Paula Abdul
Actor
Born June 19, 1962 in San Fernando, California, USA
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.
Filmography
Raging Midlife
Mary Todd
The Golden Bachelor
Self - Guest
The Muppets Mayhem
Paula Abdul
1660 Vine
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self - Guest
Janet Jackson: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits
2022 American Rescue Dog Show
Self - Judge
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
3-D Reporter / Paula Abdul
JANET JACKSON.
Self
Paris in Love
Self
Secret Celebrity Renovation
Self
Made for Love
Anydoors
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant
The Masked Dancer
Self - Panelist
Canada's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge
Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party
Self
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self
Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt's Creek Farewell
Self
Impractical Jokers: The Movie
Paula Abdul
The Movies That Made Us
Self
A Little Late with Lilly Singh
Self
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
RuPaul
Self
A Sister's Secret
Detective Tucker
Howard
Self (archive footage)
American Idol
Self - Guest Judge
Steve
Self
The Nineties
Self (archive footage)
Lip Sync Battle
Self
Fresh Off the Boat
Holly
The Arsenio Hall Show
Self
Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation
Self
Impractical Jokers
Self
The X Factor
Self - Judge
Live to Dance
The Talk
Self
VH1 Divas 2009
Self - Host
The Jay Leno Show
Self
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Self (archive footage)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
Drop Dead Diva
Judge Paula
Brüno
Self - American Idol Judge
2009 Game Show Awards
Self (archive footage)
Family Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie
Paula Abdul (voice)
The Streamy Awards
Self - Presenter
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge
Hey Paula
Self
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
Self (archive footage)
Let's Dance
Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story
Self
American Idol: The Best of Seasons 1-4
Self - Judge (archive footage)
American Idol: The Worst of Seasons 1-4
Self - Judge
The Reichen Show
Self - Guest
So You Think You Can Dance
Dancing with the Stars
Self - Guest Judge
Romy and Michele: In the Beginning
Paula Abdul
Hell's Kitchen
Self - Restaurant Patron
Robots
Watch (voice)
The Friday Night Project
Self - Host
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self
All of Us
Self
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 5
Self
Celebrities Uncensored
Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
That's So Raven
The Host
Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves
Self
Less than Perfect
Kathleen
Power Girls
Self (archive footage)
The Master of Disguise
Choreographer (uncredited)
American Idol
Self - Judge
American Idol: The Search For A Superstar
Judge
Black Knight
The Bernie Mac Show
Paula Abdul
The Waiting Game
Amy Fuentes
Paula Abdul Cardio Dance
Self
Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story
Denise Walton
American Beauty
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self
Family Guy
Paula Abdul (voice)
TRL
The View
Self
Touched By Evil
Ellen Collier
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Paula Abdul
Spin City
Paula Abdul
E! True Hollywood Story
Self
The Daily Show
Self
Muppets Tonight
Self
Sinatra: 80 Years My Way
Self - Performer
The Single Guy
Paula Abdul
The Wayans Bros.
Sasha
Cybill
All That
Self
Paula Abdul's Get Up & Dance
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
For Our Children
Self
Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You
Self
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self
Paula Abdul: Under My Spell Live
Self
The Doors
L.A. Story
Roller Skater in Front of Tail O' the Pup (uncredited)
The Karate Kid Part III
War Dancing - Dance to Win
She's Out of Control
Barbie Dance Club
Self
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self
Coming to America
Action Jackson
The Running Man
Going Live!
Self
Sacrée soirée
Self
Can't Buy Me Love
Dancer (uncredited)
The Tracey Ullman Show
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
Choreographer (uncredited)
The Jacksons Live in Toronto 1984 - Victory Tour
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
Al TV
Self
Private School
Cheerleader (uncredited)
Champs-Elysées
Self
Entertainment Tonight
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
American Music Awards
Self - Presenter
Today
Self