Paula Abdul

Biography

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.

Known For

Family Guy

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

The Daily Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Dancing with the Stars

All Movies (39)

• Raging Midlife2025 · as Mary Todd
• Janet Jackson: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits2022
• 2022 American Rescue Dog Show2022 · as Self - Judge
• Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers2022 · as 3-D Reporter / Paula Abdul
• Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt's Creek Farewell2020 · as Self
• Impractical Jokers: The Movie2020 · as Paula Abdul
• A Sister's Secret2018 · as Detective Tucker
• Howard2018 · as Self (archive footage)
• Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation2012 · as Self
• VH1 Divas 20092009 · as Self - Host
• Waking Sleeping Beauty2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Brüno2009 · as Self - American Idol Judge
• Family Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie2009 · as Paula Abdul (voice)
• Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story2006 · as Self
• American Idol: The Best of Seasons 1-42005 · as Self - Judge (archive footage)
• American Idol: The Worst of Seasons 1-42005 · as Self - Judge
• Romy and Michele: In the Beginning2005 · as Paula Abdul
• Robots2005 · as Watch (voice)
• Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 52003 · as Self
• Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves2003 · as Self
• Power Girls2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Master of Disguise2002 · as Choreographer (uncredited)
• American Idol: The Search For A Superstar2002 · as Judge
• The Waiting Game2001 · as Amy Fuentes
• Paula Abdul Cardio Dance2000 · as Self
• Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story1999 · as Denise Walton
• Touched By Evil1997 · as Ellen Collier
• Sinatra: 80 Years My Way1995 · as Self - Performer
• Paula Abdul's Get Up & Dance1994 · as Self
• For Our Children1993 · as Self
• Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You1992 · as Self
• Paula Abdul: Under My Spell Live1992 · as Self
• L.A. Story1991 · as Roller Skater in Front of Tail O' the Pup (uncredited)
• Barbie Dance Club1989 · as Self
• Can't Buy Me Love1987 · as Dancer (uncredited)
• A Smoky Mountain Christmas1986 · as Choreographer (uncredited)
• Private School1983 · as Cheerleader (uncredited)
• Junior High School1978 · as Sherry

All TV Shows (80)

• The Golden Bachelor2023 · as Self - Guest
• The Muppets Mayhem2023 · as Paula Abdul
• The Jennifer Hudson Show2022 · as Self - Guest
• JANET JACKSON.2022 · as Self
• Paris in Love2021 · as Self
• Secret Celebrity Renovation2021 · as Self
• Made for Love2021 · as Anydoors
• This Is Pop2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Celebrity Wheel of Fortune2021 · as Self - Contestant
• The Masked Dancer2020 · as Self - Panelist
• Canada's Drag Race2020 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party2020 · as Self
• Celebrity Ghost Stories2020 · as Self
• The Movies That Made Us2019 · as Self
• A Little Late with Lilly Singh2019 · as Self
• The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self
• RuPaul2019 · as Self
• American Idol2018 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Steve2017 · as Self
• The Nineties2017 · as Self (archive footage)
• Lip Sync Battle2015 · as Self
• Fresh Off the Boat2015 · as Holly
• The Arsenio Hall Show2013 · as Self
• Impractical Jokers2011 · as Self
• The X Factor2011 · as Self - Judge
• Live to Dance2011
• The Talk2010 · as Self
• The Jay Leno Show2009 · as Self
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Drop Dead Diva2009 · as Judge Paula
• 2009 Game Show Awards2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Streamy Awards2009 · as Self - Presenter
• RuPaul's Drag Race2009 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Hey Paula2007 · as Self
• Let's Dance2006
• The Reichen Show2005 · as Self - Guest
• So You Think You Can Dance2005
• So You Think You Can Dance2005 · as Self - Judge
• Dancing with the Stars2005 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Hell's Kitchen2005 · as Self - Restaurant Patron
• The Friday Night Project2005 · as Self - Host
• The Tony Danza Show2004 · as Self
• On Air with Ryan Seacrest2004 · as Self
• All of Us2003 · as Self
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• Celebrities Uncensored2003 · as Self
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• That's So Raven2003 · as The Host
• Less than Perfect2002 · as Kathleen
• American Idol2002 · as Self - Judge
• The Bernie Mac Show2001 · as Paula Abdul
• Good Day Live2001 · as Self
• The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn1999 · as Self
• Family Guy1999 · as Paula Abdul (voice)
• TRL1998
• The View1997 · as Self
• Sabrina, the Teenage Witch1996 · as Paula Abdul
• Spin City1996 · as Paula Abdul
• E! True Hollywood Story1996 · as Self
• The Daily Show1996 · as Self
• Muppets Tonight1996 · as Self
• The Single Guy1995 · as Paula Abdul
• The Wayans Bros.1995 · as Sasha
• Cybill1995
• All That1994 · as Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992 · as Self
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self
• Going Live!1987 · as Self
• Sacrée soirée1987 · as Self
• The Tracey Ullman Show1987
• MTV Video Music Awards1984 · as Self
• Al TV1984 · as Self
• Champs-Elysées1982 · as Self
• Entertainment Tonight1981
• Entertainment Tonight1981 · as Self
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self (uncredited)
• American Music Awards1974 · as Self - Presenter
• Today1952 · as Self