When it comes to household names, Whoopi Goldberg is undoubtedly among the cream of the crop. After all, what has the 64-year-old icon not achieved in the entertainment industry? She has already won all four of Hollywood's most prestigious and highly-coveted awards - Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
There's only a handful of people who are EGOT award winners, and Whoopi is one of them! Aside from her career accomplishments, she's also known for bringing joy to other people. Whether it's with her distinct sense of humor, charming personality, or inspiring life story, she always finds ways to make her audience smile. However, Whoopi wasn't always a wealthy celebrity. She came from a less-than-fortunate background!
Luckily for her, she has an only daughter, Alex Martin (also known as Alex Martin Dean), who serves as her source of inspiration. Alex motivated Whoopi to go from high school dropout to celebrated figure adored by fans worldwide! So, who exactly is this person who has driven Goldberg to achieve this near-impossible feat? Let's find out as we shine a light on 15 intriguing tidbits about Whoopi's low-key daughter.
15 Starred In Her Mother's Films
Instead of spending time at a daycare, Alex Martin showed up on movie sets alongside her mom. In fact, she even starred in Whoopi's breakout film, The Color Purple, back when she was just 12 years old! This might be the first time Martin appeared on film, but it certainly wasn't the last. She also took part in the filming of the sequel to her mom's classic comedy musical film, Sister Act, 8 years later.
14 Won A Golden Globe Award
Aside from having a famous mother, Alex Martin has added Golden Globe Award Winner to her credentials. Martin was dubbed Miss Golden Globe back in 1994. According to Vogue, the award was initially given to Hollywood's rising stars and promising talents but was eventually changed in 1962. It's now being used to honor children of movie stars, who are the future of the industry. Like mother, like daughter!
13 A Family Of Reality TV Stars
While some of Alex Martin's family members are not Hollywood actors, they're still stars in their own reality TV show, According To Alex. How did it start, exactly? Turns out it was all mama Whoopi's idea! During an interview with Wendy Williams, the EGOT winner admitted that she thought it was a great idea simply because she finds her daughter's family entertaining.
12 Her Kids Are Into Different Things
Just because Alex Martin is an actress (and producer) doesn't mean her kids will be following in her footsteps any time soon. The thing is, her children's skills are quite eclectic, to say the least. Martin's eldest daughter, Amarah, is an artist, her sister, Jerzey, is a model and son, Mason, is an aspiring rapper! That said, talent, rather than lack of eyebrows, definitely runs in the family.
11 Got Married Three Times... To The Same Guy
Celebrities break up and re-marry all the time. However, not everyone can say they got married to the same person three times! Alex Martin and Bernard Dean eloped, got officially married and then divorced...before re-marrying again for the third time. In an interview, Martin revealed that Bernard is her “home” and that's why she keeps coming back to him. “It was destiny, it was supposed to be,” Martin explained.
10 Owns A Unique Business
There's a stark difference between getting a pedicure and drinking at a bar. However, Martin hopes to change this notion by merging the two through her unique business, which is called Nail Buzz. She lets clients sip drinks while getting their nails done and she also uses nail polish that takes inspiration from her favorite drinks! This 46-year-old celebrity mom clearly knows a thing or two about being pampered.
9 She Spares The Rod
Some parents prefer disciplining their children, versus spoiling them, but not Alex Martin. During an interview, Martin admitted that she's okay with being more lenient. “Why shouldn't I? I love them, I want them to have everything they could possibly have,” Martin added. Being an only child, she does know what it's like to be constantly coddled by her mother.
8 Been A Mother Since 15
Being a teenage mom is never easy and Alex Martin knows all about the struggle. She's been a mother since she was 15 years old! Her first-born, Amarah, basically grew up without her biological father. Fortunately, her eldest daughter took heed of this and got pregnant at an older age. Experience is the best teacher.
7 Used To Be In A Rap Group
Being the daughter of a famous celebrity opens so many doors. Aside from being an actress and movie producer, Alex Martin was also involved in the music industry! During her reality show, Martin claims she used to be part of a rap group. While not much is known about her gig, perhaps it was during her time with hip hop producer, Stevie J, whom she was almost engaged to.
6 Went To Culinary School
Acting, doing nails, and dabbling in mixology are just a few of the skills in Alex Martin's repertoire. Apparently, she's also a great cook! In one of her interviews, Martin revealed that she “cooks for everybody.” “I went to culinary school, I don't have a problem with cooking,” Martin added. No wonder her family always appears to be complete whenever she posts about their gatherings!
5 BFF Leisa Is Just Like Her
There's a good reason why Alex Martin and Leisa Rachal are such good friends. They don't just have similar interests, they're basically in the same boat! Like Martin, Leisa is also the only child of a famous celebrity, Donnie Darko actor, Lee Weaver. They've been friends so long, they practically feel like sisters.
4 She's Whoopi's Best Friend
Seeing how Alex Martin interacts with Whoopi can easily give the impression that the two are best buddies instead of mother and daughter. Just how close are the two? Well, Whoopi once touted her daughter as the most trustworthy person she knows. The 64-year-old even admitted that Alex is a better mother than her.
3 Wasn't Born Into Hollywood Royalty
Some people wonder how Alex Martin stays grounded despite having such a prominent Hollywood background. It's because she didn't live luxuriously growing up. In fact, her mother Whoopi wasn't even anywhere near superstar status by the time she was born! Martin recalled living a frugal life, getting by on food stamps, and not having enough money to go to the movies.
2 Her Father Was Whoopi's Counselor
It's quite noticeable how much Alex and Whoopi don't resemble each other. That's because Alex inherited her distinct features, such as her eyes, from her father, a Caucasian counselor named Alvin Martin. The thing is, we rarely see Alex together with both her parents since they divorced when she was just 6. Little did Alvin know that Whoopi would become a Hollywood icon years later - whoops!
1 Turned Whoopi Into A Great Grandma
Alex officially turned into a grandmother when her daughter gave birth. Of course, this means Whoopi is now a great-grandma! While being a granny in your 40s might seem a bit too soon for some, Whoopi is able to laugh about the situation. During an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi jokingly criticized her daughter saying, “I got no sympathy for you. You made me a grandmother when I was 33.”