Ellen DeGeneres got her start doing standup comedy in New Orleans before going to Hollywood in 1986. Her successful television sitcom Ellen premiered on ABC in 1994. A special episode in 1997 featured Ellen's character, Ellen Morgan, announcing "I'm gay." At the same time, DeGeneres came out publicly as being in love with her actor girlfriend, Anne Heche, making DeGeneres something of an icon to the gay community. Heche and DeGeneres were a couple until their break-up in 2000. DeGeneres restarted her stand-up career with concert tours and TV specials and had a key voice role in the animated feature Finding Nemo (2003). She began her successful run as a daytime talk show host with The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2003. The show features comedy, celebrity interviews, and a healthy dollop of whimsical audience participation. DeGeneres began dating the actress Portia de Rossi in 2005; they were married on 16 August 2008, after the California Supreme Court overturned a state ban on gay marriage. Her film roles include a brief appearance in Coneheads (1993), the lead in Mr. Wrong (1996) and a supporting part in the dark comedy Goodbye Lover (1998).
Promote this Nomination
Facebook
Twitter
EmailYou have 10 Votes remaining
About the Changemakers Network
The Changemakers initiative aims to identify and engage the leading activists, elected officials, authors, bloggers, actors, musicians and thought leaders who have the greatest capacity to spark change on issues of importance. Read more »
Browse Nominations by Cause
Popular Nominations: Gay Rights
-
Rachel Maddow
Media Personality/MSNBC and radio -
Cleve Jones
Founder, NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt -
Charlize Theron
Actress, Philanthropist -
Tammy Baldwin
United States Representative -
Dustin Lance Black
Screenwriter
