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When She Was Born
Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954. She was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA. She was raised by her grandmother because their parents were out of wedlock. -
1960-1968 She moved from Milwaukee to Mississipi
She had moved from Milwaukee to live with her mother, stepsister and stepbrother. They were in an inner city ghetto in Mississippi. During this time Oprah later revealed she suffered from abuse. She was raped by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend -
Oprah Ran Away From Home
Oprah ran away from home. She ran wild and narrowly escaped being sent to a juvenile detention center.
During this time she gave birth to a premature boy. He who died soon after birth. After that she moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She went with her father and her stepmother Zelma. -
She won a Scholarship
Vernon Winfrey was very strict and O became an honors student and graduated from East Nashville High School. Won a scholarship to Tennessee State University based on her communication skills and worked at the WVOL local radio station whilst attending the University -
Miss Black America Pageant
Crowned Miss Black Tennessee and Miss Fire Prevention. She also took part in the Miss Black America Pageant -
Graduated from Tennessee State University
She graduated from Tennessee State University with a Degree in Speech and Performing Arts. -
First black TV news anchor reporter
Became the first black TV news anchor reporter with WTVF-TV
Moved to Baltimore to host the 6 o’clock news with WJZ-TV where she met her best friend Gayle King who was a production assistant at WJZ-TV. April 1: Was moved from news anchor to the WJZ-TV morning talk show host of People are Talking -
Talk show host of People are Talking
Was moved from news anchor to the WJZ-TV morning talk show host of People are Talking with Richard Sher. -
Moved to Chicago
Moved to Chicago, Illinois in late 1983 in preparation to host the talk show A.M. Chicago for WLS-TV -
First Episode
First episode of A.M. Chicago. Show was extremely successful in the ratings -
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 'The Color Purple' but lost to Anjelica Huston
September 8: Her show expands to one hour and broadcast nationally. It was nominated for several Emmy awards Formed her own television production company called Harpo Productions Received the National Organization for Women's Women of Achievement Award. Starred in the movie 'Native Son' as Janet Thomason -
Oprah won her first Emmy
Her much acclaimed episode from her show was aired from Forsyth County, Georgia, where no blacks had been allowed to live since 1912.
Oprah won her first Emmy for best talk/service show host and best show. Cameo role in the Danny DeVito movie Throw Momma from the Train -
Named Broadcaster of the Year
Named Broadcaster of the Year by the International Television and Radio Society
Harpo Productions which obtained ownership and production responsibilities for her show from ABC-TV station, WLS in Chicago Bought her Chicago apartmet and her farm in Indiana. Appeared in the TV program Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special as herself -
Starred as Mattie Michael in the movie The Women of Brewster Place
Starred as Mattie Michael in the movie The Women of Brewster Place (she was also executive producer)
Received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Entertainer of the year award and went on to receive their Image Award 4 times from 1989 to 1992 Her half brother, Jeffrey Lee, sadly died of AIDS. -
Won Best Talk Show Host at the Daytime Emmy Awards
Won Best Talk Show Host at the Daytime Emmy Awards
1992 Appeared in the TV program The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Episode, A Night at the Oprah Worked on Lincoln as narrator of the TV documentary Became engaged to Stedman Graham, a public relations executive Appointed Bob Greene to supervise her exercise program -
Became the first woman and the only black on Forbes list of 400 richest Americans
Became the first woman and the only black on Forbes list of 400 richest Americans. She has remained the only black person to rank among America's 400 richest people nearly every year since 1995 Won an Emmy for Best Talk Show and Best Host for the second year in a row. “Oprah Online” started on American Online (AOL) in partnership with ABC -
Became co-author of the book A Journal of Daily Renewal
Became co-author of the book A Journal of Daily Renewal : The Companion to Make the Connection, by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey
Received the prestigious George Foster Peabody’s Individual Achievement Award April 16: The OW Show dealt with Mad Cow Disease in the United States which led to a court case September 16: Oprah announced the start of her successful on-air book club -
Formation of Oprah’s Angel Network encouraging people
Formation of Oprah’s Angel Network encouraging people to make charitable contributions and volunteer work. Delivered the commencements address to the Wellesley College Class of 1997
Appeared in the TV program Ellen - The Puppy Episode Appeared in the TV program Before Women Had Wings role as Miss Zora (she was also producer) Author of the book The Uncommon Wisdom of Oprah Winfrey : A Portrait in Her Own Words by Bill Adler (editor) and Oprah Winfrey -
Sucessfully defended herself in the food disparagement lawsuit
February 26: Sucessfully defended herself in the food disparagement lawsuit brought by Texas cattlemen following the show about Mad Cow Disease
Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmy Awards and an award for top talk show host. Formed Oxygen Media Starred in the movie of the Toni Morrison novel, Beloved Co-author of the book Journey to Beloved, by Oprah Winfrey and Ken Regan -
Co-Author
1999 Co-author of the book Make the Connection : Ten Steps to a Better Body and a Better Life, by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey -
Producer of Broadway Musical
The Color Purple was made into a Broadway musical of which she was a producer
Forbes' international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world's only black billionaire Became the first black listed by Business Week as one of America's top 50 most generous philanthropists Oprah's Christmas Kindness was made to draw bring attention to the plight of young African children affected by poverty and AIDS. Named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people of the year Named as the greatest woman
