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Paula Abdul
Actor, Producer, Additional CreditsBorn June 19, 1962 (63 years)
Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 and later became the head choreographer for the Laker Girls, where she was discovered by the Jacksons. After choreographing music videos for Janet Jackson, Abdul became a choreographer at the height of the music video era and soon thereafter she was signed to Virgin Records.
Abdul's debut studio album, Forever Your Girl (1988), became one of the most successful debut albums at that time, selling seven million copies in the United States and setting a record for the most U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles from a debut album: "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl", "Cold Hearted", and "Opposites Attract". Her second album, Spellbound (1991), scored the number-one singles "Rush Rush" and "The Promise of a New Day". With six number-one singles on Hot 100, Abdul tied Diana Ross for the third-most chart-toppers among female solo artists at the time. As of 2025, Abdul places seventh along with Diana Ross and Lady Gaga for the most number-one singles by female artists in the U.S. to date.
Abdul was one of the original judges on the television series American Idol from 2002 to 2009, and has since appeared as a judge on The X Factor, Live to Dance, So You Think You Can Dance, and The Masked Dancer. She received choreography credits in numerous films, including Can't Buy Me Love (1987), The Running Man (1987), Coming to America (1988), Action Jackson (1988), The Doors (1991), Jerry Maguire (1996), and American Beauty (1999). She received 17 MTV Video Music Award nominations, winning five, as well as receiving the Grammy Award for Best Music Video for "Opposites Attract" in 1991. She received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography twice for her work on The Tracey Ullman Show, and her own performance at the American Music Awards in 1990. Abdul was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and is the first entertainer to be honored with the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards' Hall of Fame Award.
Abdul was born in San Fernando, California. She is Jewish: her father, Harry Abdul, is of Syrian Jewish heritage and was born in Aleppo, Syria, raised in Brazil and emigrated to the United States. Her mother, Lorraine (Rykiss), was a concert pianist of Jewish heritage, from Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada. Abdul has an older sister named Wendy. As an avid dancer, Abdul was inspired towards a show business career by Gene Kelly in the film Singin' in the Rain. ...
Source: Article "Paula Abdul" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Abdul's debut studio album, Forever Your Girl (1988), became one of the most successful debut albums at that time, selling seven million copies in the United States and setting a record for the most U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles from a debut album: "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl", "Cold Hearted", and "Opposites Attract". Her second album, Spellbound (1991), scored the number-one singles "Rush Rush" and "The Promise of a New Day". With six number-one singles on Hot 100, Abdul tied Diana Ross for the third-most chart-toppers among female solo artists at the time. As of 2025, Abdul places seventh along with Diana Ross and Lady Gaga for the most number-one singles by female artists in the U.S. to date.
Abdul was one of the original judges on the television series American Idol from 2002 to 2009, and has since appeared as a judge on The X Factor, Live to Dance, So You Think You Can Dance, and The Masked Dancer. She received choreography credits in numerous films, including Can't Buy Me Love (1987), The Running Man (1987), Coming to America (1988), Action Jackson (1988), The Doors (1991), Jerry Maguire (1996), and American Beauty (1999). She received 17 MTV Video Music Award nominations, winning five, as well as receiving the Grammy Award for Best Music Video for "Opposites Attract" in 1991. She received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography twice for her work on The Tracey Ullman Show, and her own performance at the American Music Awards in 1990. Abdul was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and is the first entertainer to be honored with the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards' Hall of Fame Award.
Abdul was born in San Fernando, California. She is Jewish: her father, Harry Abdul, is of Syrian Jewish heritage and was born in Aleppo, Syria, raised in Brazil and emigrated to the United States. Her mother, Lorraine (Rykiss), was a concert pianist of Jewish heritage, from Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada. Abdul has an older sister named Wendy. As an avid dancer, Abdul was inspired towards a show business career by Gene Kelly in the film Singin' in the Rain. ...
Source: Article "Paula Abdul" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Paula Abdul Filmography
| 2023 | The Golden Bachelor (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2023 | Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2023 | The Muppets Mayhem (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 2022 | The Jennifer Hudson Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2022 | 2022 American Rescue Dog Show · as Self - Judge |
| 2022 | Janet Jackson. (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | The Super Bob Einstein Movie · as Self |
| 2021 | Paris in Love (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Superstar (2021) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | MTV 80s - Top 40 Modern Girls of the 80s! · as Paula Abdul |
| 2021 | Secret Celebrity Renovation (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2021 | The 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors · as Self - Presenter |
| 2021 | Talking in Circles with Clint Black (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | MTV 90s - Top 50 1990-1994: Back 2 the Hits! · as Paula Abdul |
| 2021 | MTV 90s - Top 50 I Like to Move It 90s Party! · as Paula Abdul |
| 2021 | For Real: The Story of Reality TV (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | This Is Pop (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | MTV 90s - Top 50 90s Pop Hits! · as Paula Abdul |
| 2021 | Bling Empire (TV Series) · as Self - Pop Icon |
| 2021 | Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant |
| 2020 | The Masked Dancer (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 2020 | MTV 80s - Top 50 Best 80s Debuts! · as Paula Abdul |
| 2020 | I Can See Your Voice (US) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Panelist |
| 2020 | Canada's Drag Race (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Judge |
| 2020 | Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2020 | Cringe · as Self |
| 2020 | |
| 2020 | Impractical Jokers: The Movie · as Paula Abdul |
| 2019 | Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 · as Self - Performer |
| 2019 | The Movies That Made Us (TV Series) · as Self - Choreographer |
| 2019 | American Music Awards 2019 · as Self - Presenter |
| 2019 | A Little Late with Lilly Singh (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | RuPaul (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | 2019 Billboard Music Awards · as Self - Performer |
| 2019 | Leaving Neverland (TV Series) · as Self - Funeral Guest |
| 2018 | Howard · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | George Michael: Freedom · as Self |
| 2017 | Steve (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2017 | Impractical Jokers: After Party (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2017 | The Nineties (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2017 | Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives · as Self |
| 2016 | Cooper Barrett's Guide To Surviving Life (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 2015 | Daily Blast Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | American Music Awards 2015 · as Self |
| 2015 | Lip Sync Battle (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | The Late Late Show with James Corden (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2014 | The Meredith Vieira Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | Real Husbands of Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | |
| 2012 | The Living Room (TV Series) · as Self - American Idol Judge |
| 2011 | Impractical Jokers (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | 2011 Hero Dog Awards · as Self |
| 2011 | The X Factor (US) (TV Series) · as Self - Judge |
| 2011 | The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self |
| 2011 | Anderson (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2011 | Dish Nation (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self |
| 2010 | The Talk (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2010 | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2010 | The 64th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2010 | The 36th Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self |
| 2009 | 2009 American Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2009 | The Jay Leno Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | The Dr. Oz Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | Waking Sleeping Beauty · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2009 | Brüno · as Self - American Idol Judge |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | Bookaboo (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Judge |
| 2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked! (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Judge |
| 2009 | 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self |
| 2008 | Howie Do It (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | No Brainer · as Self |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | So You Think You Can Dance Australia (TV Series) · as Self - Judge |
| 2008 | Hollywood Residential (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | Hey Paula (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2007 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '07 · as Self |
| 2007 | The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2006 | The 2006 Billboard Music Awards · as Self |
| 2006 | Comic Relief 2006 · as Self |
| 2006 | Rachael Ray (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2006 | American Idol Rewind (TV Series) · as Self - Judge |
| 2006 | The Teen Choice Awards 2006 · as Self - Presenter |
| 2006 | |
| 2006 | America's Got Talent (TV Series) · as Self - Performer |
| 2006 | Hotel Babylon (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 2005 | The Reichen Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2005 | I Love The 80s 3-D (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Infanity (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | The Tyra Banks Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | So You Think You Can Dance (TV Series) · as Self - Judge |
| 2005 | Dancing with the Stars (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Judge |
| 2005 | Hell's Kitchen (US) (TV Series) · as Self - Restaurant Patron |
| 2005 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '05 · as Self |
| 2005 | The 19th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self |
| 2005 | The Contender (2005) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Showbiz Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Romy and Michele: In the Beginning · as Self |
| 2005 | The Friday Night Project (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 2005 | I Love the 90's Part Deux (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2005 · as Self |
| 2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The 2004 Billboard Music Awards · as Self |
| 2004 | Retrosexual: The '80s (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Paul O'Grady Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Insider (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Tony Danza Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Xtra Factor (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The X Factor (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Judge |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | Strictly Come Dancing (TV Series) · as Self - Vt |
| 2004 | CMT Insider (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | On Air With Ryan Seacrest (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Teen Choice Awards 2004 · as Self |
| 2003 | OutKast: The Videos · as Paula Abdul |
| 2003 | The 31st Annual American Music Awards · as Self |
| 2003 | 2003 Radio Music Awards · as Self |
| 2003 | The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self |
| 2003 | All of Us (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | The Teen Choice Awards 2003 · as Self |
| 2003 | Celebrities Uncensored (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | |
| 2003 | The 17th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | The Disco Ball · as Self |
| 2003 | The 30th Annual American Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2003 | Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves · as Self |
| 2002 | The Caroline Rhea Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2002 | The Wayne Brady Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | 2002 MTV Video Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2002 | The Teen Choice Awards 2002 · as Self - Presenter |
| 2002 | Tinseltown TV (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | American Idol (TV Series) · as Self - Judge |
| 2002 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | Bubblegum Babylon · as Self |
| 2001 | The Bernie Mac Show (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 2001 | Good Day Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | The Best Damn Sports Show Period (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | Loose Women (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | SNL: 25 Years of Music · as Self |
| 1998 | Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1998 | Fox and Friends (USA) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1998 | The 25th Annual American Music Awards · as Self |
| 1997 | The Donny & Marie Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II · as Self (segment: Liberian Girl) |
| 1996 | Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 1996 | Spin City (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 1996 | Access Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Muppets Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Janet Jackson: Design of a Decade 1986/1996 · as Self - Dancer (segment "what Have You Done For Me Lately") |
| 1995 | Sinatra: 80 Years My Way · as Self - Performer |
| 1995 | MADtv (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1995 | The Single Guy (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 1995 | The 22nd Annual American Music Awards · as Self |
| 1994 | Extra (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | The Howard Stern Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | All That (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Get Up and Dance! · as Self |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1993 | Bob Hope: The First 90 Years · as Self |
| 1993 | For Our Children: The Concert · as Self |
| 1992 | Late Show with David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | Dateline NBC (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | The 19th Annual American Music Awards · as Self |
| 1991 | Maury (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | 1991 MTV Video Music Awards · as Self |
| 1991 | Coca-Cola Pop Music Backstage Pass to Summer · as Self - Performer |
| 1991 | The 17th Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1991 | The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards · as Self |
| 1990 | The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1990 | 1990 MTV Video Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1990 | The Howard Stern Channel 9 Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | The 62nd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1990 | The 4th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1990 | The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1990 | The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards · as Self |
| 1990 | 7th Annual American Cinema Awards · as Self |
| 1990 | 22nd NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1989 | Primetime Wednesday (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1989 | Paula Abdul: Straight Up · as Paula Abdul |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | Motormouth (1988) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | Going Live! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | Showtime at the Apollo (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1986 | The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1985 | Larry King Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1985 | Neighbours (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul |
| 1984 | MTV Video Music Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1983 | Sally Jessy Raphael (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1982 | Wogan (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1982 | Champs-Elysees (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | America's Top 10 (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | Nightline (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Cameo (uncredited) |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1971 | Soul Train (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1966 | The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1964 | Top of the Pops (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1954 | The Early Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self |
Move · as Self |
| 2025 | Raging Midlife · as Mary Todd |
| 2022 | Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers · as 3-D Reporter / Paula Abdul |
| 2021 | Made For Love (TV Series) · as Anydoors |
| 2018 | A Sister's Secret · as Detective Tucker |
| 2015 | Fresh Off the Boat (TV Series) · as Holly |
| 2011 | Live to Dance (TV Series) |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva (TV Series) · as Judge Paula |
| 2009 | Family Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie · as Paula Abdul (voice) |
| 2005 | Robots · as Watch (voice) |
| 2003 | That's So Raven (TV Series) · as The Host |
| 2002 | Less Than Perfect (TV Series) · as Kathleen |
| 2002 | The Master of Disguise · as Choreographer (uncredited) |
| 1999 | Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story · as Denise Walton |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul (TV Series) · as Woman |
| 1999 | Family Guy (TV Series) · as Paula Abdul (voice) |
| 1998 | The Waiting Game · as Amy Fuentes |
| 1998 | TRL (2017) (TV Series) |
| 1997 | Touched by Evil · as Ellen Collier |
| 1995 | The Wayans Bros. (TV Series) · as Sasha |
| 1995 | Cybill (TV Series) |
| 1991 | L.A. Story · as Roller Skater In Front Of Tail O' The Pup (uncredited) |
| 1987 | Can't Buy Me Love · as Dancer (uncredited) |
| 1987 | The Tracey Ullman Show (TV Series) |
| 1986 | A Smoky Mountain Christmas · as Choreographer (uncredited) |
| 1983 | Private School · as Cheerleader (uncredited) |
| 1978 | Junior High School · as Sherry |
| 2011 | Live to Dance (TV Series) |
| 2007 | Hey Paula (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2005 | So You Think You Can Dance (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2005 | So You Think You Can Dance (TV Series) · as Music Sound Design And Processing |