Kimmelot
Jimmy Kimmel | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Christian Kimmel November 13, 1967 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, television presenter |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | Host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! |
James Christian Kimmel (born November 13, 1967) is an American comedian and television presenter, primarily recognized for hosting and executive producing Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which has been broadcast on ABC since 2003. He has served as the host for the Primetime Emmy Award ceremonies three times (2012, 2016, 2020) and has emceed the Academy Awards on four occasions (2017, 2018, 2023, 2024).
Prior to launching Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel co-hosted shows such as The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money on Comedy Central. His production credits include programs like Crank Yankers, Sports Show with Norm Macdonald, and The Andy Milonakis Show. In 2018, he was listed among the world's 100 most influential individuals by Time. With a career spanning 23 seasons, Kimmel holds the longest ongoing tenure among U.S. late-night hosts, second only to Johnny Carson’s 30 seasons on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In 2025, following controversial comments made during a monologue, ABC imposed a one-week suspension on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Early life and family
James Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and raised in the Mill Basin area. He is the oldest of three children born to Joan (née Iacono) and James John Kimmel, who held positions at American Express and as an executive at IBM. Raised in the Catholic faith, he participated as an altar boy during his youth. His mother’s lineage is Italian, with grandparents who emigrated from Ischia, near Naples, following the 1883 earthquake. On his father's side, two great-great-grandparents were German immigrants; originally the family surname was . In 2025, Kimmel acquired Italian citizenship.
Kimmel attended P.S. 236 before relocating with his family to Las Vegas at age nine. There he developed a friendship with neighbor Cleto Escobedo III, who later became bandleader for Jimmy Kimmel Live!. After graduating from Ed W. Clark High School, he enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for a year before transferring to Arizona. During 1985–86, he studied at Arizona State University but did not complete his degree. UNLV honored him with an honorary degree in 2013.
His uncle, Frank Potenza, affectionately known as "Uncle Frank," appeared regularly on Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its inception in 2003 until his passing in 2011. Cousin Sal Iacono co-hosted Win Ben Stein's Money and later became a writer and performer on Kimmel’s show. Aunt Chippy (Concetta Potenza) also made appearances on the program. His brother Jonathan serves as a director on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, while his sister Jill pursues a career in comedy.
Radio career
Motivated by David Letterman’s beginnings in radio, Kimmel started working in radio during his high school years by hosting a Sunday night interview program on UNLV's station, KUNV. While attending Arizona State University, he gained popularity as a frequent caller to the afternoon show on KZZP-FM in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1989, he landed his first paid position co-hosting The Me and Him Show alongside Kent Voss on Seattle’s KZOK-FM. Their on-air antics included a stunt that resulted in the station losing an $8,000 advertising deal with the Seattle Mariners.
In 1990, both Kimmel and Voss were dismissed from KZOK and faced termination again a year later at Tampa’s WRBQ-FM. Subsequently, Kimmel hosted his own program at Palm Springs’ KCMJ, where he brought aboard intern Carson Daly, a longtime acquaintance of his family. After holding a morning show slot at Tucson’s KRQQ, he joined Los Angeles’ KROQ-FM, spending five years as "Jimmy The Sports Guy" on the Kevin and Bean morning program. It was there that he met comedian Adam Carolla, with whom he developed a friendship.
Comedy Central
Kimmel initially steered clear of appearing on television, beginning his career as a writer for Fox announcers before transitioning to on-air promotional work. He turned down multiple television opportunities until 1997, when he joined Comedy Central's Win Ben Stein's Money as the humorous counterpart to Ben Stein. Their partnership earned them an Emmy Award for Best Game Show Host.
While still involved with Win Ben Stein's Money in 1999, Kimmel co-hosted and co-produced Comedy Central's The Man Show alongside Adam Carolla and Daniel Kellison. After departing from Win Ben Stein's Money in 2001, he concentrated on The Man Show, which eventually led to the establishment of Jackhole Productions and the development of programs such as Crank Yankers—in which Kimmel lent his voice to several characters—and MTV2's The Andy Milonakis Show. Additionally, he produced and co-wrote the feature film Windy City Heat, which received the Comedia Award at the 2004 Montreal Comedy Festival.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In January 2003, Kimmel left The Man Show to take over as host of ABC’s late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, succeeding Politically Incorrect after its cancellation in 2002. The program rapidly established itself as a key component of ABC’s late-night schedule.
Despite its title, the show ceased broadcasting live episodes after 2004 due to censorship complications. That same year, ABC pulled an episode following Kimmel’s contentious remarks about Detroit during the NBA Finals, leading to a formal apology.
A recurring joke featured Kimmel concluding episodes with the phrase "My apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time," sparking a long-lasting fictional feud that included viral parody clips with numerous celebrities, significantly boosting the show's cultural impact.
In October 2013, a "Kids Table" segment sparked controversy and protests over racially insensitive content, prompting calls for apologies from both ABC and Kimmel. Despite issuing apologies, criticism persisted, including a White House petition and condemnation from Congress.
During the social justice protests of 2020, Kimmel expressed remorse for past sketches on The Man Show involving blackface and for racial slurs in a 1996 song. Additionally, resurfaced footage from a 2009 interview with Megan Fox containing crude comments drew further criticism.
Kimmel renewed his contract with ABC through the 2025–26 season but contemplated ending the show prior to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild strikes. Following the 2016 presidential election, he informed ABC that he would resign if prohibited from satirizing Donald Trump, underscoring his dedication to political humor despite losing viewers. The ongoing Kimmel-Trump rivalry began in 2015 and remains a defining element of his public image.
He has frequently utilized his platform for political satire, including mocking Trump during the 2024 Oscars. Furthermore, Kimmel publicly defended Stephen Colbert after Colbert’s late-night show was canceled, criticizing Paramount’s justification as "nonsensical."
Suspension and reinstatement
On September 15, 2025, during his monologue, Kimmel criticized responses to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, accusing MAGA supporters of attempting to disassociate themselves from the shooter and exploit the incident for political gain. At that time, the FBI had not released information regarding the shooter's political affiliations; however, his mother suggested he had shifted toward left-leaning views. Kimmel also disparaged former President Trump's reaction to Kirk's death.
Although planning to address the controversy on September 17, Kimmel declined to apologize, asserting that his statements had been misrepresented. On that day, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr denounced Kimmel’s remarks as "some of the sickest conduct possible" and threatened regulatory measures against ABC and The Walt Disney Company. Subsequently, Nexstar Media Group removed Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its ABC affiliates’ lineups, while ABC suspended the show indefinitely—a decision reportedly made by Disney CEO Bob Iger and television chief Dana Walden.
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez defended Kimmel’s speech rights under the First Amendment, whereas President Donald Trump endorsed Carr’s position, drawing criticism from Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. Support for Kimmel came from fellow late-night hosts such as Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jon Stewart, alongside labor organizations including IATSE, DGA, AFM, and SAG-AFTRA. Over 400 artists signed an ACLU letter advocating free expression. Some conservative commentators acknowledged limits on speech within network television. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner condemned FCC intimidation efforts; Republican Senator Ted Cruz, responsible for FCC oversight, voiced similar concerns.
Following Carr’s statements, Disney employees received threats, elevating safety concerns among staff and advertisers. On September 22, after discussions with Kimmel, Disney announced the show’s return while acknowledging some comments were "ill-timed and thus insensitive," noting the suspension aimed to prevent further escalation. However, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar initially refused to resume airing the program, opting instead for news content. Both broadcasters ended their boycott by September 26.
After returning from suspension, Kimmel’s audience numbers stabilized and returned to levels seen before the controversy.
Additional Television Engagements, 1996–2020
In the spring of 1996, Kimmel took on the role of "Jimmy the Fox Guy" in promotional spots for the Fox Network and served as the on-air football analyst for Fox NFL Sunday over a span of four years. His presence has been notable on various talk shows, including appearances on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Howard Stern Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Late Show with David Letterman.
Kimmel has acted as roastmaster for prestigious events such as the New York Friars' Club Roast honoring Hugh Hefner and the Comedy Central Roast featuring Pamela Anderson. Additionally, he participated as a contestant on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. In August 2006, ABC announced Kimmel as the host for the game show Set for Life, which premiered on July 20, 2007. He temporarily replaced Larry King on Larry King Live in April 2007, addressing issues related to paparazzi. That same year, Kimmel captained the National League team during the 2007 Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game and co-hosted the 2007 ESPY Awards alongside LeBron James. Between 2003 and 2008, he hosted the American Music Awards on ABC on five occasions.
In October 2007, Kimmel guest-hosted Live with Regis and Kelly for an entire week, commuting daily between New York City and Los Angeles. This feat earned him a Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled within one workweek, although he expressed skepticism regarding the record’s legitimacy.
His voice acting credits include roles in animated films like Garfield: The Movie and Road Trip, as well as voicing Death's Dog in an episode of Family Guy. He has also contributed voice work to Robot Chicken. Notably, his cousin Sal Iacono achieved a wrestling victory over Santino Marella.
During the 2010 controversy surrounding Tonight Show, Kimmel appeared as a guest on The Jay Leno Show, where he openly criticized Leno’s programming decisions. He served as host for both the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012 and the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2016. Prior to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Kimmel drew attention to producer Mark Burnett’s influence on Donald Trump’s political ascent. His tenure as host of major award ceremonies includes the 89th Academy Awards in 2017, followed by returns at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018 and the 95th Academy Awards in 2023. He is also scheduled to host the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.
In June 2018, Kimmel responded to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s challenge by participating in a charity basketball event named the Blobfish Basketball Classic; Cruz emerged victorious with an 11–9 scoreline, raising upwards of $80,000 for charitable causes.
November 2018 marked Kimmel's launch of his second production venture, Kimmelot. In April 2020, he hosted and co-executive produced a celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire commemorating its 20th anniversary. Later that year, in June 2020, it was announced that he would serve as host for the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Publications
July 2019 saw Kimmel publish his debut book, The Serious Goose, an interactive picture book for children featuring his own artwork and encouraging readers to help bring a serious goose to smile.
Podcasts
From August 30 to October 10, 2023, Kimmel teamed up with Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver to co-host the comedy podcast Strike Force Five. This collaboration aimed to support their staff impacted by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
Influences
Kimmel identifies David Letterman and Howard Stern as key inspirations in his comedic style. He has lauded Letterman’s originality and wit, describing him as "the funniest, most inventive and smartest man" he greatly admires. Kimmel frequently mentions that his pursuit of a career in entertainment was driven by a desire to emulate Letterman and acknowledges the significant influence Letterman has had on his humor and professional path.
Personal life
A devout Catholic, Kimmel has openly shared his experiences living with narcolepsy. In 2025, he acquired Italian citizenship.
Kimmel’s first marriage was to Gina Maddy in 1988, ending in divorce in 2002. They have two children: daughter Katherine, born in 1991, and son Kevin, born in 1993. In May 2025, Kimmel became a grandfather. Between 2002 and March 2009, he was in a relationship with comedian Sarah Silverman.
In October 2009, Kimmel began dating Molly McNearney, who serves as co-head writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live. The couple got engaged in August 2012 and tied the knot in July 2013. They have two children together: daughter Jane, born in July 2014, and son William "Billy" John, born on April 21, 2017. The family lives in Hermosa Beach, California.
Billy was diagnosed shortly after birth with a rare congenital heart condition known as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with pulmonary atresia. He underwent successful corrective surgery at just three days old. Upon returning to his show following this event, Kimmel invited cardiac surgeon Mehmet Oz and professional snowboarder Shaun White, who also has TOF, to discuss the condition.
Kimmel used his son's health challenges to criticize Senator Bill Cassidy over healthcare legislation that failed what became known as the "Jimmy Kimmel test"—a standard concerning access for patients with pre-existing medical conditions. This heartfelt monologue became a significant moment in the national healthcare conversation.
In 2020, genealogical research featured on Finding Your Roots uncovered that Kimmel and Martha Stewart share a familial connection as cousins.
Interests
Kimmel is skilled in playing the bass clarinet and joined The Mighty Mighty Bosstones on stage in Costa Mesa, California, on July 20, 2008, contributing to the performance of the track "The Impression That I Get."
He helped establish the annual Los Angeles Feast of San Gennaro, inspired by the well-known New York City event, and co-hosted its eighth celebration in 2009. In 2018, Kimmel actively supported Nevada U.S. Senate hopeful Jacky Rosen through fundraising efforts.
In 2021, Kimmel became the primary sponsor of the LA Bowl, a college football postseason game held every year at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood beginning in 2022, officially titled the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Delinquent's Derby | Race track announcer | |
| 2000 | Down to You | Himself | |
| Road Trip | Voice of Corky (voice) | ||
| 2003 | Windy City Heat | Himself | Also credited as writer and producer |
| 2004 | Garfield: The Movie | Spanky (voice) | Character not named in the film |
| 2005 | The Aristocrats | Himself | Cameo appearances |
| 2008 | Hellboy II: The Golden Army | ||
| 2009 | Monsters vs Aliens | Voice of Insectosaurus | Uncredited role |
| 2012 | Project X | Himself | Cameo appearance |
| 2013 | The Smurfs 2 | Voice of Passive-aggressive Smurf | |
| 2015 | Pitch Perfect 2 | Himself | Cameos |
| Ted 2 | |||
| Miss Famous | Mr. Chipmunk | Short film | |
| 2017 | The Boss Baby | Voice of Ted Templeton | |
| Sandy Wexler | Himself | Cameo role | |
| The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards | Character: Lunchtime creeper in the park | ||
| Brad's Status | Himself | Cameo appearance | |
| 2018 | Teen Titans Go! To the Movies | Voice of Batman | |
| 2019 | Dads | Himself | Documentary feature |
| 2021 | The Boss Baby: Family Business | Voice of Ted Templeton | |
| PAW Patrol: The Movie | Voice of Marty Muckraker | ||
| 2025 | Smurfs | Voice of Tardigrade |
Television
Revenge of the Nerds | Himself (co-host), executive producer | - Himself (host) | Television special | -| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–2000 | Win Ben Stein's Money | Himself (co-host) | Four seasons |
| 1999–2003 | The Man Show | Himself (co-host) | Appeared in 112 episodes; also co-created and wrote for the show |
| 2001 | Family Guy | Death's Dog (voice) | |
| 2002–2007; 2019–2022 |
Crank Yankers | Various voices | Participated in 110 episodes; also creator, executive producer, and writer |
| 2003–present | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Himself (host) | Creator, executive producer, and writer for the series |
| "American Music Awards of 2003" | "Himself (host)" | "Television special" | |
| "American Music Awards of 2004" | "Himself (host)" | "Television special" | |
| "Set for Life" | "Himself (host)" | "Hosted seven episodes" | |
|
Himself (host), executive producer | - |
Role as Executive Producer
| Year | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust | 6 episodes produced |
| 2005 | The Adam Carolla Project | Total of 13 episodes |
| 2011 | Sports Show with Norm Macdonald | 9 episodes created |
| 2017 | Big Fan | Consisted of 4 episodes |
| 2023 | Super Maximum Retro Show | |
| 2024 | High Hopes |
Video Game Appearances
| Year | Title | Voice Character | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II | Himself | Featured on his own talk show within the game |
Music Contributions
- Featured on the track "Joel the Lump of Coal" from the album Don't Waste Your Wishes alongside The Killers
Honors and Recognitions
External links
- Jimmy Kimmel
- 1967 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American comedians
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- 20th-century Roman Catholics
- 21st-century American comedians
- 21st-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- 21st-century Roman Catholics
- American people of German descent
- American game show hosts
- American male comedians
- American male film actors
- American male screenwriters
- American male television actors
- American male television writers
- American male voice actors
- American radio personalities
- American Roman Catholics
- American television show creators
- American television talk show hosts
- American television writers
- American writers of Italian descent
- Arizona State University alumni
- Catholics from Nevada
- Catholics from New York (state)
- Comedians from Brooklyn
- Comedians from Nevada
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host winners
- Daytime Emmy Award winners
- Kimmel family
- Late night television talk show hosts
- Male actors from Nevada
- Male actors from Brooklyn
- Naturalised citizens of Italy
- People from Mill Basin, Brooklyn
- People with narcolepsy
- Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Screenwriters from Nevada
- Screenwriters from New York City
- Shorty Award winners
- Streamy Award winners
- Television producers from New York City
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas alumni
- Writers from Brooklyn
- Writers Guild of America Award winners
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