Bio
Ellen DeGeneres is an American actress, stand-up comedian and daytime talk show host, best known for her sitcom Ellen (in an episode of which she came "out of the closet") and for her syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The also had a short-lived sitcom called The Ellen Show, which aired from 2001-2002.
Her other television credits include Open House, Laurie Hill, an Emmy-nominated guest appearance in The Larry Sanders Show, the cable film If These Walls Could Talk 2 and the cable special Command Performance: One-Night Stand.
Her feature film credits include EDtv, Goodbye, Lover, The Love Letter, Coneheads, Doctor Dolittle, Reaching Normal, Finding Nemo, My Short Film and Mr. Wrong.
She has also appeared in the made-for-TV movies If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) and On the Edge (2001); and lent her voice to the 1996 video game '9'.
She has also hosted several industry events, including the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, the Academy Awards and the VH-1 Honors.
DeGeneres began her career as emcee at a comedy club in her hometown of New Orleans, which led to national recognition in 1982 when her videotaped club performances earned her Showtime's "Funniest Person in America" title.
Following a seven-year absence from touring, she returned to standup with a three-month tour that culminated in her critically acclaimed special The Beginning, which aired on cable in July 2000. Her first comedy CD, Taste This, was released in 1997.
In addition to her acting credits, DeGeneres is author of the book My Point...and I Do Have One, which reached #1 on the New York Times best-seller list.
On August 17, 2008, DeGeneres married her longtime girlfriend Portia De Rossi in a private event at Degeneres' home in Los Angeles, with only 19 guests, family and friends.