• Actress, producer, publisher and mogul Oprah Winfrey is best known as the host of the massively popular syndicated talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is consistently ranked amongst the most influential and wealthiest African Americans in history, and at one time was considered the world's only black billionaire. Oprah exerts massive influence over American popular culture; selections for her book club and picks for her Favorite Things segments regularly become best-sellers.

  Winfrey announced in November of 2009 that her syndicated program would end in 2011. The announcement coincides with the planned 2010 launch date for her OWN cable channel.

• 1. Born: January 29, 1954
  2. Birthplace: Kosciusko, Mississippi
  3. Mother: Vernita Lee
  4. Father: Vernon Winfrey
  5. Height: 5' 6½"
  6. Sept. '07 net worth: $2.5 billion
  7. The Oprah Winfrey Show is seen in 117 countries ('06 figure)
  8. Co-founded the Oxygen cable TV network
  9. Co-authored 5 books
  10. Has a book club
  11. Owns a magazine titled O
  12. Owns Harpo Productions
  13. Harpo Productions produces The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Dr. Phil Show, as well as others
  14. Once dated film critic Roger Ebert, who she credits with inspiring her to take her show to syndication
  15. Celebrated her 51st birthday by having her ears pierced for the first time live on her showOfficial Site: Oprah Celebrates 51st Birthday by Getting Ears Pierced
  16. Hosted the collaboration for America's Song, which premiered on her talk show on January 19, 2009US Magazine: Listen to America's Song, Premiered on The Oprah Winfrey Show (January 19, 2009)

• Early Life

  Winfrey was forced to overcome many early life obstacles, including poverty, rape and the death of an infant son she had at the age of 14. Only five years later, however, she began co-anchoring local TV news broadcasts. After stays in a number of large markets, she finally landed in Chicago, where she turned around a low-rated local talk show that eventually morphed into the highest-rated talk show in television history, The Oprah Winfrey Show.

• Where can i send a letter to Oprah Winfrey?

  Oprah Winfrey's fan mail address ishttp://www.fanmail.biz/1797.html:

  Oprah Winfrey PO Box 909715 Chicago, IL 60690 USA

  Oprah's Studio address is:

  Oprah Winfrey Harpo Studios, Inc. 1058 West Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607 USA

• Where can I e-mail Oprah Winfrey

  Oprah occasionally reads viewer submitted email on her show. You can contact Oprah here:

  https://www.oprah.com/plugform.jsp?plugId=220

• Oprah Twitter

  Winfrey, following in the footsteps of several other celebrities, can now be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Oprah. She is depicted with her new cocker spaniel puppy in her profile picture.Twitter: Oprah According to USA Today, a before and after survey used to study the "Oprah Effect" revealed a 43 percent increase in Twitter traffic. Additionally, 37 percent of Twitter traffic on Oprah's first day of tweeting was made up of new users.USA Today: Oprah effect: 43% jump in Twitter traffic (April 21, 2009)

• Oprah Millionaire Contest Scam

  Winfrey warns fans in early April of 2009 to beware of a scam known as the "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show" where scammers are fraudulently informing recipients via e-mail that they have been selected to appear on Oprah's show where a $1 million prize will be awarded. The recipients are then told that they must buy a ticket to Chicago, from the scammer, and must pay to get into the show. Anyone receiving this e-mail is instructed to inform the FBI at the Internet Crime Complaint Center.People: FBI Targets Bogus $1 Million Oprah Winfrey Giveaway (April 9, 2009)

• Rihanna Attack

  On The Oprah Winfrey Show in early March of 2009, Oprah sent a message to domestic abuse victims, specifically the singer Rihanna after her alleged February 8th attack by her boyfriend Chris Brown, stating that "Love doesn't hurt and if a man hits you once he will hit you again." After news of Rihanna and Brown's reconciliation, Oprah urged the couple to "Give it some time, get yourself counseling, take care of yourself and heal yourself first." Being known for her stand against domestic violence, Oprah plans to address the subject in an upcoming show "dedicated to all the Rihannas of the world." Telegraph: Oprah Winfrey urges Rihanna to leave Chris Brown (March 9, 2009)

• New Puppy

  PerezHilton reported on March 3, 2009, that Winfrey has adopted a new cocker spaniel puppy from a Chicago dog rescue facility. Winfrey lost her cocker spaniel, Sophie, in March of 2008 from kidney failure.PerezHilton: Oprah Adopts A Puppy, Luckiest Dog In The World! (March 3, 2009)

• Oprah in the Senate?

  Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who allegedly tried to sell a U.S. senate seat for his personal gain, revealed to Good Morning America on January 26, 2009, that he considered naming Oprah Winfrey for the empty senate seat once occupied by President Obama.Breitbart: Senator Oprah?... (January 29, 2009)

• Harpo and HBO

  On December 1, 2008, HBO announced that Oprah's production company, Harpo Films, had entered into an exclusive three year deal with the network. Harpo had spent the previous 15 years creating content for ABC.Chicago Tribune: Oprah, HBO to Team on Movie Projects (December 17, 2008)

• Ron Clark Academy

  The New York Times reported that Winfrey donated $365,000 to the Ron Clark Academy over the 2008 Christmas season. The Academy educates low income and underprivileged students. Clark and the students from the school have previously appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show.New York Times: Oprah Gives to Atlanta School (January 1, 2008)

• Weight Gain

  For years, Winfrey has battled to keep her weight "in check." After losing a significant amount of weight in 2006, Winfrey reports in the December 2008 O Magazine that "I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, How did I let this happen again?" Winfrey admitted that she again weighed over 200 pounds.People: Winfrey Admits to Tipping the Scales at 200 Lbs. (December 9, 2008)

Categories