Long before she won an Academy Award or became a fixture on daytime television, Whoopi Goldberg took on some of the most unusual odd jobs imaginable to make ends meet. Among her stints as a bank teller and a bricklayer, one particular role stands out in pop culture lore: working as a funeral home makeup artist.
This chapter of her life wasn't a long-term career path, but rather a brief, practical hustle born out of financial necessity. Far from the glamorous red carpets of Hollywood, her time in a mortuary involved styling hair and applying cosmetics to the deceased. It’s a starkly grounded reality for a future EGOT winner, offering a fascinating glimpse into the grit required before breaking into the entertainment industry.
Finding the Ad and Entering the Mortuary Business
In the 1970s, living in California and juggling the responsibilities of a young single mother, Goldberg needed stable income. Having completed beauty school and earned a license as a cosmetologist, she scanned local classified ads for open positions.
An advertisement posted by a local funeral home caught her eye. While many would shy away from handling the deceased, Goldberg viewed it strictly through a practical lens: it was a job that paid wages, and she had the exact licensing required to style hair and apply cosmetics. Further insights into this topic are covered by Associated Press.
- The Skillset: Her beauty school training translated directly into mortuary cosmetology.
- The Motivation: Pure economic survival and supporting her family.
- The Environment: Quiet, high-pressure, and emotionally demanding.
The Initiation Day Prank
Goldberg’s tenure at the mortuary included an initiation rite that she later recounted with humor on programs like Oprah's Master Class. On her very first day, she arrived before her supervisor. Working alone in the preparation room, she began hearing strange noises.
One of the heavy metal drawers used to hold bodies began to slide open on its own. Gripped by sudden panic, Goldberg turned to run out of the room, only to collide with the door frame so hard she knocked herself out momentarily.
When she came to, she discovered the entire episode was a deliberate prank staged by her boss, who had been hiding inside the wall unit to pull the drawer open. Rather than quitting on the spot, her boss offered a blunt lesson: he told her that she had just experienced the worst possible scare the job could offer, and since she survived it, she could handle anything. The tension evaporated, and she settled into the routine.
Other Odd Jobs of the Era
The funeral parlor gig wasn't her only unexpected occupation. Goldberg’s pre-fame resume reflects an era of intense hustle before she joined San Diego repertory theater and eventually landed her breakthrough role in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple.
- Bricklayer: She worked in construction, famously noting that she preferred laying bricks over other difficult daily environments.
- Bank Teller: She handled customer deposits and cash drawers in financial institutions.
- Improv and Stand-Up: She performed local comedy sets whenever her grueling work schedule permitted.
These varied experiences deeply shaped her worldview and grounded comedic timing. They also provided rich material for her one-woman Broadway shows years later, where she often reflected on the absurdity of everyday survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Whoopi Goldberg a licensed cosmetologist?
Yes. Before working at the funeral home, she attended beauty school and earned her official license, which qualified her to perform hair and makeup styling for mortuary services.
How long did she work at the funeral home?
Her time at the mortuary was a brief stint during her years struggling to find consistent acting work in California. She moved on to other jobs and theatrical productions as her career gained momentum.
Did her funeral home experience influence her role in Ghost?
While fans often draw a humorous parallel between her real-life mortuary background and her iconic portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown in the 1990 film Ghost, the casting choice was driven by her acting pedigree rather than her past makeup experience.
Why did she take such an unusual job?
As a single mother needing immediate cash flow, she responded to an open classified ad in the local newspaper that matched her professional licensing credentials.
