Whoopi Goldberg, the esteemed moderator of ABC's The View, might be a great-grandmother, but she remains open to casual romantic encounters well into her seventies. The self-made EGOT champion, born Caryn Johnson, made these candid remarks during the show's Hot Topics segment on Wednesday, revealing her current lifestyle preferences.
Embracing Independence After Multiple Divorces
Goldberg explained her current relationship philosophy with characteristic frankness: "I am single. I bar hop, I go hang. I do hit and runs when I need it... but I am not married to anybody. I don't have responsibilities." This approach follows her three divorces from drug counselor Alvin Martin in 1983, cinematographer David Claessen in 1988, and union organizer Lyle Trachtenberg in 1995.
A History of High-Profile Relationships
The One Ho Productions founder has enjoyed several significant relationships throughout her life, including live-in romances with playwright David Schein and her Eddie co-star Frank Langella. She also dated her Naked in New York co-star Timothy Dalton and her Made in America co-star Ted Danson. Despite these connections, Goldberg maintains she's "not interested in a committed relationship" at this stage of her life.
The Comfort of Solitude
In a 2016 interview with NY Times Magazine, Goldberg elaborated on her preference for independence: "I'm much happier on my own. I can spend as much time with somebody as I want to spend, but I'm not looking to be with somebody forever or live with someone. I don't want somebody in my house." She used a memorable analogy to describe her perspective: "I'm the round peg, and marriage is the square hole. You can't have a square hole, can you? A woman who knows what she wants. And what she wants is a home all to her damn self."
Private Life and Personal Space
Goldberg values her privacy, rarely sharing glimpses of her $2.8 million 23-room mansion in West Orange, New Jersey. She spends much of her leisure time at her vacation home in Sardinia, enjoying the solitude she cherishes. The entertainer has faced significant health challenges, including a 2019 hospitalization for near-fatal double pneumonia and sepsis, from which she has since recovered.
Professional Success and Future Projects
Goldberg's professional achievements continue to flourish alongside her personal contentment. With a reported $60 million fortune, she earns an estimated $8 million annually as the headliner of ABC's all-female political panel show, The View. The program continues to feature notable guests, including Imperfect Women actresses Kerry Washington, Kate Mara, and Elisabeth Moss.
Her acting career remains active, with Goldberg set to voice Cupcake in the eight-episode animated cat comedy Kevin, starring Dan Murphy, Aubrey Plaza, and Joe Wengert. The series premieres on Amazon Prime Video on April 20.
From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood Stardom
Goldberg's journey to success began with humble origins. Raised in a public housing project, she worked various jobs including waitress, bank teller, mortuary cosmetologist, and bricklayer before being discovered by director Mike Nichols, who attended her 1983 one-woman show. Nichols helped transform The Spook Show into her self-titled Broadway production, which ran from 1984-1985 at the Lyceum Theatre before becoming an HBO special.
Her breakthrough came when filmmaker Steven Spielberg saw her standup performance at The Comedy Store's Belly Room and cast her as Celie in his 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. This launched a remarkable career that includes roles in Jumpin' Jack Flash, Clara's Heart, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ghost, Soapdish, The Player, both Sister Act films, and Girl, Interrupted.
Today, Goldberg represents a model of successful aging in the entertainment industry, balancing professional achievement with personal autonomy and contentment with her chosen lifestyle.
