Oprah Gail Winfrey (/ˈoʊprə/; born Orpah Gail Winfrey;[a] January 29, 1954), known mononymously as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which ran in national syndication for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011.
Family Tree
Relatives
Category
Details
Father
Vernon Winfrey
Mother
Vernita Lee
Siblings
Patricia Lofton (Half-sister), Jeffrey Lee (Half-brother, deceased), Patricia Lee (Half-sister, deceased)
Spouses
Children
Grandparents
Notable Relatives
Personal Life Milestones
Date
Milestone
January 29, 1954
Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA, to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey.
1971
Entered Tennessee State University, majoring in Communications.
1976
Became a news anchor and talk show host for People Are Talking in Baltimore, Maryland.
1984
Took over AM Chicago, which later became The Oprah Winfrey Show.
1986
Launched The Oprah Winfrey Show, which became the highest-rated talk show in television history.
1986
Founded Harpo Productions, her own multimedia production company.
1988
Became the first African American woman to own a production company.
1996
Started Oprah's Book Club, which significantly influenced literary trends.
2000
Launched O, The Oprah Magazine, a lifestyle publication.
2006
Opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
2011
Ended The Oprah Winfrey Show after 25 seasons to focus on her network, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).
2013
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
2018
Delivered a widely praised speech at the Golden Globe Awards, sparking discussions about her potential political candidacy.
2021
Hosted a groundbreaking interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, garnering global attention.
Ongoing
Continues to focus on philanthropy, media ventures, and inspirational content through OWN and other platforms.