Ellen DeGeneres

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9.2 Superb
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Ellen DeGeneres Picture

Biography

Recent Role:
Host on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Gender:
Female
Born:
1-26-1958
Birthplace:
Metairie, Louisiana
Birth Name:
Ellen Lee DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres attracted massive media attention when she came out as a lesbian on her television show in 1997. Known as "the puppy episode," the program stirred controversy and drew criticism from conservative sectors. DeGeneres and her partner, actress Anne Heche, came out at the same time, DeGeneres appearing on the covers of national magazines. The caption accompanying her photograph on the cover of Time read, "Yep, I'm Gay Her place in history as TV's first gay lead character was thus secured.

Born in New Orleans in 1958, DeGeneres' sometimes difficult life

… More inspired her to use humor as a coping device. After her parents' divorce when she was 13, she and her mother, Betty, moved to Texas. It was a hard time, and DeGeneres used humor to buoy her mother's spirits. "My mother was going through some really hard times and I could see when she was really getting down, and I would start to make fun of her dancing," DeGeneres has said. "Then she'd start to laugh and I'd make fun of her laughing. And she'd laugh so hard she'd start to cry, and then I'd make fun of that. So I would totally bring her from where I'd seen her start going into depression to all the way out of it."

After graduating from high school in 1976, DeGeneres moved back to New Orleans where she worked a series of dead-end jobs: house painter, secretary, oyster shucker, sales clerk, waitress, bartender, and vacuum salesperson. At the encouragement of friends, she tried out her comedy on an amateur-hour audience, in 1981. Her act went over well, and her niche had been found. Only a year later, she entered and won Showtime's "Funniest Person in America" contest. The title, which brought both criticism and high expectations, was her springboard to stardom.

One of her better-known stand-up routines, "A Phone Call to God," came from one of her own darkest moments of despair, when a close friend and roommate had been killed in a car accident while out on a date. The girl was only 23, and it seemed very unfair to DeGeneres. She wanted to question God about a lot of things that seemed unnecessary, and again she turned to humor. She sat down one night and considered what it would be like if she could call God on the phone and ask him about some of the things that troubled her. As if it was meant to be, the monologue poured from her pen to paper, and it was funny, focusing on topics such as fleas and what their purpose might be. DeGeneres performed "A Phone Call to God" on the Johnny Carson show six years later. Everything clicked that night, and Carson signaled her over to sit on the couch after her performance. She was the only female comedian Carson ever called to come over and talk to him on a first appearance on the Tonight Show.

DeGeneres continued on the comedy circuit and started acting; one memorable performance was with dancing fruit in Very Fine juice commercials. She eventually landed small roles in several short-lived television series: Duet, Open House, and Laurie Hill. Her feature acting debut was in the 1993 movie Coneheads.

By 1994 she was starring in a series called These Friends of Mine on ABC. The first season was aided by a prime slot, following Tim Allen's Home Improvement. The network had such confidence in her that they announced that she would be the ABC spokesperson for radio ads and on-air promos, allowing her to introduce the debut of every show in the fall lineup. She also co-hosted the 1994 Emmy Awards ceremony.

Despite DeGeneres' fervent backing by ABC, the show had a number of problems, not the least of which were critical comparisons to Seinfeld, and a number of personnel changes on both sides of the camera. The show's name was changed to Ellen for its second season, its concept was changed, and Ellen was given more creative input.

By the third season, Ellen had failed to find an audience, however, and the show needed a boost. DeGeneres and her producers decided to announce the character's homosexuality to give the show a new edge--and to tell the truth. As DeGeneres told Time: "I never wanted to be the lesbian actress. I never wanted to be the spokesperson for the gay community. Ever. I did it for my own truth." After months of hinting around on the show, Ellen came out in an hour-long episode featuring guest stars Laura Dern, Melissa Etheridge, k.d. lang, Demi Moore, Billy Bob Thornton, and Oprah Winfrey. The result was a clamor among conservatives and the religious right; evangelist Jerry Falwell called DeGeneres a "degenerate." The show won an Emmy for best writing in a comedy series, and a Peabody award for the episode. Entertainment Weekly named DeGeneres the Entertainer of the Year in 1997. In 1998, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation (GLAAD) awarded DeGeneres the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for being an openly gay celebrity who has battled homophobia. The series itself was given the award for Outstanding TV Comedy. The show was even praised by vice president Al Gore for forcing Americans "to look at sexual orientation in a more open light."

In the following season the show continued to focus mainly on gay issues, despite declining ratings, and ABC decided not to renew the show for a sixth season. Critics noted that the show had become one-dimensional, with Ellen's homosexuality overshadowing all other topics. As the show declined, however, DeGeneres began branching out, writing a book, My Point ... And I Do Have One, in 1996 and releasing an album collection of stand-up material called Taste This. She also had her first leading role in a film, a romantic comedy with actor Bill Pullman called Mr. Wrong. Meanwhile, her series was picked up in syndication by the Lifetime channel in 1998. Is now in syndication today on the Oxygen channel. (2006)

DeGeneres returned to series TV in 2001 with a new CBS sitcom, The Ellen Show. Though her character was again a lesbian, it was not the central theme of the show. It received critical praise but low viewership and was cancelled after one season.

Although her second sitcom was not a success, Ellen did receive wide exposure on November 4, 2001, when she served as hostess of the Emmy Awards-TV show. Presented following two cancellations due to fears that a showy ceremony would appear insensitive following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the show required a newer, more somber tone that at the same time allowed viewers to temporarily forget the tragedy. DeGeneres delivered this, receiving several standing ovations for her performance that evening. She memorably delivered the following line: "We're told to go on living our lives as usual, because to do otherwise is to let the terrorists win, and really, what would upset the Taliban more than a gay woman wearing a suit in front of a room full of Jews?"

DeGeneres lent her voice to the role of "Dory," a fish with short-term memory loss, in the summer 2003 hit animated Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo. Finding Nemo was a box office hit, it had the biggest opening weekend of any animated film upon it's release on May 30rd, 2003. Pulling in over 330 million dollars total at the box office. It also Claimed the all-time first day USA record for home-release sales with 8 million copies sold (80% of which were on DVD). As of January 2005, it is the bestselling DVD of all time in the world with 22 million copies sold. The movie returned DeGeneres to the limelight, with critics giving her rave reviews. 2003 was a busy year for Ellen, she also narrated one of the highly successful VH1 Divas shows and wrote another book The Funny Thing Is.

In September of 2003, DeGeneres launched a daytime television talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Amid a crop of several talk shows surfacing in 2003 and hosted by high-profile celebrities (including Sharon Osbourne and Rita Rudner), DeGeneres' show has consistently risen in the Nielsen Ratings and received widespread critical praise. DeGeneres' show was nominated for eleven Daytime Emmy Awards in its freshman season, winning four, including Best Talk Show. The show has won 15 Emmy Awards in its first three seasons on the air. The Ellen DeGeneres Show is the first talk show in television history to win the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show for its first three seasons on the air. Ellen is known for her dancing with the audience in the beginning of the show.

Since November 2004, DeGeneres has appeared, dancing, in a new ad campaign for American Express. Since May 2005, she has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

In August 2005, Ellen was selected once again as host of the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, which was held on September 18, 2005. (The awards show came three weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, making it the second time Ellen hosted the Emmys following a national tragedy. Because Ellen is from New Orleans, the tragedy literally hit close to home) When she announced that she'd be again hosting the Emmys, she joked, "You know me, any excuse to put on a dress." She also hosted the Grammy Awards in 1996 and in 1997.

Personal Life:
DeGeneres' relationship with former Another World actress Anne Heche turned into material for the tabloid press. After several years in the spotlight, Heche broke up with DeGeneres and went on to marry male cameraman Coley Laffoon. DeGeneres then had a relationship with Actress/Director/Photographer Alexandra Hedison. They appeared on the cover of The Advocate magazine (ironically, after their split up had already been announced to the press). DeGeneres is now in a relationship with Arrested Development and former Ally McBeal star Portia de Rossi, which began in December 2004, they bought a 120 acre ranch together. In August 2008, Portia and Ellen married in Los Angeles.

DeGeneres has one brother, Vance, who made a guest appearance on Ellen in 1994. Vance was also a correspondent for The Daily Show from 1999 to 2001.

In her book, Love, Ellen, DeGeneres' mother, Betty, describes being initially shocked when her daughter came out as a lesbian, but has in fact become one of her strongest supporters. Betty DeGeneres is an active member of PFLAG and spokesperson for the HRC Coming Out Project. She is also a breast cancer survivor.

From the Forums

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  • Welcome to the TV.com Forums for Ellen DeGeneres

    Welcome to the TV.com Forums for Ellen DeGeneres. Here is your area to discuss, dissect and debate all things about this person.

    3 comments, last one Nov 19, 2011

  • Ellen marries Portia!

    Yeah for Ellen and Portia! I'm glad they finally did it :)

    samarajunk
    2 comments, last one Aug 20, 2008

  • Ellen Talk

    Here is a thread where you can talk about anyting related to Ellen. You can talk about the latest epesode of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, her funniest jokes, or anything else.  

    ruthieluver77
    2 comments, last one Oct 16, 2007

  • I need to get this to Ellen re: Oct 16th show

    I hope I'm doing this right. I watched today's episode and (by the way, I'm from Texas so get ready for Texasisms) I tell you what, I just wanted to be there and just hug and hold you until you stopped crying. My word, doesn't that bunch of who-hahs realize that you did a good and… More wonderful, loving thing for that family? Blast it all, I'm still crying and can hardly type! I love dogs so much. My husband bought me my beautiful pomeranian Rosie for our 15th wedding anniversary and our rambuncheous, all out goofy, American Eskimo (we think) Gracie for our 20th anniversary. If anyone did anything to those babies, I don't know what I'd do. They should have an addendum to their so called contract that states that if you cannot keep the puppy or whatever, but you've found a loving, good home for it that they do a check and after they pass that's it. If that had happened to me, they would have had a really hard time getting that puppy from me!! I'm not a small woman, I am disabled, but get me all riled up and that's it!! You will wonder what in the thunder happened to you and where your hair went! I'm so, so sorry that this happened to you and to that wonderful family. I'm not crying anymore, now I'm just upset with those people. They just have to reconsider and they have to give that puppy back. Is there any way that you could get their email address so that we all could do an email campaign to "Give the Puppy Back!". I'll start it and if you'll put it on your website then everybody who loves you and your show can join in--even if they aren't an animal lover, they'll do this I betcha! Ellen, you just know that I'll be praying that the Lord speaks to those people's hearts and gives that puppy back. That whatever the procedure is, someone is on the phone to those lovely people telling them how to get the puppy back and then everyone will feel so much better. Girl, you just broke my heart. I hope someone from the shelter was watching. If they were, they are probably hitting themselves right now wishing that they'd never even considered going to get that puppy much less actually doing it! Think about putting that email address on your website. I think that would really help. I just joined TV.com just so I could write you and hopefully let you know how much I care about this situation and what my idea is. As Gladys would say, "just keep on keepin' on". Love ya, Kathy

    rockinmaKathy
    1 comments, last one Oct 16, 2007
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  •  
    10 Perfect
    who the heck doesnt like her? hide show

    if you dont like ellen, you're crazy. shes naturally funny, always sweet, and shes absolutely awesome to watch. her talk show is one of my favourites- actually, its the only one i ever watch when i get the chance in the afternoons. shes genuinely funny, and genuinely a good person. she doesnt play it up for the camera, she is who she is. shes proud of who she is, and in Hollywood... that cant be said for many. i think shes wonderful, and i hope her and portia are extremely happy. i love that shes always trying to find a way to give back - whether its through the games on her talk show, ellens bail out plan [or whatever its called, haha], or simply making a little boys day [Canadian kid dying of cancer whos dream is to meet ellen-- they sent him a bunch of things from the show/two tickets]... to animal organizations. shes got a big heart.

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    peacelovex Added Apr 5, 2009 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    A talk show host. hide show

    Ellen is one famous, lucky, special one of those hosts when you go like "hey, that's Ellen, that's Ellen Degeneres". She is a role model to everyone, feeling dreams is the same way to feel, I think Ellen is one special person. And she is very attractive in many, many ways. I'd just wanna say is that keep up the good work, and keep up what you are doing, because when you see the future you'll see it like this. Or maybe me becoming the next host for my own show. Thank you Ellen Degeneres Thank you, very much! -Halo peace

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    ThereGoesHalo3 Added Nov 18, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Ellen Degeneres got her start as a stand up comedian then moved on to have a hugely popular show Ellen. After she outed on the show it was Canceled. She is now the host of her own talk show The Ellen Degeneres Show. hide show

    A very funny person she is one of the great comedians of our time. She makes me laugh every day on her show and the show Ellen is great too. She is a great dancer too :P and her personality shines through and is very infectious and wonderful! She makes me smile every day!

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    codename11 Added May 29, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    9.2 Superb
    A very entertaining person. hide show

    Ellen Degeneres is both a very talented and beautiful woman. I think she knows how to get an audiences attention and keep them laughing. She is a very funny person. She is also very beautiful. She has one of the most amazing eyes I've ever seen. I hate to say but I think many people judge her because of her sexual orientation rather than on who she is. Too bad for them, because their the ones missing out a good person with great talent.

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    kit220 Added May 22, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Ellen DeGeneres is a very comical lady- she is so funny-loved her TV show, and now love her talk show!! hide show

    Except for the fact of her sexual lifestyle, (doesn't matter to me one way or the other really!) we actually have alot in common- I too was raised Christian Science, am funny, but just an average girl with an average life here- Ellen is so funny, she makes you laugh when you are sad, and picks you up when things are down- She is always trying to help out with little and big stuff, and give back to the average people- I don't know what I'd do if her talk show went off- I try not to miss any of her shows, but when I'm at work- I try to tape them...like for instance when she was in Orlando w/ Howie Mandell, The BLUE MAN GROUP, and Lynyrd Skynyrd! Way cool show- loved when she was throwing food into peoples mouth! Hilarious!! I tried to call her, but no return call yet, >I'd prob. freak out if she actually called me anyhow- I just wanted her to teach me to dance- but I guess she's a busy lady! Maybe, just maybe one day, I'll get to see her in person, and tell her how cool I think she is!! Later Ellen -Keep "em Laughing!!- Vicki from VA

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    sawgirl13 Added Apr 2, 2007 All my reviews
 

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