Paula Abdul
Biography
Paula Julie Abdul was born on June 19, 1962, in San Fernando, California. She 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 during the music video era and signed with Virgin Records. Her debut studio album, Forever Your Girl, was released in 1988. In her career, she appeared as herself in the reality series Hey Paula in 2007 and launched the talent competition Live to Dance in 2011.
Career overview
Paula Julie Abdul was born on June 19, 1962, in San Fernando, California. She is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. Abdul 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 was subsequently signed to Virgin Records. Her debut studio album, Forever Your Girl, was released in 1988 and 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 1 hits.
Throughout her career, Abdul has accumulated known acting credits and appeared as herself in the reality series Hey Paula, which aired in 2007. In 2011, she launched the talent competition Live to Dance. Her television and film presence also includes being the subject of the television film Paula Abdul: The E! True Hollywood Story in 2003.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
136 titles- Raging Midlife (2025) as Mary Todd
- The Muppets Mayhem (2023) as Paula Abdul
- The Golden Bachelor (2023) as Self - Guest
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self - Guest
- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) as 3-D Reporter / Paula Abdul
- JANET JACKSON. (2022) as Self
- Janet Jackson: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits (2022)
- 2022 American Rescue Dog Show (2022) as Self - Judge
- 1660 Vine (2022) Choreographer
- Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (2021) as Self - Contestant
- Made for Love (2021) as Anydoors
- This Is Pop (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Paris in Love (2021) as Self
- Secret Celebrity Renovation (2021) as Self
- Canada's Drag Race (2020) as Self - Guest Judge
- Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party (2020) as Self
- The Masked Dancer (2020) as Self - Panelist
- Celebrity Ghost Stories (2020) as Self
- Impractical Jokers: The Movie (2020) as Paula Abdul
- Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt's Creek Farewell (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- The Movies That Made Us (2019) as Self
- RuPaul (2019) as Self
- American Idol (2018) as Self - Guest Judge
- Howard (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- A Sister's Secret (2018) as Detective Tucker
- Steve (2017) as Self
- The Nineties (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Fresh Off the Boat (2015) as Holly
- Lip Sync Battle (2015) as Self
- The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) as Self
- Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation (2012) as Self
- Impractical Jokers (2011) as Self
- The X Factor (2011) as Self - Judge
- Live to Dance (2011)
- Live to Dance (2011) Producer
- The Talk (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Guest Judge
- Drop Dead Diva (2009) as Judge Paula
- The Jay Leno Show (2009) as Self
- Brüno (2009) as Self - American Idol Judge
- Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- The Streamy Awards (2009) as Self - Presenter
- VH1 Divas 2009 (2009) as Self - Host
- 2009 Game Show Awards (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Family Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie (2009) as Paula Abdul (voice)
- Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens (2007) as Self (archive footage)
- Hey Paula (2007) as Self
- Let's Dance (2006)
- Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story (2006) as Self
- Dancing with the Stars (2005) as Self - Guest Judge
- Hell's Kitchen (2005) as Self - Restaurant Patron
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self - Guest
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005)
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005) as Self - Judge
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005) Executive Producer
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005) Music Programmer
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005) Music Sound Design and Processing
- Robots (2005) as Watch (voice)
- Romy and Michele: In the Beginning (2005) as Paula Abdul
- The Friday Night Project (2005) as Self - Host
- American Idol: The Worst of Seasons 1-4 (2005) as Self - Judge
- American Idol: The Best of Seasons 1-4 (2005) as Self - Judge (archive footage)
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest (2004) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- That's So Raven (2003) as The Host
- All of Us (2003) as Self
- Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves (2003) as Self
- Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 5 (2003) as Self
- Celebrities Uncensored (2003) as Self
- American Idol (2002) as Self - Judge
- Less than Perfect (2002) as Kathleen
- The Master of Disguise (2002) as Choreographer (uncredited)
- The Master of Disguise (2002) Choreographer
- Power Girls (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- American Idol: The Search For A Superstar (2002) as Judge
- Good Day Live (2001) as Self
- The Bernie Mac Show (2001) as Paula Abdul
- Black Knight (2001) Choreographer
- The Waiting Game (2001) as Amy Fuentes
- Paula Abdul Cardio Dance (2000) as Self
- Family Guy (1999) as Paula Abdul (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self
- American Beauty (1999) Choreographer
- Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story (1999) as Denise Walton
- TRL (1998)
- The View (1997) as Self
- Touched By Evil (1997) as Ellen Collier
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996) as Paula Abdul
- Spin City (1996) as Paula Abdul
- Muppets Tonight (1996) as Self
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996) as Self
- The Wayans Bros. (1995) as Sasha
- Cybill (1995)
- The Single Guy (1995) as Paula Abdul
- Sinatra: 80 Years My Way (1995) as Self - Performer
- All That (1994) as Self
- Paula Abdul's Get Up & Dance (1994) as Self
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- For Our Children (1993) as Self
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self
- Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You (1992) as Self
- Paula Abdul: Under My Spell Live (1992) as Self
- The Doors (1991) Choreographer
- L.A. Story (1991) as Roller Skater in Front of Tail O' the Pup (uncredited)
- The Karate Kid Part III (1989) Choreographer
- She's Out of Control (1989) Choreographer
- Barbie Dance Club (1989) as Self
- War Dancing - Dance to Win (1989) Choreographer
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- Coming to America (1988) Choreographer
- Action Jackson (1988) Choreographer
- Sacrée soirée (1987) as Self
- Going Live! (1987) as Self
- The Tracey Ullman Show (1987)
- The Running Man (1987) Choreographer
- Can't Buy Me Love (1987) as Dancer (uncredited)
- Can't Buy Me Love (1987) Choreographer
- A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986) as Choreographer (uncredited)
- A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986) Choreographer
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Self
- Al TV (1984) as Self
- The Jacksons Live in Toronto 1984 - Victory Tour (1984) Choreographer
- Private School (1983) as Cheerleader (uncredited)
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981)
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Junior High School (1978) as Sherry
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
- American Music Awards (1974) as Self - Presenter
- Today (1952) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Paula Abdul best known for?
Paula Abdul is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Muppets Mayhem (2023), The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022), Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022), Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (2021).
When and where was Paula Abdul born?
Paula Abdul was born on June 19, 1962 in San Fernando, California, USA.
How many credits does Paula Abdul have?
Paula Abdul has accumulated over 136 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1952 to 2025.
What is Paula Abdul's background in cinema and television?
Paula Julie Abdul was born on June 19, 1962, in San Fernando, California. She 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 di...