HEIGHT:5ft.8ins EYES:Blue HAIR:Blonde
Ellen DeGeneres was born on January 26th, 1958 in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, at the Ochsner Hospital. She has a brother, Vance, who is four years older than her. She was raised a Christian Scientist and claims not to have had any experience with asprin until she was 15. Her favorite band was the Monkees and she had a crush on actor Robby Benson (Ode To Billy Joe) who, ironically directed her show "Ellen" now. During her second year of High School Ellen's parents split and she moved with her mum to Atlanta, Texas, which she described as a huge culture shock. Her father and Vance stayed in New Orleans.It was during this time that Ellen realised she had a natural knack for making people laugh as she was forever fooling around mocking her mother's dancing to try and make her a little happier. As soon as she graduated from High School in 1976, Ellen moved back to New Orleans. She had no plans to go to college and no idea what she was going to do - but she didn't care! She began working at a series of places including as an oyster-shucker in a restaurant and a door-to-door salesperson. Ellen then started working as an emcee at a local venue called Clyde's Corner in 1981 at age 23. After about 12 months the place suddenly closed down and after that for about a year she was a court runner for a law firm. During this time she entered the Funniest Person in New Orleans contest. Even though she was very sick, Ellen won. She then won for the state of Louisiana and then for the whole of America. In 1983 Ellen then moved to San Fransisco headlining with the title "The funniest person in America." In 1986 she moved on to Los Angeles and worked at many venues including The Improv in Hollywood. It was here that, at the advise of Jay Leno, "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" sent a booker to watch her routine. She made her "Tonight Show" debut that year - earning the distinction of being the only female comic to be invited by Carson to sit on the couch on a first appearance. She subsequently appeared with Johnny Carson six times and has made regular appearances on Jay Leno, Late Show with Letterman, Arsenio Hall Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show to name just a few. Ellen has also won 1991's American Comedy Award for best Female Comedy Club Stand-up. Her unique comedic talents were also heralded when she received a Cable ACE Award nomination for her HBO one woman show "Command Performance: One Night Stand. " Ellen made her first splash in television series comedy as office oddball Margo Van Meter on "Open House". Her second series role in 1992 was as nurse Nancy MacIntyre in "Laurie Hill". In 1992 Ellen knocked back a role in what would become the hit series "Friends".
In 1993 Ellen started working on a spring replacement show titled "These Friends of Mine" in which she starred as Ellen Morgan, with Arye Gross as Adam Green, Holly Fulger as Holly, and Maggie Wheeler as Anita. The pilot was a show where Ellen struggles to get her driver's licence to vaguely resemble a human being. Both Ellen and the network loved it. It aired in March 1994.There was a dozen shows made and it became an instant hit! A few changes were made and the 94-95 season (Series 2) saw the show re-named "Ellen" with Holly and Maggie exiting and Joely Fisher as Paige Clark coming into the show. Ellen also buys the bookstore from her boss - and later on in the series we saw the introduction of Joe "Coffee" Farrell played by David Anthony Higgins. Series Three - which began in Australia July 11 sees the introduction of Ellen's highly-strung cousin Spence Kovak, Adam is phased out and Clea Lewis as the annoying Audrey Penney becomes a regular. Immediately after finishing the second series in 1995 Ellen starred with Bill Pullman in her first feature film "Mr. Wrong." She also wrote her first book, "My Point and I Do Have One" which entered its second printing even before its August 24 1995 U.S. release. In Australia we can buy the book for $22. During her break between Series 3 and 4 Ellen took a well deserved break. Series 4 of Ellen began at the beginning of August. As we are now all aware of now, it looks as though Ellen's character will "come out" in an hour long episode to screen April 30th. "Mr. Wrong" has come out on video now in both the States and Australia. She also has a CD featuring her stand up routines which was released in October 96. Ellen now has completed the filming of her second movie, "Goodbye Lover"...no release date yet. April 10, 1997..Ellen DeGeneres told the world "Yep,I'm Gay" and was soon after letting us know that her new love was actress Anne Heche. April 30th, 1997 marked the historic date for "The Puppy Episode"...an hour long "coming out" show. It rated a 26.5 and had an audience of an incredible 42 million! It was truly a wonderful show. Ellen lives in L.A. with her partner Anne Heche - as does her mum - who goes to all the tapings of "Ellen". A couple of her celebrity friends are Melissa Etheridge (who she met in 89), Jamie Lee Curtis and Kathy Najimy (Sister Act). Her favorite comedian is David Letterman - who she says is one of the few comedians that make her laugh out loud. As of May 13, 1998, when the last of series 5...an hour long episode is aired, Ellen is out of a regular job. Unfortunately ABC has decided not to renew her sitcom and has axed it. It is sad that it had to come to this, but as all her fans know, she is far too talented to disappear. Remember, all things happen for a reason and I am sure we will see her soon.....bigger and better than before. Ellen is a modestly private person because she says you get hurt enough in this industry. She is a rare, true talent with an ability to make people laugh - thankfully she shares that part of herself with us all. She has the support of her lady Anne and the most important thing is that her personal life is going just fine. :)
Thank you Ellen!
