(Oprah's Production Company)
1058 West Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607
USA
Phone: (312) 633-1000
Born: Oprah Gail Winfrey
January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA
Oprah’s life until she was 6 years old, was spent on a farm in Kosciusko, where she lived with her grandmother. Oprah says that her grandmother significantly contributed to her having a successful by teaching her to read and write. Her grandmother taught her a love of reading and books, which may have contributed to her founding Oprah's book club. Oprah’s grandmother told her time after time that she was “gifted" reinforcing her confidence at a young age that she was special. These are probably the things that gave her the courage to face the life of obstacles that was her future.
At age six, Oprah was sent to live with her mother in Milwaukee, where she suffered sexual abuse. When she was 9, she was raped by a cousin, sexually abused by a male friend of her mom's, and Oprah’s uncle molested her. She kept the abuse, anger, and pain to herself. By age 13, she started to become rebellious, and had run away and got into trouble. Her mother sent her to a juvenile detention facility, but there were no available beds. She was then shipped off to Nashville to live with her father. “As strict as he was,” Oprah says, “he had some concerns about me making the best of my life, and would not accept anything less than what he thought was my best.”
Her father lay down the rules, enforcing a curfew and demanding she achieve good grades while encouraging her to be the best that she could be. Through his positive encouragement, she was able to turn her life around. Oprah enrolled and was accepted to Tennessee State University where studied performing arts and speech. At 17 years old, she was hired for her first job at WVOL radio in Nashville. About two years later, she left that job for a position as a news anchor with WTVF-TV, also in Nashville. Oprah relocated to Baltimore in 1976, joining WJZ-TV as a news anchor and within two years, she was hosting “People Are Talking,” while continuing as a news reporter and anchor woman, where she remained for eight years.
Oprah's House
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In 1984, Oprah got a job with WLS-TV to host, “AM Chicago.” Its prime competition was Phil Donahue and its ratings were very low. Within one month of Oprah hosting the show its ratings had far exceeded those of Donahue’s. Oprah’s show had become one of the most popular in Chicago. By September 1985, the show’s name had been changed to “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” In less than a year, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” had expanded to an hour. By 1986, it was the number one talk show in the nation. In 1987, Oprah’s talk show had received two “Daytime Emmy Awards,” for “Outstanding Host,” “Outstanding Direction,” and “Outstanding Talk/Service Program.” In 1988, Oprah won a second Emmy for “Outstanding Talk/Service Program.” The same year Oprah received the International Radio and Television Society’s “Broadcaster of the Year Award.” Oprah was only the fifth woman and also the youngest person ever to win the award.
Oprah was a great fan of Alice Walker’s, “The Color Purple.” In a recent TV interview, Oprah said that she walked to work with a backpack filled with copies of the book. She would stop people along the way and give them copies. She felt everyone should read “The Color Purple.” In 1985, Oprah auditioned and was chosen, to play Sophie in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “The Color Purple.” Her performance in The Color Purple was an instant hit. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for “Best Supporting Actress.” She was also nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Oprah loved acting. She was accepted for a part in “Native Son,” an adaptation of the 1940 classic by Richard Wright. The critics lauded her performance. Oprah had a desire to produce quality entertainment. This prompted her to form her own production company, HARPO Productions Inc. (Oprah spelled backwards.) The company was based in Chicago. In October 1988, HARPO Productions acquired all rights for the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Oprah now controlled her own destiny. She was the first woman in history to own and produce her own talk show.
In 1989, HARPO Productions produced, “The Women of Brewster Place.” Oprah starred in the mini-series, as well as being the Executive Producer. In 1993, “There Are No Children Here,” and “Before Women Had Wings,” were produced by HARPO. Oprah starred in and produced both of these shows. For ten years Oprah had been working on what she referred to as her “baby.” In 1998, the film, “Beloved,” was released at the box office. It was a complete failure and Oprah’s first. She was devastated.
Oprah’s memories of a childhood scarred by sexual abuse motivated her to initiate a campaign to establish a national database for convicted child abusers in 1991. She testified before a US Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of a National Child Protection Act. President Clinton passed the “Oprah Bill,” in 1993. This database is now available to all law enforcement agencies. Time Magazine voted Oprah one of the “100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century.” In 1998, the National Academy of Television Arts and Science presented her with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Oprah’s Book Club selections became instant bestsellers. For her service to books and authors, she was presented with the National Book Foundation’s 50th Anniversary gold medal in 1999. In 2000, Oprah’s “Angel Network,” began presenting a “Use Your Life Award,” of $100,000. To people who are “using their life to improve the life of others.” In 2003, Forbes Magazine listed Oprah as the first African-American woman to become a billionaire. Oprah Winfrey was born facing almost insurmountable obstacles. She has overcome them all to give America a lasting legacy, including Oprah magazine. Oprah has walked through the fire. Instead of letting this fire overtake her life, she has become a woman forged in fire.
Up Close: Oprah Winfrey
The Oprah Winfrey Show: 20th Anniversary Collection
Life
Oprah Winfrey: "I Don't Believe In Failure" (African-American Biography Library)
The World According to Oprah: An Unauthorized Portrait in Her Own Words
Beloved
Oprah: A Biography
O's Big Book of Happiness: The Best of O, The Oprah Magazine: Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration
The Oprah Phenomenon
O's Guide to Life: The Best of O, The Oprah Magazine (Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews and Inspiration)
Oprah Winfrey Speaks: Insights from the World's Most Influential Voice
Finding Oprah's Roots - Finding Your Own
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