Whoopi Goldberg is an EGOT-winning entertainment icon, but away from the bright lights of Hollywood and her long-running seat on The View, her family life centers on a tight-knit, multi-generational clan. While pop culture rumors and online speculation often question the details of her family tree, the reality is straightforward: Whoopi has one child, a daughter named Alexandrea Martin, born during her first marriage.
Understanding Whoopi Goldberg's family requires looking past sensationalized headlines. She was married three times—to Alvin Martin, David Claessen, and Lyle Trachtenberg—but only her first marriage resulted in children. From that single daughter, her family has grown to include three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter, creating a vibrant household rooted in the arts.
Who Is Alvin Martin? The First Husband and Father
In 1973, an 18-year-old Whoopi Goldberg married her first husband, Alvin Martin. Before achieving global fame with films like The Color Purple and Sister Act, Whoopi navigated her youth in New York, where she crossed paths with Martin. Their marriage lasted for six years before they divorced in 1979.
Alvin Martin remains the only man with whom Whoopi shares a biological child. Shortly after marrying, the couple welcomed their daughter, Alexandrea Martin (commonly known as Alex Martin), in 1973. Though Alvin largely stayed out of the public spotlight throughout Whoopi's meteoric rise to fame, his role as a father cemented his place in the family's history before he passed away in 2006.
Alexandrea Martin: Whoopi's Only Child
Growing up with a rising comedic and dramatic actress as a mother shaped Alex Martin's trajectory, leading her naturally into the entertainment industry. Alex has carved out her own path as an actress and film producer. Movie audiences might recognize her from appearances in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit alongside her mother, as well as films like Quest of the Delta Knights.
Beyond acting, Alex stepped into television production and reality television. In 2015, she starred in the BET reality series According to Alex, which gave viewers an inside look at her life as a working mother balancing a bustling household. She has also appeared as a guest co-host on The View, sharing screen time and comedic timing with her mother.
Alex's personal life has also kept her in the public eye. She has been married three times to Bernard Dean, experiencing two divorces before the couple remarried for a final time in 2011. Together, Alex and Bernard share two children, while Alex also has an older daughter from a previous relationship.
The Next Generation: Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren
Whoopi Goldberg's role expanded when Alex became a mother at a young age, making Whoopi a grandmother in her thirties. Today, the family includes three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, spanning a unique and close-knit family network.
Amarah Skye Dean
Born in 1989, Amarah Skye is Whoopi's oldest grandchild. While she largely maintains a private life away from Hollywood cameras, she is an artist and creator. Amarah welcomed a daughter named Charli Rose, which made Whoopi a great-grandmother at the age of 58—a milestone Whoopi joyfully shared with her fans and television audience.
Jerzey Dean
Born in 1998, Jerzey is the daughter of Alex and Bernard Dean. She carved out a distinct path in the fashion and design world. As an entrepreneur, she launched her own luxury loungewear and apparel line, Jerzey Kennedy Designs, establishing a strong creative footprint in New York and Los Angeles.
Mason Dean
Born alongside his sister Jerzey in 1998, Mason Dean chose a creative route centered on music. Working as a hip-hop artist and musician, Mason released tracks like his 2000 single Focus, focusing on audio production and songwriting rather than following his mother and grandmother into film acting.
Common Misconceptions About Whoopi's Marriages and Kids
Internet search trends frequently misattribute children to Whoopi's subsequent marriages or confuse her romantic partners with fathers of her offspring. To clarify the historical record:
- David Claessen: Whoopi married the Dutch cinematographer in 1986, but they divorced two years later in 1988 with no children together.
- Lyle Trachtenberg: Her third marriage to the union organizer lasted from 1994 to 1995 and did not produce any children.
- Ted Danson: Despite intense tabloid speculation when Whoopi and Ted Danson dated in the early 1990s, they were never married and do not share children.
According to official records hosted by Wikipedia and profile archives from US Magazine, Whoopi's family tree remains anchored entirely by her daughter Alex and her descendants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children does Whoopi Goldberg have?
Whoopi Goldberg has only one biological child, a daughter named Alexandrea Martin, born in 1973.
Who is the father of Whoopi Goldberg's daughter?
Alvin Martin, Whoopi's first husband whom she married in 1973, is the father of her daughter Alex.
Is Whoopi Goldberg a grandmother?
Yes. Through her daughter Alex, Whoopi has three grandchildren—Amarah Skye, Jerzey, and Mason—along with a great-granddaughter named Charli Rose.
Did Whoopi Goldberg have children with her other husbands?
No. Her subsequent marriages to David Claessen and Lyle Trachtenberg did not result in any children.
What does Whoopi's daughter do for a living?
Alex Martin works as an actress and film producer, having appeared in films like Sister Act 2 and starred in her own reality series.
