Whoopi Goldberg’s Mother Dies

The new season of The View got off to a somber start for Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg.

The outspoken television personality’s beloved mother, Emma Johnson, passed away Aug. 29 after suffering a stroke a few days earlier. Goldberg, who had been appearing in the London theatre production of Sister Act, cut short her run aftr learning of her mom’s illness and was by her side when she died.

“My mom passed on the 29th of August,” Goldberg told viewers Tuesday.

She went on to call her mom, a teacher, “one of the best people I think I’ve had the privilege of knowing.”

Goldberg added: “I don’t think she quite realized how many lives she touched. She was an extraordinary woman. My brother and I were very, very lucky to have her in our lives. And so, I’m not sad because she had a great time… I think I’m just sad sometimes because I think who will love me the way that she did? But I realized that my brother and I have each other so we’re OK.”