Rosie O’Donnell

Who Is Rosie O’Donnell?

Rosie O’Donnell is a renowned comedian, actress, and television personality who first gained prominence as a stand-up comedian before transitioning into television. Her breakthrough came with her role in the 1992 film A League of Their Own. She went on to achieve further success, notably hosting her own daytime talk show and later co-hosting The View. A passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, O’Donnell has remained in the public eye for both her professional work and her personal life, which has included multiple marriages and challenges that garnered significant media attention.

Early Life

Born Roseann O’Donnell on March 21, 1962, in Commack, New York, she was the third of five children in a close-knit family. Her mother, Roseann, was a homemaker, and her father, Edward, worked as an electrical engineer. Despite not being poor, O’Donnell recalled a modest upbringing compared to her peers. “We weren’t poor—my father was an electrical engineer—but there were five children,” she once shared, noting that while other kids received flashy cars for their birthdays, her family shared a modest Plymouth Volare.

Life took a tragic turn when O’Donnell was just 10 years old, as her mother passed away from cancer. The loss was especially hard on her father, who emotionally distanced himself from the family. He removed most of his wife’s belongings, but O’Donnell and her siblings found solace in their mother’s record collection, especially her Barbra Streisand albums. These records became a precious connection to their mother, and Streisand’s music played a formative role in O’Donnell’s early life and later creative pursuits.

Stand-Up Comedy

O’Donnell’s love for music and theater, nurtured by her mother’s Streisand records, blossomed further during her high school years. It was then that she discovered her comedic talent, performing a skit based on Gilda Radner’s “Roseanne Rosannadanna” character. This experience sparked her interest in pursuing a career in comedy. Drawing inspiration from comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, O’Donnell developed her own style and persona, captivating audiences with her magnetic stage presence.

During her high school years, O’Donnell was a popular figure, earning titles such as prom queen, homecoming queen, and class president. After graduation, she embarked on a nationwide stand-up comedy tour, performing in 49 states over five years. It was a challenging time for her, as she encountered the harsh realities of the comedy world, including its unhealthy lifestyle and sexist environment. Reflecting on that period, O’Donnell shared with Buzz magazine, “Everybody was doing drugs and drinking, and I was just this little girl on the road, scared in her room.”

Despite these challenges, O’Donnell continued to develop her career. After briefly attending Dickinson College and Boston University, she made five successful appearances on Star Search, which helped launch her to Los Angeles in 1984. She secured a role on the final season of the sitcom Gimme a Break! and soon after joined VH1 as a video jockey. When the network phased out VJs, O’Donnell convinced them to create Stand-Up Spotlight, a showcase for up-and-coming comedians. As the host, she helped the program become VH1’s most popular show, solidifying her place in the entertainment industry.

Sidekick Roles and Film Success

In 1992, after appearing in several television specials, Rosie O’Donnell made her big-screen debut in A League of Their Own, directed by Penny Marshall. She played the loveable sidekick to Madonna’s character, a role that helped her forge lasting professional relationships, including a friendship with Madonna. Following this breakout role, O’Donnell became known for her “best friend” parts, such as Meg Ryan’s close pal in Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and her memorable performance as a wise-cracking hairdresser in Beautiful Girls (1996). Despite acting in several films that were less critically successful, O’Donnell’s performances consistently drew praise.

Her Broadway dream came true in 1994 when she was cast as Rizzo in the revival of Grease! However, the production and her performance were met with mixed reviews. O’Donnell also expressed discomfort with the play’s underlying message, which portrayed a girl transforming herself to gain acceptance from her boyfriend and his friends.

‘The Rosie O’Donnell Show’

O’Donnell’s career took a significant turn in 1995 when she began hosting The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Inspired by The Merv Griffin Show, O’Donnell’s approach offered a refreshing alternative to the sensationalism dominating the talk show scene. She won over audiences with her warmth, humor, and down-to-earth style, quickly earning the nickname “Queen of Nice.” The show’s success was marked by two Emmy Awards: one for Outstanding Talk Show and another for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

During this time, O’Donnell balanced her career with motherhood, adopting two children, Parker and Chelsea Belle. Her producers even created a nursery in the Rockefeller Center studio to accommodate her parenting needs.

Coming Out and Advocacy

In 2002, O’Donnell made headlines when she came out as a lesbian in her autobiography Find Me. She chose to publicly acknowledge her sexuality to advocate for gay adoption, inspired by her own experiences with Florida’s laws prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting. Though O’Donnell and her partner, Kelli Carpenter, were unable to adopt their foster child due to these laws, they later expanded their family when Carpenter gave birth to a daughter, Vivienne Rose.

That same year, O’Donnell faced a legal battle after deciding to discontinue her magazine, Rosie, citing creative differences. Her publisher filed a $100 million lawsuit for breach of contract, while O’Donnell countersued for $125 million. Despite the legal turmoil, O’Donnell continued to support the arts, producing the Broadway musical Taboo, although it closed after a short run due to negative reviews.

Return to Television

O’Donnell returned to television in 2006 as co-host of ABC’s The View. While she brought in strong ratings, her tenure was marked by controversial moments, particularly her clashes with conservative co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. After a heated exchange, O’Donnell left the show in 2007, shortly before her contract expired.

In 2014, O’Donnell briefly returned to The View, but her stay was short-lived, and she departed in early 2015. Following her departure, O’Donnell continued to explore television, radio, and live performances, including a variety special and a talk show on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network.

Personal Life and Activism

O’Donnell’s personal life attracted media attention throughout her career. After separating from Carpenter in 2009, O’Donnell had relationships with artist Tracy Kachtick-Anders and business consultant Michelle Rounds. She and Rounds adopted a daughter, Dakota, in 2013, but the couple divorced in 2015.

O’Donnell’s health also became a concern when she suffered a heart attack in 2012. Reflecting on the experience, she shared a message encouraging women to recognize heart attack symptoms and seek immediate medical help.

A vocal advocate for liberal causes, O’Donnell openly opposed Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. In 2018, she joined Broadway musicians in a protest outside the White House, using her platform to lead the group and voice opposition to the administration.