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Born
Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on the 29th of January, 1954. She was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA
Her parents were born our of Wedlock. Her mother, Vernita Lee was a housemaid and her father, Vernon Winfrey, was a coal miner.
You may not know Oprah is an African American and DNA test have revealed her ancestry has roots in Liberia, East Asia and Native American tribes -
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Raised by Grandma Hattie May
Oprah was raised on her Grandma, Hattie May's farm until the age of 6. -
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Moved From Milwaukee
Moved from Milwaukee to live with her mother, stepsister and stepbrother in an inner city ghetto in Mississippi. During this time Oprah later revealed she suffered from abuse and was raped by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend -
Ran away from home & became an honours student
Oprah ran away from home, ran wild and narrowly escaped being sent to a juvenile detention center.
During this time at the age og 14 she gave birth to a premature boy, who died soon after birth. She then moved to Nashville, Tennessee with her father and her stepmother Zelma. Vernon by this time had become a successful businessman and city-council member. Vernon Winfrey was very strict and Oprah became an honors student and graduated from East Nashville High School -
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University & start of Career
1970 - Won a scholarship to Tennessee State University based on her communication skills and worked at the WVOL local radio station whilst attending the University. 1971 - Crowned Miss Black Tennessee and Miss Fire Prevention. She also took part in the Miss Black America Pageant. 1973 - She graduated from Tennessee State University with a Degree in Speech and Performing Arts. Became the first black TV news anchor reporter with WTVF-TV. 1976 - Moved to Baltimore -
Moved to Chicago, Illinois
Moved to Chicago, Illinois in late 1983 in preparation to host the talk show A.M. Chicago for WLS-TV -
First episode of A.M. Chicago
January 2: First episode of A.M. Chicago. Show was extremely successful in the ratings -
Oprah Winfrey Show
Oprah sontinue to work on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Starred in the Steven Spielberg movie 'The Color Purple' as the character Sofia -
Production & Academy Award nominations
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. -
Forsyth County, Georgia,
February 9: 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 -
A big 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 -
Executive Producer
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. -
TV and Movies
Appeared in the TV program Brewster Place as Mattie Michael Starred in the movie Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (documentary) -
National Child Protection Act
Initiated the National Child Protection Act and testified before Congress Appointed chef Rosie Daley to supervise a new and healthier diet. -
Engagement
Won Best Talk Show Host at the Daytime Emmy Awards 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 -
Interviewed Michael Jackson
Hosted an interview with Michael Jackson which reached an audience of one hundred million. President Bill Clinton signed the National Child Protection Act which had been strongly supported by Oprah. Appeared in the TV program There Are No Children Here role as LaJoe Rivers -
Won Best talk Show
Won Best Talk Show and Best Talk Show Host at the 21st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Became co-author of the book In The Kitchen With Rosie: Oprah's Favorite Recipes by Rosie Daley and Oprah Winfrey -
Forbes List
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 -
OW Show covered Mad Cow DIsease
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 -
Charitable Events
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 -
Lifetime Achievement Award
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 -
Make the Connection
Co-author of the book Make the Connection : Ten Steps to a Better Body and a Better Life, by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey -
Oprah Magazine
In 2002 Fortune called Oprah, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up ever in the industry. Became the recipient of the first Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2002 Emmy Awards for services to television and film. -
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Narrator
She was the narrator in the documentary Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Concert was hosted by Oprah and Tom Cruise Forbes' international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world's only black billionaire Named by Time as one of the 100 people who most influenced the 20th century She was the narrator in the documentary Brothers of the Borderland -
Broadway
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 woma -
Satellite Radio
February 9: Signed 3-year contract with XM Satellite Radio to establish a new radio channel based in Chicago Forbes' international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world's only black billionaire Named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people of the year Appeared in the TV program Drake & Josh in the episode Josh Meets Oprah Appeared in Drake & Josh - Josh Meets Oprah Starred in the movie Charlotte's Web playing Gussy Oprah currently lives on "The Promised Land", her 42 acre
