what motivated Ellen DeGeneres to be a comedian?

Answer 1

She is hilarious and all her friends kept telling her--you should be a comedian!

Handy, dandy Wikipedia tells about her and gives a thumbnail description of why she does what she does:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_DeGeneres

Stand-up comedy

Whenever DeGeneres' friends put together a show or party, she was asked to do a comedy routine. She did an act and was soon asked to perform as a stand-up comedian at small clubs and coffeehouses, and eventually became the emcee at Clyde's Comedy Club (the only comedy place in New Orleans at the time). While working at Clyde's in 1981, DeGeneres recorded her club performances.

After traveling around the United States performing her comedy act, she was chosen in a national competition in 1982 by the cable channel Showtime as the funniest person in America. She then appeared on late night television and comedy programs.

Soon afterward, DeGeneres was invited to perform on the Tonight Show by booking agent/Producer Jim McCawley for her first appearance in 1986. She was the first woman to ever be asked over to the couch to visit with Johnny Carson on her first visit. Jim McCawley truly believed that she was going to be a hit and often spoke in praise of her when her name was mentioned.

She also appeared as a stand-up comedian as early as on the HBO Tenth Annual Young Comedians special, where she was introduced as an up-and-coming talent by Young Comedians show veteran Harry Anderson.

Before getting her own show, DeGeneres began her television career on the short-lived TV sitcom Open House (1989-1990) and Laurie Hill (1992).

DeGeneres has also performed two HBO stand-up specials. The first was called Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning (2000) and was taped live at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Her most recent one, which was taped in the same location, was entitled Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now (2003). After she began her talk show, Degeneres said she would no longer do stand-up shows and tours

Answer 2

Sometimes I wonder if tragedy in a person's life has some effect. In other words, if a person was facing a personal crisis, eventually they might just give in and say, what the hell... I may as well have fun with it, because if they can see the humor something that could be so devastating, then they could see the humor in lesser things, as well.

Answer 3

saturday night live, and her friends would always say she should try to be 1

Answer 4

when she hit pubertry and realized that she looks and acts like a man.

Answer 5

She is in it for the chicks.

Answer 6

She ain't funny, just gay.

Answer 7

lesbian truck drivers!