1962-06-19 San Fernando, California, USA
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.
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Raging Midlife | Mary Todd | 2025-03-14 |
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2022 American Rescue Dog Show | Self - Judge | 2022-05-25 |
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Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers | 3-D Reporter / Paula Abdul | 2022-05-20 |
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Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt's Creek Farewell | Self | 2020-04-07 |
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Impractical Jokers: The Movie | Paula Abdul | 2020-02-21 |
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A Sister's Secret | Detective Tucker | 2018-08-05 |
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Howard | Self (archive footage) | 2018-04-22 |
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Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation | Self | 2012-07-17 |
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VH1 Divas 2009 | Self - Host | 2009-09-17 |
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Waking Sleeping Beauty | Self (archive footage) | 2009-09-05 |
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Family Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie | Paula Abdul (voice) | 2009-05-19 |
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Brüno | Self - American Idol Judge | 2009-07-08 |
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Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens | Self (archive footage) | 2007-05-19 |
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Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story | Self | 2006-08-19 |
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American Idol: The Best of Seasons 1-4 | Self - Judge (archive footage) | 2005-11-22 |
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American Idol: The Worst of Seasons 1-4 | Self - Judge | 2005-11-22 |
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Romy and Michele: In the Beginning | Self | 2005-05-30 |
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Robots | Watch (voice) | 2005-03-10 |
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Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves | Self | 2003-01-01 |
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The Master of Disguise | Choreographer (uncredited) | 2002-08-02 |
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American Idol: The Search For A Superstar | Judge | 2002-01-01 |
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Power Girls | Self (archive footage) | 2002-08-12 |
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The Waiting Game | Amy Fuentes | 2001-01-25 |
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Paula Abdul Cardio Dance | Self | 2000-10-31 |
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Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story | Denise Walton | 1999-10-31 |
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Touched By Evil | Ellen Collier | 1997-01-12 |
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Sinatra: 80 Years My Way | Self - Performer | 1995-12-14 |
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Paula Abdul's Get Up & Dance | Self | 1994-01-01 |
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For Our Children | Self | 1993-02-16 |
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Paula Abdul: Under My Spell Live | Self | 1992-02-09 |
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Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You | Self | 1992-09-10 |
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L.A. Story | Roller Skater in Front of Tail O' the Pup (uncredited) | 1991-02-08 |
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Barbie Dance Club | Self | 1989-01-01 |
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Can't Buy Me Love | Dancer (uncredited) | 1987-08-14 |
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A Smoky Mountain Christmas | Choreographer (uncredited) | 1986-12-14 |
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Private School | Cheerleader (uncredited) | 1983-06-29 |
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Junior High School | Sherry | 1978-10-01 |
