Biography
Who is Paula Abdul?
Early life and real name
Paula Julie Abdul was born in San Fernando, California, on June 19, 1962. Her father, Harry Abdul, was a Syrian Jew born in Aleppo who moved to the United States after living in Brazil. Her mother, Lorraine Rykiss, worked as a concert pianist and came from Minnedosa, Canada. Paula grew up with an older sister named Wendy and attended Van Nuys High School. During her teenage years, she became an honor student and a cheerleader. She was inspired to pursue a career in show business after watching Gene Kelly in the movie Singin' in the Rain.
How Paula became famous
The Jacksons hired Paula to choreograph the music video for their song Torture. This opportunity launched her career as a top choreographer during the rise of the music video era. She worked on several famous projects for Janet Jackson, including the videos for Nasty and What Have You Done for Me Lately. Beyond music videos, she provided choreography for major films such as The Running Man, Coming to America, and Big. She eventually signed a recording contract with Virgin Records to pursue her own singing career.
Television career and later work
In 2002, Paula took on a new role as an original judge on the reality competition series American Idol. She remained on the panel for eight seasons alongside Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Her presence on the show helped make it a television hit and introduced her to a new generation of fans. Following her departure from the show in 2009, she appeared as a judge on other dance and music programs. These included The X Factor, Live to Dance, So You Think You Can Dance, and The Masked Dancer.
Family and relationships
Paula has been involved in several high-profile relationships throughout her time in the public eye. She was previously married to actor Emilio Estevez. In addition to her marriage, she was also in a relationship with musician Jackie Jackson. Her family background remains an important part of her history, with her parents coming from diverse international backgrounds in Syria and Canada. She often speaks about her early training in ballet, jazz, and tap dance as the foundation for her professional success.
Birthday and age
Paula Abdul was born on June 19, 1962, which makes Paula 64 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Paula shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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