DeGeneres << duh JEHN uhr ihs >>, Ellen (1958-…), is an American comedian and actress. She gained national fame as the star of the television comedy series “Ellen” (1994-1998). In the series, she played Ellen Morgan, a bookstore owner. In 1997, both the actress and her character revealed that they were lesbians. “Ellen” was the first TV program to have a gay character as the leading role. DeGeneres also hosted “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (2003-2022), a popular TV talk show. She has won a number of Emmy Awards for her work.
Ellen Lee DeGeneres was born in Metairie, Louisiana, on Jan. 26, 1958. She began performing stand-up comedy in small clubs in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1982, DeGeneres gained fame when her videotaped club performances were shown on cable television. She made a few TV appearances beginning in 1989 before “Ellen” made her a star. DeGeneres married the Australian actress Portia de Rossi in 2008.
DeGeneres has also acted in a number of motion pictures. She provided the voice of the fish Dory in the animated movie Finding Nemo (2003) and its sequel, Finding Dory (2016). Her other films include Coneheads (1993), Mr. Wrong (1996), Goodbye Lover (1999), and EDtv and The Love Letter (both 1999). She also starred in a segment of the TV movie If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000). DeGeneres served as a judge for the 2010 season of “American Idol,” a television singing competition. From 2017 to 2021, she starred in “Ellen’s Game of Games,” a TV game show that she also created.
DeGeneres wrote the best-selling books My Point … And I Do Have One (1995); The Funny Thing Is … (2004); and Seriously … I’m Kidding (2011). In 2016, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor awarded by the president of the United States.
