The Real Reason Whoopi Goldberg Changed Her Name
Lifestyle - News
By ADAM ENGLAND
Fans worldwide know of Whoopi Goldberg and her award-winning performances in television, on the stage, and in movies, including co-hosting "The View." Her standout performances make her distinctive name almost impossible to forget, but her current moniker isn't what's on her birth certificate.
When Whoopi was born, she was given the more conventional name Caryn Elaine Johnson. She changed her last name to Goldberg because she thought it better represented her Jewish heritage; meanwhile, her first name comes from a far less serious place.
It seems appropriate that as a comedian, Whoopi chose her name from a practical joke toy – yep, a whoopee cushion. Whoopi explained, "If you get a little gassy, you've got to let it go [...] people used to say to me, 'You're like a whoopee cushion.' And that's where the name came from."
Goldberg is one of the few performers to have achieved EGOT status (winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). It's unknown if her stage name played a role in her professional achievements, but Whoopi Goldberg is certainly one of the most memorable monikers in Hollywood.