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Who is Ellen DeGeneres?
Ellen DeGeneres was already successful as a stand-up comedian before starring on her own sitcom, Ellen. In 1997, she came out as gay, and became a staunch advocate of LGBTQ rights. She has been the host of her own award-winning talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, since 2003, and married girlfriend Portia de Rossi in 2008.
Early Life
DeGeneres was born in Metairie, Louisiana, to an insurance salesman and a working mother on January 26, 1958. Her parents divorced when DeGeneres was a teenager.
When she was growing up, DeGeneres dreamt of becoming a veterinarian, but she gave up the idea because she was “not book smart.” Instead, she waited tables, sold vacuum cleaners, painted houses and worked as a legal secretary.
DeGeneres had an older brother, Vance. He was an actor/comedian and former correspondent for The Daily Show, and was long considered the humorous member of the family. Then once, during a public speaking event, DeGeneres found herself frightened by the crowd and used humor to get through the experience. She was a hit, and received offers to do stand-up comedy. She began performing in 1981 with lots of encouragement from her mother as well as financial support.
Stand-up Comedy
At the age of 23, DeGeneres began performing at a local coffeehouse. She got her big debut in 1986 when, acting on a tip from Jay Leno, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson sent a booking agent to catch her act at the Improv in Hollywood. As a result of that engagement, DeGeneres appeared on The Tonight Show and earned the distinction of being the only female comic to be invited by Johnny Carson to sit on the famed “couch” during her first visit.
DeGeneres then began making regular appearances on the talk show events, including performances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Later with Greg Kinnear, Larry King Live, and Good Morning, America. She was also profiled in detail on ABC’s PrimeTime Live.
Coming Out on the ‘Ellen’ TV Show
Ellen DeGeneres’ career breakthrough came with her self-titled sitcom, initially titled “These Friends of Mine” until its renaming in 1994. The show evolved into a platform showcasing DeGeneres’ wit and talent, but faced intense criticism when her character became the first lead in sitcom history to publicly acknowledge their homosexuality in April 1997.
The landmark episode sparked controversy, with some ABC affiliates and sponsors, like Daimler Chrysler, distancing themselves from the show. Despite the backlash, DeGeneres received support from gay-friendly activists, including her mother, Betty DeGeneres. Although the show earned an Emmy Award for the coming-out episode and secured a place in television history, it was ultimately canceled in 1998.
In a 2018 podcast appearance on “Armchair Expert,” DeGeneres reflected on the challenges she faced in coming out, including pressure from executives to keep her personal life private and the humiliating experience of being the subject of late-night talk show jokes. She clarified that she didn’t intend to become an LGBTQ “leader” by coming out, but rather wanted to live authentically without secrets.
Ellen DeGeneres’ Show
In 2003, Ellen DeGeneres launched her eponymous talk show, which quickly became a beloved fixture in daytime television.
Over its 19-season run, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” earned a record-breaking 64 Daytime Emmy Awards, cementing its status as a landmark program.
However, in May 2021, DeGeneres announced that she would be ending the show in 2022, following a year of controversy and declining ratings. The decision came after allegations of a toxic work environment and sexual misconduct surfaced, leading to a significant backlash. Despite her initial emotional response to the show’s ending, DeGeneres seemed to have come to terms with the decision by the start of Season 18, when she addressed the allegations directly on air.
Movies
By the time her show was canceled, DeGeneres had already made the move to the big screen, starring in the dark comedy Mr. Wrong (1996) as a woman in search of the perfect man. She also appeared in the comedy EdTV (1999), starring Matthew McConaughey, and the television production of If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000), in which she shared a much-publicized love scene with Sharon Stone.
‘Finding Nemo’ and Awards Show Host
In 2003, Ellen DeGeneres voiced the character of Dory in the animated film Finding Nemo, a role that earned her recognition and praise.
Her stand-up comedy special, Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now, received two Emmy Award nominations in 2004. She reprised her role as Dory in the 2016 sequel, Finding Dory. DeGeneres’ unique blend of kindness and humor made her a sought-after host for various award shows. Her hosting credits include the Grammys (1996 and 1997), Primetime Emmys (2001 and 2005), Academy Awards (2007 and 2014), and American Idol (2009), solidifying her status as a beloved and versatile entertainer.
Books and Executive Producer
DeGeneres is also the author of several books, including My Point … and I Do Have One (1995), Seriously … I’m Kidding (2011) and Home (2015).
Her film work slowed after her talk show took off, but she’s continued to work mostly behind the scenes as an executive producer of several television shows including Bethenny (2012-2014), Repeat After Me (2015), One Big Happy (2015), Little Big Shots (2015) and her HGTV reality competition show, Ellen’s Design Challenge.
Other Projects and Honors
Ellen DeGeneres has expanded her brand by launching her own record label, eleveneleven, and a lifestyle brand, Ed by Ellen, which offers a range of products including shoes, home decor, baby items, accessories, and a pet line.
She is a dedicated advocate for animal rights and LGBTQ+ rights, and follows a vegan lifestyle. Her contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
In 2018, her wife Portia de Rossi surprised her with plans to establish the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda, a project of the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund.
DeGeneres received the Carol Burnett Award at the 2020 Golden Globes, recognizing her outstanding work in television.She became the second recipient of the honor, following its namesake in 2019.
Personal Life
For several years, DeGeneres dated actress Anne Heche and, in 1999, the couple bought a home in Los Angeles. Although at one point they publicly announced their desire to be married, the couple broke up in August 2000.
Marriage to Portia de Rossi
DeGeneres then dated Alexandra Hedison for a few years before becoming involved with actress Portia de Rossi in December 2004. DeGeneres married de Rossi on August 16, 2008, in what was perhaps the highest-profile gay marriage after California legalized the unions.
In 2010 de Rossi was granted permission to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres.
Sexual Abuse Revelations
In a 2005 interview with Allure magazine, Ellen DeGeneres courageously shared her experience of being sexually abused by her stepfather.
She further opened up about the abuse in a 2019 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show, detailing how her stepfather, under the guise of checking for lumps, exploited her sexually after her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis in the 1970s. DeGeneres’ bravery in sharing her story has helped raise awareness about sexual abuse and support survivors.
