Who Is Rosie O’Donnell?
Rosie O’Donnell is an American comedian, actress, author, and television personality. She is known for A League of Their Own, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and her role as moderator on The View. She was born Roseann O’Donnell and is 64 years old as of October 2026.
Her work spans:
- Stand-up comedy
- Film acting
- Broadway theater
- Daytime television
- Memoir writing
When and Where Was Rosie O’Donnell Born?
Rosie O’Donnell was born on March 21, 1962, in Commack, New York. She was the middle of five children raised by Edward and Roseann O’Donnell. Her mother died of breast cancer four days before her 11th birthday.
How Did Rosie O’Donnell Start Her Career?
Rosie O’Donnell started her career as a stand-up comedian in the early 1980s. She appeared on Star Search in 1984 and won five times. She moved to Los Angeles with her prize money and earned her first sitcom role on Gimme a Break.
She later worked as a veejay and host on VH1.
What Films and Stage Roles Is Rosie O’Donnell Known For?
Rosie O’Donnell appeared in 4 major films between 1992 and 1995, plus 1 Broadway revival.
- A League of Their Own (1992): she played Doris Murphy
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993): she played the best friend of Meg Ryan’s character
- The Flintstones (1994): she voiced Betty Rubble
- Now and Then (1995): she joined the ensemble cast
- Grease (1994): she played Rizzo on Broadway
She voiced Terk in the Disney film Tarzan in 1997.
What Was The Rosie O’Donnell Show?
The Rosie O’Donnell Show was an NBC daytime talk show hosted by Rosie O’Donnell. It ran from 1996 to 2002 and won multiple Emmy Awards. During the run, she earned the nickname “Queen of Nice.”
She used the $3 million advance from her memoir Find Me to establish the For All Kids foundation.
What Did Rosie O’Donnell Do After Her Talk Show?
Rosie O’Donnell moved into magazines, television, radio, and memoir writing after 2002.
- Wrote the memoirs Find Me (2002) and Celebrity Detox (2007)
- Became a moderator on The View in 2006
- Launched Rosie Radio on Sirius XM in November 2009
- Signed with the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2011 for The Rosie Show
- Rejoined The View in July 2014 and announced her departure in February 2015
What Is Rosie O’Donnell’s Personal Life?
Rosie O’Donnell is a parent of 5 children. Her children are Parker, Chelsea, Blake, Vivienne, and Clay. She came out publicly in 2002 to draw attention to gay adoption issues.
Where Does Rosie O’Donnell Live Now?
Rosie O’Donnell lives in Dublin, Ireland. She has lived there since January 2025. She cited U.S. politics as the reason for the move. She applied for Irish citizenship through descent.
What Has Rosie O’Donnell Done in 2026?
Rosie O’Donnell returned to U.S. television in 2026. She attended the 79th Tony Awards on June 7, 2026. She guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! beginning August 17, 2026.
What Is the Rosie O’Donnell Career Timeline?
The table below lists the career of Rosie O’Donnell by year, milestone, and detail.
| Year | Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Birth | Commack, New York |
| 1984 | Star Search | Five winning appearances |
| 1992 | Film debut | A League of Their Own |
| 1994 | Broadway | Rizzo in Grease |
| 1996 | Talk show | The Rosie O’Donnell Show premiered |
| 2006 | Television | Moderator on The View |
| 2011 | Television | The Rosie Show on OWN |
| 2025 | Relocation | Moved to Ireland |
| 2026 | Television | Guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! |
People Also Ask
How old is Rosie O’Donnell?
Rosie O’Donnell is 64 years old, born on March 21, 1962.
What was Rosie O’Donnell’s first movie?
Rosie O’Donnell’s first movie was A League of Their Own, released in 1992.
When did Rosie O’Donnell join The View?
Rosie O’Donnell joined The View as moderator in 2006.
Where is Rosie O’Donnell from?
Rosie O’Donnell is from Commack, New York, on Long Island.
Why did Rosie O’Donnell move to Ireland?
Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland in January 2025 and cited U.S. politics as the reason.
Why Is Rosie O’Donnell Known in Entertainment?
Rosie O’Donnell is known for a career that spans more than 40 years across stand-up comedy, film, Broadway, talk television, and publishing. She won Star Search 5 times, starred in A League of Their Own, and hosted The Rosie O’Donnell Show for 6 years. She won several Daytime Emmy Awards for hosting. Her 2026 appearances at the Tony Awards and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! confirm her continued presence in American entertainment.