Roseanne O'Donnell, the third of five children, was born on March 21, 1962, in Commack, N.Y. Coping with the death of her mother from cancer in 1973, the youngster found solace watching television and going to the movies and theater. She also threw herself into school activities and was elected class president and prom queen in high school. She briefly attended Dickinson College and Boston University but soon found herself pursuing a show business career full-time.

O'Donnell began touring as a stand-up comedian in the early 1980s, one of only a few young women on a circuit dominated at the time by men. She appeared on television's Star Search in 1984 and won five times. Using her prize money, she moved to California. A television executive saw her act at a Los Angeles comedy club and cast her in the sitcom Gimme a Break in 1986. In the late 1980s and early 1990s she frequently appeared on the cable music station VH-1, first as a veejay and then as the host of the comedy show Stand-Up Spotlight. She also performed comedy on Showtime and Home Box Office television specials and had a prominent role on the short-lived Fox sitcom Stand By Your Man (1992).

O'Donnell made her film debut playing a wisecracking baseball player in ‘A League of Their Own' (1992), about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League established during World War II. In her subsequent roles she portrayed Meg Ryan's best friend in ‘Sleepless in Seattle' (1993), brought cartoon character Betty Rubble to life in ‘The Flintstones' (1994), and joined Demi Moore and Melanie Griffith as part of the ensemble cast of ‘Now and Then' (1995). Other films included ‘Another Stakeout' (1993), ‘I'll Do Anything' (1994), ‘Exit to Eden' (1994), ‘Beautiful Girls' (1996), and ‘Harriet the Spy' (1996).

O'Donnell fulfilled her dream of performing on Broadway by landing the role of tough-talking Rizzo in the Tommy Tune revival of ‘Grease' in 1994. After adopting a baby boy in 1995, she approached companies about creating her own daytime talk show in order to be able to keep regular working hours. The Rosie O'Donnell Show debuted in June 1996. As an executive producer, O'Donnell chose guests she genuinely liked, resulting in the good-natured banter that appealed to her audience. In addition to quick-witted but down-to-earth monologues on everything from motherhood to her fondness for junk food, she peppered the show with television and movie nostalgia, impromptu singing, giveaways, and plugs for various charitable causes. The program quickly attracted audiences tired of argumentative, shock-themed talk shows. Newsweek crowned her “The Queen of Nice,” Glamour chose her as one of its women of the year, and People included her on its “Most Intriguing” list. She also received an American Comedy award as the funniest leading female performer on a television series.