Rosie O'Donnell

Newsweek calls her the “Queen of Nice” and she was one of Time’s 25 most influential Americans. She was given Ladies’ Home Journal’s “One Smart Lady” award and was also one of the year’s most fascinating women. This kind lady was named entertainer of the year by Entertainment Weekly and was one of People’s most intriguing people. Barbara Walters named her one of the 10 most fascinating people of 1996. Who is she? This gifted, extraordinarily generous woman is Rosie O’Donnell! Rosie O’Donnell is so successful! She is an actress, comedian, talk show host, charity donor, and she is a mother of three adopted children. Rosie is involved in many organizations. For example, she established The For All Kids Foundation. This organization contributes money to children’s charities across the country. Since she helps out so many people, the world has become a better place. If others follow in her footsteps, then everyone will be happy. She brings so much bliss to so many children and families that it is hard to forget to include her in any book of heroes!

Rosie O’Donnell was born on March 21, 1962 in Commack, New York. She grew up with four siblings. Rosie could often be found singing, dancing, acting, and listening to Barbra Streisand with her mother. By watching and imitating comedians, Rosie eventually came up with her own material and dreamed of becoming an actress on the stage in a Broadway production. In 1973, tragedy struck when Rosie's mother died of pancreatic and liver cancer. She died four days before Rosie’s eleventh birthday. Through it all, Rosie continued a life of fun, excitement, and laughs. She was always making people smile wherever she went. In high school, Rosie was elected prom queen, homecoming queen, most school-spirited student, and class president. After going on a grand tour of the United States, she studied for a short time at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania and Boston University. She decided to quit after her professor made it clear that she wasn’t going to make it as an actress. But Rosie believed in herself. She wanted to follow her dream of acting and making people laugh!

Rosie O’Donnell won five times on Star Search before she moved to Los Angeles. There, she got a part on the last season of NBC’s popular sitcom Gimme a Break in 1986. VH1 took Rosie away from NBC and had her as one of their veejays. When VH1 decided to stop having veejays, she convinced them to create a showcase for comedians. In 1989, Rosie O’Donnell was the producer and performer on VH1’s Stand-up Spotlight. After appearing in several television show specials, Penny Marshall cast Rosie as Madonna’s best friend in the movie A League Of Their Own. This fabulous movie had Rosie getting comments for her acting! After such a victorious movie Rosie’s career enhanced in the next few years. In 1993, Rosie O’Donnell was in four movies. She was Becky in Sleepless in Seattle, Gina Garrett in Another Stakeout, she had a brief appearance in Fatal Instinct, and she also played a hairdresser in Beautiful Girls.

In 1994, Rosie O’Donnell’s dream finally came true! She was cast as Rizzo in Tommy Tune’s Broadway renewal of Grease. After her Broadway debut, she appeared in Now and Then and had a small part in the TV sitcom Bless This House. In 1995, Rosie O’Donnell accepted the offer to be the host of a talk show for NBC, The Rosie O’Donnell Show. This show features celebrity guests and Broadway performances. The Rosie O’Donnell Show is one of the most popular talk shows in afternoon television. Later in 1995, Rosie O’Donnell won the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for her performance as Betty Rubble in The Flintstones movie. Rosie O’Donnell also adopted a baby, Parker Jaren O’Donnell. In 1997, she adopted a baby girl, Chelsea Belle O’Donnell. Even though Rosie is constantly working in show business, her two adopted children stay close to her. Parker and Chelsea Belle stay in a luxurious nursery in the Rockefeller Center studio made by some of Rosie’s producers. Rosie O’Donnell made several performances in movies while taking a short break from her talk show. She played a nanny in Harriet the Spy and she played a school teacher-nun in the movie Wide Awake. In January, Rosie’s foundation, For All Kids Foundation, helped so many children! The organization gave out $1,500,000 to 105 different children’s charities. Rosie O’Donnell received two Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Talk Show Host” and “Outstanding Talk Show.” In 1999, Rosie O’Donnell played the voice of Terk in Disney’s Tarzan. She received excellent remarks when she hosted the Grammy Awards in 1999! In late 1999, Rosie adopted a third child, Blake Christopher O’Donnell. After ten years of living in Los Angeles, Rosie O’Donnell moved back to New York. In an issue of Ladies’ Home Journal, Rosie O’Donnell tells us that she might leave her show after her contract expires in 2002. She wants to spend more time on her organization, Rosie Adoptions. Her great organization makes the process of adoption easier between birth mothers and adoptive families.

Rosie O’Donnell, one of TV’s hottest stars, is the most giving, thoughtful, and interesting hero of all time. Even though her professor was cruel and discouraging Rosie worked hard to prove him wrong. Rosie listened to that negative comment and used it to push her even harder towards success! Newsweek was absolutely right when they called her the “Queen of Nice!” Rosie O’Donnell is a good role model for ordinary people, because through her many organizations she has helped so many people over the years and she always makes people smile. Also, she has influenced so many people to lend a hand to others and has contributed so much of her time for children. A lot of people think she is such a fascinating person and they are definitely right. Rosie O’Donnell a gifted, extraordinarily generous woman and she will always be known for her kindness!