Random Interesting Facts and Trivia About Whoopi Goldberg (19 items)

(#6) She Once Struggled With Addiction

In a segment for The View, Whoopi shared her past struggle with addiction.

"I was a functioning drug addict. I went to work because I knew if I didn't show up, a lot of people would be out of work and I wouldn't get a check and I wouldn't have the lifestyle that I needed to buy all my drugs," she revealed to an audience.

Whoopi got the help she needed and has been clean ever since.
(#12) She's Dyslexic

Growing up, Whoopi struggled to read and write due to her undiagnosed dyslexia. According to Goldberg, dyslexia wasn't a well-understood disorder during her youth, causing many to label her "dumb" or "slow."

Although her dyslexia forced Whoopi out of school and onto welfare, she didn't let her disability stop her. She is a fierce advocate for assisted education for those who struggle with the learning disability and has been quite vocal about her experiences in order to inspire others.
(#9) There's A Reason Why She Goes By Whoopi

Whoopi is not her actual name. Born Caryn Elaine Johnson, Whoopi adopted the stage name after friends jokingly started calling her a whoopie cushion.

According to Whoopi, "If you get a little gassy, you've got to let it go. So people used to say to me, 'You're like a whoopee cushion.' And that's where the name came from."
(#11) She's Tatted Up

When Whoopi showed up on the 2016 Academy Awards red carpet, she shocked everyone in a dress that revealed a partial sleeve tattoo. Whoopi had previously never unveiled her tatted shoulder, so it took people by surprise. But things took a turn for the awkward after Total Beauty tweeted a photo of the actress, misidentifying her as Oprah. The beauty brand was subsequently dragged through the mud for the mistake, but Oprah and Whoopi laughed the incident off.
(#3) She Owns A Line Of Medical Marijuana Products

Whoopi is a fierce advocate of medical marijuana. So much so, the actress has launched her own line of medical marijuana products aimed at alleviating menstrual cramps for women. Goldberg founded the project with Maya Elisabeth, a self-proclaimed "canna-businesswoman."

The company, Maya & Whoopi, offers a variety of products to get rid of menstrual discomfort, including lotions and bubble bath. Whoopi discussed the inspiration behind her line, stating: "For me, I feel like if you don’t want to get high high, this is a product specifically just to get rid of discomfort. Smoking a joint is fine, but most people can’t smoke a joint and go to work."
(#15) Steven Spielberg Is A Huge Fan

After Steven Spielberg was advised to catch Whoopi's one-woman show "The Spook Show," he instantly became infatuated with her talent. Impressed with Goldberg's act, Spielberg offered her a role in The Color Purple, for which she went on to receive an Oscar nomination.