Paula Abdul
Acting
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
Acting116
movieRaging Midlife
2025
Mary Todd
tvThe Golden Bachelor
2023
Self - Guest
tvThe Muppets Mayhem
2023
Paula Abdul
tvThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
Self - Guest
movie2022 American Rescue Dog Show
2022
Self - Judge
movieChip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
2022
3-D Reporter / Paula Abdul
tvMade for Love
2021
Anydoors
tvThis Is Pop
2021
Self (archive footage)
tvCelebrity Wheel of Fortune
2021
Self - Contestant
tvThe Masked Dancer
2020
Self - Panelist
tvCanada's Drag Race
2020
Self - Guest Judge
movieImpractical Jokers: The Movie
2020
Paula Abdul
tvRuPaul
2019
Self
movieA Sister's Secret
2018
Detective Tucker
movieHoward
2018
Self (archive footage)
tvAmerican Idol
2018
Self - Guest Judge
tvSteve
2017
Self
tvThe Nineties
2017
Self (archive footage)
tvThe X Factor
2011
Self - Judge
tvThe Talk
2010
Self
movieVH1 Divas 2009
2009
Self - Host
movieWaking Sleeping Beauty
2009
Self (archive footage)
tvWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
Self - Guest
tvDrop Dead Diva
2009
Judge Paula
movieBrüno
2009
Self - American Idol Judge
tv2009 Game Show Awards
2009
Self (archive footage)
movieFamily Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie
2009
Paula Abdul (voice)
tvThe Streamy Awards
2009
Self - Presenter
tvRuPaul's Drag Race
2009
Self - Guest Judge
tvHey Paula
2007
Self
movieAnnie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
2007
Self (archive footage)
movieAmerican Idol: The Best of Seasons 1-4
2005
Self - Judge (archive footage)
movieAmerican Idol: The Worst of Seasons 1-4
2005
Self - Judge
The Reichen Show
2005
Self - Guest
tvSo You Think You Can Dance
2005
Self - Judge
tvDancing with the Stars
2005
Self - Guest Judge
movieRomy and Michele: In the Beginning
2005
Paula Abdul
tvHell's Kitchen
2005
Self - Restaurant Patron
movieRobots
2005
Watch (voice)
tvThe Friday Night Project
2005
Self - Host
tvAll of Us
2003
Self
tvThat's So Raven
2003
The Host
tvLess than Perfect
2002
Kathleen
moviePower Girls
2002
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Master of Disguise
2002
Choreographer (uncredited)
tvAmerican Idol
2002
Self - Judge
tvThe Bernie Mac Show
2001
Paula Abdul
movieThe Waiting Game
2001
Amy Fuentes
movieMr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story
1999
Denise Walton
tvFamily Guy
1999
Paula Abdul (voice)
tvThe View
1997
Self
movieTouched By Evil
1997
Ellen Collier
tvSabrina, the Teenage Witch
1996
Paula Abdul
tvSpin City
1996
Paula Abdul
movieSinatra: 80 Years My Way
1995
Self - Performer
tvThe Single Guy
1995
Paula Abdul
tvAll That
1994
Self
tvLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
Self - Guest
movieL.A. Story
1991
Roller Skater in Front of Tail O' the Pup (uncredited)
movieCan't Buy Me Love
1987
Dancer (uncredited)
movieA Smoky Mountain Christmas
1986
Choreographer (uncredited)
tvAl TV
1984
Self
moviePrivate School
1983
Cheerleader (uncredited)
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Self (uncredited)
tvAmerican Music Awards
1974
Self - Presenter
tvToday
1952
Self
Crew14
movie1660 Vine
2022
Choreographer
movieThe Master of Disguise
2002
Choreographer
movieBlack Knight
2001
Choreographer
movieAmerican Beauty
1999
Choreographer
movieThe Doors
1991
Choreographer
movieThe Karate Kid Part III
1989
Choreographer
movieWar Dancing - Dance to Win
1989
Choreographer
movieShe's Out of Control
1989
Choreographer
movieComing to America
1988
Choreographer
movieAction Jackson
1988
Choreographer
movieThe Running Man
1987
Choreographer
movieCan't Buy Me Love
1987
Choreographer
movieA Smoky Mountain Christmas
1986
Choreographer
Production2
tvLive to Dance
2011
Producer
tvSo You Think You Can Dance
2005
Executive Producer
Sound1
tvSo You Think You Can Dance
2005
Music Programmer, Music Sound Design and Processing