Ellen DeGeneres

Bio:
Ellen DeGeneres (born Ellen Lee DeGeneres in Metairie, Louisiana on January 26, 1958) is a stand-up comedian, talk show host, and actress. She currently hosts the syndicated talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She has also starred in two television sitcoms, Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and The Ellen Show from 2001 to 2002. She performed as a judge on American Idol during the show’s ninth season. She has appeared in many films, famously voiced Dory in the animated film Finding Nemo, and hosted the Emmy Awards twice (2001 and 2005) and the Academy Awards once (2007). Ellen started her career as a stand-up comedian. In 1986, she appeared on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson for the first time. After her set, she was invited for an onscreen chat on Johnny’s couch, making her the first comedienne to do so in the show’s history. During the fourth season of Ellen, Ellen famously came out as a lesbian, making her an icon in the LGBT community.

Best Known For:
Ellen is best known for her eponymous television sitcom Ellen, which aired from 1994-1998, and her current gig as the host of her popular talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen is also widely known for being one of the first publicly gay celebrities in Hollywood.

Personal Life:
When Ellen came out of the closet in 1997, she revealed that she was in a relationship with actress Anne Heche. The two ended their relationship in 2000. From 2001 to 2004, Ellen was involved with actress/director/photographer Alexandra Hedison. Once that relationship ended, Ellen was linked with actress Portia de Rossi. The two were engaged in May of 2008 and married on August 16, 2008.