Ellen DeGeneres and Laura Dern Discussing the Puppy Episode

Ellen DeGeneres came out in 1997, both in real life and on TV, on her sitcom "Ellen."

"The Puppy Episode," which aired in April 1997, featured a who's who of Hollywood, including Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore, Billy Bob Thornton, and Laura Dern as Ellen's love interest.

DeGeneres's character became the first openly gay prime time character on television.