**Whoopi Goldberg Makes a Surprise Cameo in The Color Purple 2023**
The Color Purple director Blitz Bazawule and his star-studded cast made a special trip to visit “The View” and Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in the 1985 film adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic novel, ahead of the musical movie’s Christmas Day release. “The Color Purple” is a sacred story, with a brilliant, Pulitzer Prize-winning book and an incredible cinematic classic,” said Bazawule, explaining why he signed on for the film. Goldberg was visibly touched by the praise, especially because the cast and crew revealed a special surprise for her during their visit.
Goldberg’s role in the 1985 film marked her big-screen debut, and now, almost 40 years later, she makes a touching and tasteful cameo in the 2023 film. The surprise appearance of Goldberg, who plays the local midwife, is a touching tribute to the original film and an homage to her iconic role as Celie. This cameo is a way for the new cast of “The Color Purple” to be connected with the original, and it symbolically passes the torch from Goldberg to the next generation of Celies in the movie.
Bazawule and screenwriter Marcus Gardley had gone back and forth about how to best incorporate Goldberg into the story, and they settled on the midwife role because of its symbolic meaning. The co-producer, Quincy Jones, and Oprah Winfrey, who starred in the original film, were also behind the adaptation, carrying on the legacy of the 1985 movie.
Goldberg’s involvement was kept a secret until after the film hit theaters, and only a few key crew members were aware of her role. The decision to keep her cameo under wraps was intentional, and it was revealed that Goldberg herself was not mentioned in any press and remained uncredited for the role.
This surprise cameo marks yet another way that the 2023 film carries on the legacy of the 1985 movie, providing a wonderful Easter egg for audiences who have appreciated the film over the years. Oprah Winfrey described the cameo as a lovely homage to Whoopi and declined to make a cameo herself, feeling it would be more special if it was just Goldberg.
Bazawule had made a nervous call to Goldberg to offer her the part and was met with a warm response, ensuring that the only way she wouldn’t be there was if she got hit by a bus. The heartfelt response from Goldberg and the warm reception she gave the crew during their “View” appearance suggests that she is pleased with her cameo.
The surprising reveal of Goldberg’s cameo cements the timeless and powerful nature of “The Color Purple,” continuing to honor Walker’s story through the careful handling and meaningful tributes in the latest iteration of the beloved classic.