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Ellen DeGeneres wins Mark Twain Award for comedy DeGeneres has been a sitcom star, a talk show host and an advocate — and now she’s getting an award for her contributions to American comedy.
Feb. 11, 1987
DeGeneres got her first big break performing on "The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.
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1996
DeGeneres starred as a woman who dates Bill Pullman, a seemingly perfect man, in "Mr. Wrong."
Suzanne Tenner
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Touchstone Pictures
April 15, 1997
DeGeneres famously came out as a lesbian in real life on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and then on her show “Ellen” in one of the highest-rated episodes of the show. Ellen’s character came out to her therapist, played by Oprah Winfrey.
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ABC
April 26, 1997
One of DeGeneres’s most public relationships was with actress Anne Heche, right. They’re pictured here with George Clooney and his then-girlfriend Celine Balitran, before the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
Susan Biddle
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The Washington Post
Sept. 14, 1997
Ellen DeGeneres kisses her Emmy backstage at the 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. DeGeneres won the Emmy for best actress in a comedy series for "Ellen."
Kevork Djansezian
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AP
Sept. 14, 1997
Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche hug upon arriving at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
Mark J. Terrill
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AP
Sept. 14, 1997
DeGeneres and girlfriend Anne Heche arrive with Ellen's mother, Betty, right, at the 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
Fred Prouser
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Reuters
May 19, 1999
DeGeneres starred with Kate Capshaw in the romantic comedy “The Love Letter,” which cast them as best friends who run a book store in the sleepy New England town of Loblolly by the Sea.
Linda Chen/DreamWorks Pictures
March 2, 2000
The HBO movie “If These Walls Could Talk 2” examined the relationships of three lesbian couples. Sharon Stone starred with DeGeneres.
Lorey Sebastian
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HBO
April 30, 2000
DeGeneres and Anne Heche participated in the Millennium March on Washington to raise awareness of LGBT issues. The couple split later that year.
Dudley Brooks
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The Washington Post
Nov. 4, 2001
DeGeneres hosted the 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, appearing in a costume similar to that worn by pop singer Bjork at the last Academy Awards show.
Kevork Djansezian
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AP
2003
One of DeGeneres’s most popular film roles was a voiceover — the quotable fish Dory, left, in “Finding Nemo.” Her character tried to help Marlin, voiced by Albert Brooks, lower right, find his missing son. The role won her a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award.
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AP
March 25, 2004
DeGeneres’s popular daytime talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” began in 2003. DeGeneres is known for singing and dancing with her guests, such as Tom Hanks.
Chris Polk
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AP
April 27, 2004
Tim Meadows, Omar Edwards and DeGeneres tap-dance during "The Big Finish," at a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," at NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif.
Chris Polk
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AP
Feb. 25, 2007
DeGeneres hosted the 79th Academy Awards and was nominated for an Emmy for her hosting performance.
Mark J. Terrill
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AP
Feb. 25, 2007
Host Ellen DeGeneres laughs with actress Helen Mirren and actor Will Smith at the 79th Annual Academy Awards.
Gary Hershorn
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Reuters
Feb. 25, 2007
Ellen DeGeneres and partner Portia de Rossi arrive at the annual Vanity Fair Oscar party. DeGeneres and de Rossi have been together since 2004.
Danny Moloshok
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AP
Dec. 5, 2007
DeGeneres laughs as Jenna Bush, the daughter of President George W. Bush, talks to her parents at the White House, during a taping of DeGeneres’s show.
Mike Rozman
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AP
2008
“Ellen’s Even Bigger Really Big Show” was a variety show DeGeneres hosted for a Las Vegas comedy festival that aired on TBS.
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PH Wire Image via TBS
Feb. 25, 2008
During Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign, she and Ellen shared a laugh as they each appeared live at each other’s events during a "Hillary LIVE" Low Dollar Fundraising event at the George Washington University.
Linda Davidson
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The Washington Post
Jan. 7, 2009
DeGeneres accepts the Favorite Talk Show Host award from singer Kid Rock during the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards.
Kevork Djansezian
May 16, 2008
DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi kiss in the audience during the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. When gay marriage became legal in California, DeGeneres and de Rossi wed.
Kevin Winter
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Getty Images
May 16, 2009
DeGeneres gave the commencement speech for Tulane University graduation exercises at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
Bill Haber
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AP
Nov. 20, 2008
DeGeneres performs with dancers during a taping of "Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show" during the Comedy Festival at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Ethan Miller
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Getty Images
2010
DeGeneres was a judge on "American Idol’s" ninth season. She’s pictured here with co-stars Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell.
Michael Becker
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Fox
Sept 9, 2010
Designer Richie Rich, left, and Ellen DeGeneres walk the runway at the Richie Rich Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
Frazer Harrison
April 30, 2010
DeGeneres is also an advocate for animal rights. Here, she attends the Postal Service dedication of their new Animal Rescue: Adopt A Shelter Pet stamp.
Frazer Harrison
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Getty Images
Jan. 5, 2011
Musician Taylor Swift and DeGeneres have both served as the faces of CoverGirl cosmetics. They are shown arriving at the CoverGirl 50th Anniversary Celebration in West Hollywood, Calif.
John Shearer
Feb. 1, 2012
DeGeneres dances with first lady Michelle Obama during a taping of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Michael Rozman
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AP
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