Talk Show Host | Nominated | |||
| Emmy Awards | 1995 | Rosie O'Donnell (stand-up comedy special) | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | Nominated | |
| 1996 | The Larry Sanders Show | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| 1999 | Kids Are Punny | Outstanding Children's Program | Nominated | ||
| 52nd AnnualTony Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Won | |||
| 2006 | All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise | Outstanding Nonfiction Special | Nominated | ||
| Kids' Choice Awards | 1995 | The Flintstones | Favorite Movie Actress | Won | |
| 2000 | In recognition of self | Hall of Fame Award | Won | ||
| Tony Award | 2014 | "For her commitment to arts education for New York City's public school children." | Isabelle Stevenson Award | Won | |
| Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards | 2002 | In recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. | Lucy Award | Won | [183] |
| Queerty Awards | 2024 | In recognition of self | Icon Award | Won | [184] |
| 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 | 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, 2024 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | Contestant | Walked away with $500,000 in May 2000, and $250,000 in July 2024. |
| 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 onHBO |
| 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 Gigolo | Detective Sunday | Main cast | |
| 2025 | And Just Like That... | Mary | Episode: "Outlook Good" (Season 3, Episode 1)[185] |
| Hacks | Herself | Episode: "Mrs. Table" (Season 4, Episode 6) |
| 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[186] | |
| 2000 | The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | Octopus | Voice[186] |
| 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 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Battle for Dream Island | Spool | Voice, 2 episodes, credited as "Clay's Mom"[187] |
| 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"(withTrisha Yearwood) | 72 | A Rosie Christmas |
She and her siblings had been molested by their father.
I was a kid who grew up [with] generational abuse and alcoholism in an Irish Catholic family.
My father's one of ten kids and there were a lot of tragic deaths, early deaths and alcoholism. There was a lot of abuse in his family, you know, his father was run out of Ireland for interfering with the local children.
Comedian Rosie O'Donnell made flinging Koosh Balls into her audience a staple on her talk show, which aired from 1996 to 2002.
"The View" co-host is in hot water for using the expression "ching chong" to describe Chinese people talking about Danny DeVito's drunken appearance on her show.
Spoofing a language belittles the people who speak it, her critics said. It also was disappointing to hear such insensitivity from O'Donnell, who has championed gay and lesbian rights and attacked others for being homophobic, they said.
She and Ms. O'Donnell married in San Francisco in 2004 and broke up three years later, but divorce wasn't necessary as the union was later annulled, along with those of about 4,000 other couples, by the California Supreme Court.
nine days later – nine pounds lost – eating a plant based diet #likebillclinton pic.twitter.com/8ItILfpl. [sic]
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | The View co-host 2006–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The View co-host 2014–2015 | Succeeded by |
