Known for 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.
Born
June 19, 1962 (age 64)
Birthplace
San Fernando, California, USA
Filmography
53 films, 82 shows


1660 Vine
2022 · 2h 15m
country: United States
A group of influencers in a famed Hollywood apartment building pursue their dreams of social media stardom. The residents of 1660 Vine confront questions of fame, influence, identity, and mental health. All the while, the residents update their followers through vlogs, gaming streams, makeup tutorials, TikTok dances, songs, and pranks, as they navigate their search for identity, discovering the difference between who they present themselves to be, and who they really are.


The Master of Disguise
2002 · 1h 20m
country: United States
After the patriarch of the Disguisey family is kidnapped by Devlin Bowman in an attempt to steal the most precious treasures from around the world, Italian waiter Pistachio Disguisey utilizes his supernatural ability to disguise himself in an attempt to stop him.


Black Knight
2001 · 1h 35m
country: United States
After nearly drowning, an employee working at a medieval amusement park awakens to find himself in 14th century England.


American Beauty
1999 · 2h 2m
country: United States
Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.


The Doors
1991 · 2h 20m
country: United States
The story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison.


The Karate Kid Part III
1989 · 1h 52m
country: United States
Despondent over the closing of his karate school, Cobra Kai teacher John Kreese joins a ruthless businessman and martial artist to get revenge on Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.


War Dancing - Dance to Win
1989 · 1h 41m
country: Germany
War Dancing tells the tale of Slammer, a small-time hood whose life changes when he is allowed to take part in a music video shoot. He begins to feel that a career in music might get him on the right track, but the video's choreographer dismisses Slammer's attempts at dancing. This gives Slammer the righteous anger he needs to improve his skills and show everybody he can besuccessful.


She's Out of Control
1989 · 1h 37m
country: United States
A Los Angeles radio-station manager's girlfriend shows his teenage daughter how to be sexy.


Coming to America
1988 · 1h 57m
country: United States
An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble.


Action Jackson
1988 · 1h 36m
country: United States
Vengeance drives a tough Detroit cop to stay on the trail of a power hungry auto magnate who's systematically eliminating his competition.


The Running Man
1987 · 1h 41m
country: United States
By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of game shows in which convicted criminals fight for their lives, including the gladiator-style The Running Man, hosted by the ruthless Damon Killian, where “runners” attempt to evade “stalkers” and certain death for a chance to be pardoned and set free.


Can't Buy Me Love
1987 · 1h 34m
country: United States
Nerdy high schooler Ronald Miller rescues cheerleader Cindy Mancini from parental punishment after she accidentally destroys her mother's designer clothes. Ronald agrees to pay for the $1,000 outfit on one condition: that she will act as though they're a couple for an entire month. As the days pass, however, Cindy grows fond of Ronald, making him popular. But when Ronald's former best friend gets left behind, he realizes that social success isn't everything.


A Smoky Mountain Christmas
1986 · 1h 34m
country: United States
A country-western singer on a trip through the Tennessee mountains runs into a reclusive backwoodsman — and a witch.


The Jacksons - Victory Tour Toronto
1984 · 1h 54m
country: United States
The Victory Tour was a concert tour of the United States and Canada by The Jacksons between July and December 1984. It was the first and only tour with all six Jackson brothers (even though Jackie was injured for most of the tour). The group performed 55 concerts to an audience of approximately 2 million. Most came to see Michael Jackson, whose album Thriller was dominating the popular music world at the time.