Whoopi Goldberg has been a Hollywood staple with multiple astonishing performances to her credit over four decades. Goldberg’s comedic roots are evident in her varied filmography, from acclaimed films like Sarafina! to blockbusters like The Lion King and the Sister Act franchise, to cult classics like Soapdish . Her lengthy resume and critical acclaim should’ve led to a fireplace mantle filled with Academy Awards .
However, that isn’t the case for the Jumpin’ Jack Flash star with a Best Actress nomination for The Color Purple (the loss cited as one of the voting body’s biggest blunders ) and a Best Supporting Actress win for Ghost. Her lone win doesn’t mean the Oscar winner hasn’t delivered more Oscar-worthy characters. So, here are just some Whoopi Goldberg movie performances worthy of an Academy Award.
Clara's Heart (1988) Whoopi Goldberg proved her big-screen debut in The Color Purple wasn’t a fluke with the 1988 melodrama Clara’s Heart . She fleshed out housekeeper and surrogate mother Clara Mayfield. Like her feature debut, Goldberg showed she could move from laughs to dramatic moments.
She and the cast eased into the melodrama while tackling serious topics like divorce, sexual assault, and death. The Oscar winner delved deep into the familial bonds between strangers, especially with co-star Neil Patrick Harris . Their scenes were poignant as she blended sternness and softness with nuance.
Those moments worked well as the film served as Harris’s actin.