Ellen DeGeneres was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1958 and spent her early years in the American South. In the early 1970s, after her parents separated, she moved with her mother to England, living there for about a year before returning to the United States. She was primarily raised in Metairie, Louisiana, and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy and entertainment. The following explains when she moved to England, the circumstances around that move, and the residences that shaped her early life.
Early Life and Childhood in New Orleans
Ellen Lee DeGeneres was born on January 26, 1958, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She grew up in a working-class family; her mother, Betty DeGeneres, worked as a speech therapist, and her father, Elliott DeGeneres, was an insurance agent. Much of her childhood was spent in New Orleans and nearby areas, where she attended school and began performing in small venues. The stability of her early years in Louisiana changed after her parents separated, prompting a significant relocation that would shape the next phase of her childhood.
Move to England in the Early 1970s
In the early 1970s, following her parents' separation, Ellen moved with her mother to England. The family lived there for approximately one year, during which time Ellen attended a local school and experienced life outside the United States. This period provided a brief interlude in her upbringing before she returned to the United States. The move was tied to family circumstances rather than career ambitions, as she was still a teenager and years away from entering professional comedy. Sources generally agree that she was in her early teens at the time of the move, placing the transition around 1972 or 1973.
Context and Duration of the England Stay
- Timing: Early 1970s, when Ellen was in her early teens
- Duration: Roughly one year
- Reason: Family relocation after parental separation
- Location: England, specific city not widely documented in major biographies
Return to the United States and Upbringing in Louisiana
After her time in England, Ellen returned to the United States and was primarily raised in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. She attended Grace King High School in Metairie and later began performing at small clubs and coffeehouses in the area. Her stand-up career began in the late 1970s and early 1980s, well after her return from England. The experience in England was brief and did not directly influence her comedic style, which developed through local performances in the Southern United States.
Move to Los Angeles and Career Launch
In the early 1980s, Ellen moved to Los Angeles to advance her comedy career. She performed at The Improv and other clubs, gradually building a following. This relocation marked a turning point, leading to television appearances, her sitcom, and eventually her long-running daytime talk show. Unlike the move to England, the shift to Los Angeles was directly tied to her professional goals and growth as a comedian.
Key Dates and Places in Ellen DeGeneres's Early Life
| Date or Period | Location | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 26, 1958 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | Birth | Estabakes her origin and early context |
| Early 1970s (approx. 1972–1973) | England | Move with mother after parental separation | Brief family-driven relocation; lasted about one year |
| Mid-1970s | Metairie, Louisiana, United States | Return and high school years | Return to U.S. completed her secondary education |
| Early 1980s | Los Angeles, California, United States | Move to pursue comedy career | Catalyst for professional stand-up and television work |
Clarifying Common Questions
Because Ellen DeGeneres's early life includes a brief international move, some reports conflate timelines or overstate the significance of the England period. In reality, her time in England was short and rooted in family changes rather than career pursuits. She has not lived in England as an adult and maintains strong ties to Louisiana in her personal history. Clarifying these points helps separate biographical fact from speculation about how long she lived abroad and why.
Summary
Ellen DeGeneres moved to England in the early 1970s, when she was a teenager, after her parents separated. She lived there for about one year before returning to the United States, where she grew up in Metairie, Louisiana, and later moved to Los Angeles to build her entertainment career. The move to England was brief and family-driven, not related to her later professional success. Understanding when Ellen DeGeneres moved to England provides clarity on an often-overlapping period in her early biography.