Rosie O'Donnell

Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is a comedian, producer, actress, author, and television personality.

O'Donnell began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series "Star Search" in 1984. After a series of television and film roles that introduced her to a larger national audience, O'Donnell hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," from 1996 until 2002, for which she won several Daytime Emmy Awards. During this time, she earned the nickname "Queen of Nice," in addition to a reputation for her many philanthropic efforts.

From 2006 to 2007, O'Donnell endured a controversial run as the moderator on the daytime talk show "The View," which included a public feud with Donald Trump and on-air disputes regarding the Bush administration's policies with the Iraq War. She hosted "Rosie Radio" on Sirius XM Radio between 2009 and 2011, and from 2011 to 2012 hosted a second, short-lived talk show on OWN, "The Rosie Show." O'Donnell returned to "The View" in 2014, leaving after a brief five-month run due to personal issues. From 2017 to 2019, she starred on the Showtime comedy series "SMILF."

In addition to comedy, film, and television, O'Donnell has also been a magazine editor, celebrity blogger, and author of several memoirs, including 2002's "Find Me" and 2007's "Celebrity Detox. She used the $3 million advance she received for "Find Me" to establish her For All foundation and promote other charitable projects, encouraging celebrities on her show to take part.

She has also been an outspoken advocate for lesbian rights and gay adoption issues. O'Donnell is a foster and adoptive mother. She was named The Advocate's 2002 Person of the Year; in May 2003, she became a regular contributor to the magazine. O'Donnell also continues to be a television producer and a collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company, R Family Vacations.

O'Donnell lost her mother to breast cancer days before her 11th birthday. O'Donnell, who has had her own breast cancer scares, is now outspoken about awareness and early detection of the cancer. In 1999, O'Donnell released a book, "Bosom Buddies: Lessons and Laughter on Breast Health and Cancer" along with her breast health specialist, Dr. Deborah Axelrod. "Bosom Buddies" combines Axelrod's expertise on breast health with O'Donnell's trademark sense of humor.