We know Whoopi Goldberg as that. However, that was not her original stage name. She originally wanted to go by Whoopi Cushiôn.
Yesterday, she told Seth Meyers on his show, Late Night, how she got the last name Goldberg. When the actress told her mom her stage name, she asked her daughter are you crazy. Then her mom explained to her, “You’re diminishing your abilities. And if you call yourself Whoopi Cushiôn, people are not going to appreciate what you can do.”
With that, Whoopi asked her mom what name she should use. Her mom said that Goldberg is a family name, and she likes it. And the rest is Hollywood history.
How did Whoopi repay her mom? Her mom told her I want three things: an English Beaver Bowler Hat, an Ermine Coat, and a Bugatti. Whoopi got her all of those things, even though her mom couldn’t drive. So, Whoopi told her to learn how to drive.
Whoopi loved her mom so much that her mom’s final resting place is at Disneyland’s It’s a Small Word ride and the flowers. Every time Whoopi went, she would bring a little of her mom’s ashes with her and spread them on the ride. What a great place to have be your final resting place, at the Happiest Place on Earth.
