Whoopi Goldberg: Her Journey from Poverty to Megastardom

by James Robert Parish

This insightful biography traces the life and career of Whoopi Goldberg, exploring what makes her tick, how her irreverent and impressible persona gets her into trouble, why she is is such a workaholic, and how this unconventional actress has earned an unexpected reputation as a femme fatale photos, many in color.

390 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

About the author

James Robert Parish, a former entertainment reporter, publicist, and book series editor, is the author of many published major biographies and reference books on the entertainment industry including Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You; The Hollywood Book of Extravagance; It’s Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks; The Hollywood Book of Breakups; Fiascos: Hollywood’s Iconic Flops; The Hollywood Book of Love; Jet Li; The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood; The Hollywood Book of Death; Gus Van Sant; Whoopi Goldberg; Rosie O’Donnell’s Story; The Unofficial “Murder, She Wrote” Casebook; Today’s Black Hollywood; Let’s Talk! America’s Favorite TV Talk Show Hosts; Prison Pictures from Hollywood; Prostitution in Hollywood Films; The Great Cop Pictures; Ghosts and Angels in Hollywood Films; Pirates and Seafaring Swashbucklers on the Hollywood Screen; Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema; Hollywood’s Great Love Teams; and The Fox Girls. Mr. Parish is a frequent oncamera interviewee on cable and network TV for documentaries on the performing arts. The author resides in Studio City, California.

Reviews

[Kylie Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read Whoopi's own book "book" and it was fab and funny. This book is very factual and a lot of research has gone into it to compile all the information. A lot of her films that i like were slated by reviews.

On a personal level my fun whoopi image has been shattered. Reading this i don't think she is a very nice person, she abandoned her motherhood resonsibilities and chose her career, she used to get knocked up regularly, so doesn't learn from her mistakes. Ok she's open about all of that and credit to her and she's not ashamed of her past, i think I would be, but thats me. She will cause offence to others and not care, or really see why she has to apologise. She said that fame wasn't going to change her, but if this is anything to go by then she is very argumentative and diva like around others she's filming with.

Regards her mixed relationships - i couldn't care less if she dates a white guy and neither should anyone else

Overall a bit of a disappointing book. this has become quite a collectors item and was imported from USA, please do not pay the asking prices of £40-£80 for it in the UK

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ran across this book by accident in biography section at library. Extremely interesting. Among other challenges Whoppi was dyslecic, never diagnosed, dropped out of high school after frustration with being perceived as dumb.... etc.

Author has written a couple of dozen of other biographies on entertainment folks. Plan to read more of his books.

[Kathleen Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look into one of the most unique personalities on this planet.

I recommend this book to those with closed minds. May they begin to understand that all lives and talent should not be smothered to make themselves happy. This is a wake up call for those who missed out on the wonderful person who was willing to share with the universe.