Biographical Chart: Oprah Winfrey

● Full Name
- Orpah Gail Winfrey (wikipedia.org)

● Lifespan
- January 29th, 1954-present (imdb.com)

● Early Family Background and Created Family Structure

- Born into an economically challenged neighborhood, raised by her
single teenage mother
- At age 3, she was able to read and write, which ultimately made her be
boosted a few grades
- When her mother left, she was raised by her grandma.
- Left alone most of the time at a young age
- Raped by her cousin and others as young as 9
- Pregnant at age 14, son ended being born prematurely and died
shortly after
- Sent to live with father during high school years.
- Won oratory contest, got full scholarship to Tennessee University,
- Elected senior class president
- Made clothes out potato sack
- Brother died of aids

● Personality Characteristics and Areas of Aptitude, Talent, and Interest

- Fell in love with acting from an early age
- Was able to read at a young age
- Was always good at public speaking.
- Consistent advocate for women’s and children's rights
- Very good communicator
- Brought out the best in others on her shows.

● Major Career/Professional Events and Accomplishments

- 1978, named Talk show host on People Are Talking (1978, first talk
show job)
- September 8, 1986 - Oprah Winfrey show first aired
- 1985 - Debut as an actress in the film The Color Purple, nominated for
an Academy Award as best supporting actress.
- 1999 - Oprah debuts Oxygen Media, a company dedicated to
producing cable and Internet programming for women
- 2011 - Launched her own network, named the Oprah Winfrey
Network
- First black female billionaire.
● Personal Life Themes/Beliefs
- Equality Advocate for race, gender, etc.
- Advocate for women
- Downplays her success out of humility, attributes its to others.
- Sticks to what she believes
- Does not let peer pressure sway her opinions
- Believed every child should have an education
- Her grandma and 4th grade teacher were big inspirations

● Selected Quotations (at least two)

- The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his
future by merely changing his attitude. (brainyquote.com)
- Being human means you will make mistakes. And you will make
mistakes, because failure is God's way of moving you in another
direction. (brainyquote.com)
- You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and
you're responsible for the energy that you bring to others.

● Awards and Recognition

- 1998 - Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television
Arts and Sciences
- 2011 - Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of
Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
- 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom
- 1994 - Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame
- 2013 - Honorary Doctorate from Duke and Harvard
- Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
- People's Choice Award
- NAACP Image Award
- Tony Award
- Started the Angel Network