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Making · Aug 10, 2023 · 41 min

Making Whoopi Goldberg

Over the course of her climb to the Hollywood A-List, Whoopi Goldberg has worn many hats: stand-up comedian, Broadway star, screen actress, and daytime television host. But before her breakout role in a Steven Spielberg film, she was a young mom hopping around the country, taking odd jobs and doing avant-garde theater. This week on Making, we chart Whoopi Goldberg's winding path to stardom, from living off welfare, to landing on Broadway with her one-woman show. Host Brandon Pope chats with her first theater partners, her first director, and her first stage manager to discover who Whoopi was when she was just a wide-eyed talent waiting to be discovered. “The first time I saw her, I knew she was going to make it,” said William Farley, the director for her first on-screen performance. “She was an original. And an original, they become seen.”

0:00-41:02

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show notes

Over the course of her climb to the Hollywood A-List, Whoopi Goldberg has
worn many hats: stand-up comedian, Broadway star, screen actress, and daytime
television host. But before her breakout role in a Steven Spielberg film, she was a
young mom hopping around the country, taking odd jobs and doing avant-garde
theater.

This week on Making, we chart Whoopi Goldberg's winding path to stardom, from living
off welfare, to landing on Broadway with her one-woman show. Host Brandon Pope chats
with her first theater partners, her first director, and her first stage manager to
discover who Whoopi was when she was just a wide-eyed talent waiting to be
discovered.

“The first time I saw her, I knew she was going to make it,” said William Farley,
the director for her first on-screen performance. “She was an original. And an
original, they become seen.”