Acting · San Fernando, California, USA · Born June 19, 1962
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.
MovieRaging Midlife
2025
as Mary Todd
TVThe Golden Bachelor
2023
as Self - Guest
TVThe Muppets Mayhem
2023
as Paula Abdul
TVThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
as Self - Guest
MovieJanet Jackson: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits
2022
Movie2022 American Rescue Dog Show
2022
as Self - Judge
MovieChip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
2022
as 3-D Reporter / Paula Abdul
TVJANET JACKSON.
2022
as Self
TVParis in Love
2021
as Self
TVSecret Celebrity Renovation
2021
as Self
TVMade for Love
2021
as Anydoors
TVThis Is Pop
2021
as Self (archive footage)
TVCelebrity Wheel of Fortune
2021
as Self - Contestant
TVThe Masked Dancer
2020
as Self - Panelist
TVCanada's Drag Race
2020
as Self - Guest Judge
TVImpractical Jokers: Dinner Party
2020
as Self
TVCelebrity Ghost Stories
2020
as Self
MovieBest Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt's Creek Farewell
2020
as Self
MovieImpractical Jokers: The Movie
2020
as Paula Abdul
TVThe Movies That Made Us
2019
as Self
TVA Little Late with Lilly Singh
2019
as Self
TVThe Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
TVRuPaul
2019
as Self
MovieA Sister's Secret
2018
as Detective Tucker
MovieHoward
2018
as Self (archive footage)
TVAmerican Idol
2018
as Self - Guest Judge
TVSteve
2017
as Self
TVThe Nineties
2017
as Self (archive footage)
TVLip Sync Battle
2015
as Self
TVFresh Off the Boat
2015
as Holly
TVThe Arsenio Hall Show
2013
as Self
MovieSingin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation
2012
as Self
TVImpractical Jokers
2011
as Self
TVThe X Factor
2011
as Self - Judge
TVLive to Dance
2011
TVThe Talk
2010
as Self
MovieVH1 Divas 2009
2009
as Self - Host
TVThe Jay Leno Show
2009
as Self
MovieWaking Sleeping Beauty
2009
as Self (archive footage)
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
TVDrop Dead Diva
2009
as Judge Paula
MovieBrüno
2009
as Self - American Idol Judge
TV2009 Game Show Awards
2009
as Self (archive footage)
MovieFamily Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie
2009
as Paula Abdul (voice)
TVThe Streamy Awards
2009
as Self - Presenter
TVRuPaul's Drag Race
2009
as Self - Guest Judge
TVHey Paula
2007
as Self
MovieAnnie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
2007
as Self (archive footage)
TVLet's Dance
2006
MovieLife Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story
2006
as Self
MovieAmerican Idol: The Best of Seasons 1-4
2005
as Self - Judge (archive footage)
MovieAmerican Idol: The Worst of Seasons 1-4
2005
as Self - Judge
The Reichen Show
2005
as Self - Guest
TVSo You Think You Can Dance
2005
TVDancing with the Stars
2005
as Self - Guest Judge
MovieRomy and Michele: In the Beginning
2005
as Paula Abdul
TVHell's Kitchen
2005
as Self - Restaurant Patron
MovieRobots
2005
as Watch (voice)
TVThe Friday Night Project
2005
as Self - Host
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self
TVOn Air with Ryan Seacrest
2004
as Self
TVAll of Us
2003
as Self
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
MovieSaturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 5
2003
as Self
TVCelebrities Uncensored
2003
as Self
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
TVThat's So Raven
2003
as The Host
MovieSesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves
2003
as Self
TVLess than Perfect
2002
as Kathleen
MoviePower Girls
2002
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Master of Disguise
2002
as Choreographer (uncredited)
TVAmerican Idol
2002
as Self - Judge
MovieAmerican Idol: The Search For A Superstar
2002
as Judge
TVThe Bernie Mac Show
2001
as Paula Abdul
Good Day Live
2001
as Self
MovieThe Waiting Game
2001
as Amy Fuentes
MoviePaula Abdul Cardio Dance
2000
as Self
MovieMr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story
1999
as Denise Walton
TVThe Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self
TVFamily Guy
1999
as Paula Abdul (voice)
TVTRL
1998
TVThe View
1997
as Self
MovieTouched By Evil
1997
as Ellen Collier
TVSabrina, the Teenage Witch
1996
as Paula Abdul
TVSpin City
1996
as Paula Abdul
TVE! True Hollywood Story
1996
as Self
TVThe Daily Show
1996
as Self
TVMuppets Tonight
1996
as Self
MovieSinatra: 80 Years My Way
1995
as Self - Performer
TVThe Single Guy
1995
as Paula Abdul
TVThe Wayans Bros.
1995
as Sasha
TVCybill
1995
TVAll That
1994
as Self
MoviePaula Abdul's Get Up & Dance
1994
as Self
TVLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
MovieFor Our Children
1993
as Self
MovieTime Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You
1992
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
as Self
MoviePaula Abdul: Under My Spell Live
1992
as Self
MovieL.A. Story
1991
as Roller Skater in Front of Tail O' the Pup (uncredited)
MovieBarbie Dance Club
1989
as Self
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self
TVGoing Live!
1987
as Self
TVSacrée soirée
1987
as Self
MovieCan't Buy Me Love
1987
as Dancer (uncredited)
TVThe Tracey Ullman Show
1987
MovieA Smoky Mountain Christmas
1986
as Choreographer (uncredited)
TVMTV Video Music Awards
1984
as Self
TVAl TV
1984
as Self
MoviePrivate School
1983
as Cheerleader (uncredited)
TVChamps-Elysées
1982
as Self
TVEntertainment Tonight
1981
Junior High School
1978
as Sherry
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self (uncredited)
TVAmerican Music Awards
1974
as Self - Presenter
TVToday
1952
as Self
