Ellen DeGeneres
Born: January 26th, 1958 ( Metairie, Louisiana)
Age: 55
"For me, it's that I contributed, ... That I'm on this planet doing some good and making people happy. That's to me the most important thing, that my hour of television is positive and upbeat and an antidote for all the negative stuff going on in life."
In 1997, DeGeneres came out publicly on her sitcom "Ellen". It was the first time a lead character had come out as gay on primetime television. The show suffered a serious ratings decline and was cancelled in 1998. She then appeared in shows and films before re-establishing her star power as the host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and voicing Dory in the film Finding Nemo.
"Glee's" Jane Lynch and Sean Hayes, formerly of Will and Grace, credited Ellen for making it possible for their shows to include gay characters. "I'm pretty darn sure I could not have the career I have, that I could not live as openly as I've lived, if it hadn't been for you," Lynch said. Fellow television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel said DeGeneres' coming-out had been a milestone. "For a lot of people, Ellen is their only homosexual friend," Kimmel said. "She's there in their living room every single day." ellen continues to be an inspiration to the gay community, and is proud of who she is and her sexuality. She is a role model to many.
Age: 55
"For me, it's that I contributed, ... That I'm on this planet doing some good and making people happy. That's to me the most important thing, that my hour of television is positive and upbeat and an antidote for all the negative stuff going on in life."
In 1997, DeGeneres came out publicly on her sitcom "Ellen". It was the first time a lead character had come out as gay on primetime television. The show suffered a serious ratings decline and was cancelled in 1998. She then appeared in shows and films before re-establishing her star power as the host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and voicing Dory in the film Finding Nemo.
"Glee's" Jane Lynch and Sean Hayes, formerly of Will and Grace, credited Ellen for making it possible for their shows to include gay characters. "I'm pretty darn sure I could not have the career I have, that I could not live as openly as I've lived, if it hadn't been for you," Lynch said. Fellow television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel said DeGeneres' coming-out had been a milestone. "For a lot of people, Ellen is their only homosexual friend," Kimmel said. "She's there in their living room every single day." ellen continues to be an inspiration to the gay community, and is proud of who she is and her sexuality. She is a role model to many.