106 Facts About Rosie O'Donnell

Roseann O'Donnell was born on March 21,1962 and is an American talk show host, comedian, and actress.

Rosie O'Donnell began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series Star Search in 1984.

From 2006 to 2007, Rosie 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.

Rosie O'Donnell 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.

Rosie O'Donnell returned to The View in 2014, leaving after a brief five-month run due to personal issues.

Rosie O'Donnell continues to be a television producer and a collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family Vacations.

In early 2025, shortly after Trump was inaugurated for a second term, Rosie O'Donnell moved to Ireland, where she is in the process of securing Irish citizenship through descent.

Rosie O'Donnell, the third of five children, was born and raised in Commack, New York.

Rosie O'Donnell's parents were homemaker Roseann Teresa and Edward Joseph O'Donnell, an electrical engineer who worked in the defense industry.

Rosie O'Donnell toured as a stand-up comedian in clubs from 1979 to 1984.

Rosie O'Donnell got her first big break on Star Search, explaining on Larry King Live:.

Rosie O'Donnell started hosting a series for VH1, Stand-up Spotlight, a showcase for up-and-coming comedians.

Rosie O'Donnell made her feature film debut in A League of Their Own alongside Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna, the latter of whom became a lifelong friend.

Rosie O'Donnell was originally considered for the role of Mary Sanderson in Disney's Hocus Pocus, but it was ultimately given to Kathy Najimy.

Rosie O'Donnell claimed on her blog that she turned down the offer to work with Bette Midler because she refused to portray a frightening evil witch.

Rosie O'Donnell was considered for the role of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld.

In 1996, she began hosting a daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, for her production company KidRo Productions.

Rosie O'Donnell interrogated him about his recent unpaid commercial for the National Rifle Association of America and questioned him about the NRA's position on the use of "assault weapons".

Later in 1999, Rosie O'Donnell discontinued her contract with Kmart as their spokeswoman, as gun enthusiasts complained that she should not be the spokesperson for the largest gun retailer.

Rosie O'Donnell countered that Kmart sells hunting rifles, not handguns or assault weapons and does so legally, which she supports.

In May 2000, Rosie O'Donnell's bodyguard applied for a concealed firearm permit.

Rosie O'Donnell stated that the security firm contracted by Warner Bros.

Rosie O'Donnell stated that because of threats, she and her family need protection.

Rosie O'Donnell was among many in the entertainment field who encouraged viewers to visit and support the performing arts.

Rosie O'Donnell announced that she would donate 1 million dollars for aid in the rescue efforts and encouraged other celebrities and citizens alike to "give till it hurts".

Rosie O'Donnell was a guest star on an episode of HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm entitled "The Bowtie".

In September 2006, Rosie O'Donnell replaced Meredith Vieira as a co-host and moderator of The View, a daytime women-oriented talk show.

Rosie O'Donnell had disputed Jones's route of rapid weight loss, alluding that it must have been through gastric bypass surgery, rather than dieting and exercise alone as Jones had insisted, which fed speculation about certain tension between the two.

Rosie O'Donnell is credited with making it more news-focused, though it still embraced the "fluff" of daytime TV talk shows.

Rosie O'Donnell moderated the opening "Hot Topics" portion of the show, where news items were discussed.

Rosie O'Donnell gave the show a more political slant, and she and fellow comic Joy Behar often gave strong opinions against former President Bush's domestic and foreign policies, including the Iraq War.

In November 2006, Rosie O'Donnell commented on Kelly Ripa's complaints to Regis Philbin about guest co-host Clay Aiken on Live with Regis and Kelly.

Rosie O'Donnell told the other panelist on The View that Kelly made a homophobic comment about Clay.

Rosie O'Donnell joked about communion rituals alongside co-host Behar's drunk priest comments.

Frequently portrayed unfavorably by conservative media outlets and what she deemed as Republican pundits, Rosie O'Donnell lamented that they were focusing on her comments instead of more important national and world issues.

On December 5,2006, Rosie O'Donnell used a series of ching chongs to imitate newscasters in China.

Vanessa Hua of the San Francisco Chronicle expressed disappointment in Rosie O'Donnell, given the comedian's championing of LGBT rights.

In December 2006, Rosie O'Donnell criticized Donald Trump for holding a press conference to reinstate Miss USA Tara Conner, who had violated pageant guidelines, accusing him of using her scandal to "generate publicity for the Miss USA Pageant" by announcing he was giving her a second chance.

Rosie O'Donnell commented that due to Trump's multiple marital affairs and questionable business bankruptcies, he was not a moral authority for young people in America.

Rosie O'Donnell called her names, threatened to take away her partner Kelli, and claimed that Barbara Walters regretted hiring her.

Walters was stuck in the middle as a social acquaintance of Trump's, and said Rosie O'Donnell did not feel like Walters defended her enough, which led to what both women agreed was an unfortunate confrontation in one of the dressing rooms.

Rosie O'Donnell condemned many of the Bush administration's policies, especially the war in Iraq and the resulting occupation.

Rosie O'Donnell questioned the official explanation for the destruction of the World Trade Center, and stating in one episode, "I do believe that it's the first time in history that fire has ever melted steel".

Rosie O'Donnell consistently mentioned recent military deaths and news about the war and criticized the US media for its lack of attention to these issues compared to media coverage throughout the world.

Rosie O'Donnell decided to leave the show that day, but afterwards stated that the reason was not the argument itself, but rather the fact that she saw on the studio monitor that the camera had shown a split screen, with her and Hasselbeck on either side.

Rosie O'Donnell was replaced by Whoopi Goldberg as the moderator of The View.

In March 2007, O'Donnell started a video blog, Jahero, on her website Rosie.

Originally featuring only O'Donnell and her hair and makeup artist Helene Macaulay they were soon joined by her writer from The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Janette Barber.

Rosie O'Donnell was the front runner for the "best celebrity blogger" category in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards which she won.

Rosie O'Donnell expressed interest in replacing long time host Bob Barker when he retired from CBS's game show The Price Is Right.

In 2008, Rosie O'Donnell starred in and executive produced America, a Lifetime channel film in which she plays the therapist of the title character, a 16-year-old boy aging out of the foster care system.

In November 2009, "Rosie Radio", a daily two-hour show with O'Donnell discussing news and events on Sirius XM Radio, premiered.

Rosie O'Donnell said she was approached by the company after she appeared on Howard Stern's Sirius XM show.

In 2009, Rosie O'Donnell made another guest appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she beat up Larry twice, in an episode titled Denise Handicapped.

In 2011, Rosie O'Donnell began producing material for the Oprah Winfrey Network.

In May 2011, The Doc Club with Rosie O'Donnell premiered, a show where O'Donnell moderated live panel discussions following premieres of OWN Documentaries.

Rosie O'Donnell has hosted specials for Becoming Chaz in May 2011 and Miss Representation in October 2011.

In fall 2011, O'Donnell began full-time work on her new show, The Rosie Show, for OWN.

OWN canceled The Rosie Show on March 16,2012, with the last show taped March 20, on the eve of O'Donnell's 50th birthday.

Rosie O'Donnell has been an incredible partner, working to deliver the best possible show every single day.

Rosie O'Donnell responded to the cancellation by thanking her viewers and the host city of Chicago:.

In 2011, Rosie O'Donnell made another guest appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm, competing for the affection of a bisexual woman with Larry in an episode called "The Bi-Sexual".

In 2013, Rosie O'Donnell appeared in a number of television shows.

On February 6,2015, representatives for Rosie O'Donnell confirmed she would exit the panel.

In 2015, Rosie O'Donnell made a cameo in Pitch Perfect 2, playing a co-host on The View.

Rosie O'Donnell appeared in the film alongside Michael Moore and Sandra Bernhard.

Rosie O'Donnell appeared in the documentary to help "bring his mother into focus" along with a number of other celebrities.

In 2016, Rosie O'Donnell made a two-episode appearance in the CBS series Mom, playing Jeanine, "the ex-girlfriend of Bonnie ".

The series aired from November 5,2017, until March 31,2019, and Rosie O'Donnell received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Tutu.

In 2021, O'Donnell guest starred on the series Run the World and The L Word: Generation Q On June 15,2021, it was announced that she would star as Detective Sunday, alongside Jon Bernthal, in a series reboot of American Gigolo on Showtime, premiering in 2022.

In 2000, O'Donnell partnered with the publishers of McCall's to revamp the magazine as Rosie's McCall's.

The magazine was launched as a competitor to fellow talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey's monthly magazine O Rosie covered issues including breast cancer, foster care, and other matters of concern to O'Donnell.

Rosie O'Donnell quit the magazine in September 2002, following a dispute over editorial control.

In 1997, Rosie released the children's book Kids are Punny: Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O'Donnell Show, which contained jokes she had received from children.

In October 2007, she released Celebrity Detox, her second memoir which focuses on the struggles with leaving fame behind, noting her exits from The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The View.

In late 2003, Rosie O'Donnell brought the musical Taboo to Broadway.

Rosie O'Donnell hired Charles Busch to re-write the book, and the story became "bitchier" and more focused on the rise to fame of the character based on Boy George.

Rosie O'Donnell described the show's production as "by far the most fulfilling experience of my career".

Rosie O'Donnell has stated that she intends to bring the show back to Broadway, although Scott Miller writes that people are hesitant to get involved after the "train wreck" of the original production.

Over her career, Rosie O'Donnell has developed a reputation for raising funds and her own philanthropy to charitable causes.

Rosie O'Donnell used the money to seed her For All Kids Foundation to help institute national standards for day care across the country.

On occasion, the guests would offer multiple kisses, and People reported Rosie O'Donnell "smooched her way to more than $350,000".

In 2003, O'Donnell and Kelli O'Donnell collaborated with Artistic Director Lori Klinger to create Rosie's Broadway Kids, dedicated to providing free instruction in music and dance to New York City public schools or students.

Rosie O'Donnell is reported to have contributed several hundred thousand dollars for rehabilitation therapies for war veterans who have lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Rosie O'Donnell was a resident of Nyack, New York, after the purchase in 1996 of "Pretty Penny", a Victorian river home that had previously served as the home of Helen Hayes.

Rosie O'Donnell has lived in South Nyack, New York, and owns a home in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Rosie O'Donnell relocated to the West Coast in the early 2020s.

Rosie O'Donnell has contributed funds to multiple political campaigns, including to the campaign to elect Senator Doug Jones of Alabama.

On numerous occasions, Rosie O'Donnell has been outspoken about controversial topics.

In March 2025, Rosie O'Donnell revealed in a TikTok video that she had moved to Ireland with her child, Clay, in January of that year.

Rosie O'Donnell was reported to be in the process of securing Irish citizenship through descent.

Rosie O'Donnell protested against adoption agencies, particularly in Florida, that refused adoptive rights to gay and lesbian parents.

Rosie O'Donnell told USA Today that she chose to talk to Sawyer because she wanted an investigative piece on Florida's ban on gay adoption.

O'Donnell's coming out drew criticism from some LGBTQ activists, who cited her repeated references to being enamored of Tom Cruise on The Rosie O'Donnell Show as deceptive.

Rosie O'Donnell was named 2002's Person of the Year by The Advocate, and, in May 2003, she became a regular columnist for the magazine.

Rosie O'Donnell adopted her first child, Parker Jaren Rosie O'Donnell, as an infant in 1995.

On February 26,2004, Rosie O'Donnell married Carpenter, a former Nickelodeon marketing executive, in San Francisco two weeks after Mayor Gavin Newsom authorized the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

In 2001, the state of Florida removed Mia from their home, and Rosie O'Donnell has since worked extensively to bring an end to the Florida law prohibiting same-sex family adoption.

In mid-November 2009, Rosie O'Donnell disclosed that Carpenter had moved out of their home in 2007.

Rosie O'Donnell began dating 40-year-old executive-search consultant Michelle Rounds in mid-2011.

On December 5,2011, during a break in the taping of The Rosie Show, O'Donnell announced to her studio audience that she and Rounds were engaged.

In February 2015, Rosie O'Donnell filed for divorce from Rounds after two years of marriage.

Rosie O'Donnell later quipped that George W Bush was to blame for the infection, saying that she was preparing to go on a fishing trip at the time to avoid seeing Bush on television during the then-ongoing 2000 Republican National Convention.

Rosie O'Donnell has acknowledged her struggles with recurrent major depressive episodes during the fall and winter months consistent with seasonal affective disorder.

Rosie O'Donnell said an artery was 99 percent blocked and a stent was inserted.

Rosie O'Donnell later revealed on Twitter that to reverse her heart disease, she would espouse the whole foods, plant-based diet promoted by Caldwell Esselstyn.