Rosie O'Donnell's Childhood:
Rosie was born in 1962 to Edward and Roseann O'Donnell. Rosie's mother died of breast cancer when she was 10 years old. She describes the time of her mother's death as extremely difficult.
Star Search:
Rosie toured comedy clubs from 1979-1984. She was a comedy champion on the TV show Star Search and hosted Stand-Up Spotlight on VH1.
Movie Credits:
Rosie has appeared in the following movies:
Talk Show Host:
Rosie hosted The Rosie O'Donnell Show from 1996-2002. She won an Emmy in 1998 for Outstanding Talk Show. She was known as the "Queen of Nice." Rosie O'Donnell joined The View in September 2006. After a colorful one year stint on The View, Rosie O'Donnell left the program in May 2007, one month before her contract expired.
Children:
Married!:
Rosie has been with her partner Kelli Carpenter since 1998. They married in San Francisco on 2/26/04 as one of more than 3,000 couples who tied the knot after Mayor Gavin Newsom declared gay unions legal in that County. The San Francisco marriages have since been annulled.
Coming Out:
Rosie came out in March 2002 in an interview with Diane Sawyer on Primetime Thursday.
R Family Vacations:
Rosie O'Donnell and her wife Kelli Carpenter started R Family Vacations to provide family friendly vacations for gay and lesbian families and their friends.
Rosie O'Donnell Variety Show:
NBC is planning to host "Rosie Variety Show" on November 26, 2008, the night before Thanksgiving. The live show will be similar to "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show" with comedy, skits, dancing and celebrity guests. If the show is well received it could become a regular series.
Rosie the Activist:
Rosie decided to come out as a lesbian after learning the plight of a gay couple from Florida who were not allowed to adopt the foster children they were raising. Steve Lofton and Roger Croteau have several foster children that they wish to adopt. The laws in Florida do not allow for same-sex couples to adopt. Rosie told Diane Sawyer, "I don't think America knows what a gay parent looks like. I am a gay parent."
Rosie Magazine
Rosie started a magazine in 2001, but it was plagued by lawsuits and stopped publishing in 2002.
Rosie was appalled during her trial with her magazine that her partner Kelli was called to testify against her. Married spouses are protected from testifying against each other. Rosie said, "We applied for spousal 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," O'Donnell said. "After the trial, I am now and will forever be a total proponent of gay marriage."
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