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Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson on November 13, 1949 (some sources say 1950 or 1955) in New York City. Her life experiences and work in the theater have been varied and met with various degrees of success. She has experienced and survived poverty, drug addiction, single parenthood, and welfare. These experiences have made it possible for her to see a side of life that needs to be explored and eradicated. She has been able to convert these issues into social commentary through comic entertainment and satire. Her one-woman performance The Spook Show is a satirical production in which she plays several characters. Her outspoken observations in this comedy and other venues have made her a controversial figure. This has in no way silenced her, however; no subject or personality is off limits. Her work reflects her memory of her history, and she often pays tribute to legendary entertainers such as Moms Mabley. Goldberg has performed on numerous occasions at the annual Comic Relief shows on the Home Box Office television network, which raises money to assist the homeless. She received the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation Vanguard Award for her work. In 2003 she became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, with a focus on HIV/AIDS.

Helen R. Houston