Molly Shannon | |
|---|---|
 Shannon in 2025 | |
| Born | (1964-09-16)September 16, 1964 (age 61) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Education | New York University (BFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Molly Shannon (born September 16, 1964)[1] is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on theNBCsketch comedy seriesSaturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001. In 2017, she won theFilm Independent Spirit Award for playing Joanne Mulcahey in theChris Kelly autobiographical filmOther People.[2]
Shannon appeared in supporting roles in several films, includingHappiness (1998),A Night at the Roxbury (1998),Never Been Kissed (1999),How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000),Wet Hot American Summer (2001),Osmosis Jones (2001),My Boss's Daughter (2003),Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006),More of Me (2007),Evan Almighty (2007), andMe and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015). She appeared in the animated filmsIgor (2008) andHotel Transylvania (2012). On television, Shannon had roles inEnlightened (2013),Divorce (2016–2019),The Other Two (2019–2022),The White Lotus (2021),I Love That for You (2022), andOnly Murders in the Building (2024), winning her firstScreen Actors Guild Award forOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for the lattermost.
Shannon was born inCleveland, Ohio, to an Irish-American Catholic family.[1][3][4] Her maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, with her grandfather being from Cloghmore,Achill, Mayo.[5]
On June 1, 1969, when Shannon was four years old, she and her older sister survived a car crash that killed her younger sister, her cousin, and her mother.[6] Her father, Jim, was driving the family home from an all-day party during which he drank alcohol and subsequently took a nap. The crash occurred 90 minutes into the drive later that evening when the car struck a solid steel light pole[7] (since that time, most light poles have been converted to breakaway poles to reduce injuries).[8] Contrary to published articles that Jim had been driving drunk, there was no BAC report taken. In her memoir,Hello, Molly!, Shannon writes: “There is no way to know exactly what happened that night, though my gut tells me he fell asleep at the wheel.”[9]
Shannon attended high school in Ohio, and she attendedNew York University, where she studied drama and graduated from NYU'sTisch School of the Arts in 1987.[10]
BeforeSaturday Night Live, Shannon worked as a hostess at Cravings restaurant onSunset Boulevard, and as a food demo girl at Gelson's super market inMarina Del Rey. She auditioned for her first big film role and was cast, playing the supporting part of Meg in the 1989horror film remake ofThe Phantom of the Opera, withRobert Englund. In 1991, she had a brief appearance in the second season ofTwin Peaks as "the happy helping hand lady", and in 1993, she appeared with minor roles in three episodes ofIn Living Color, the first in a fake TV commercial withShawn Wayans playingChris Rock, the second in a sketch withJim Carrey, playing LAPD SergeantStacey Koon, and third being a parody ofStar Trek.
Shannon's major break came in February 1995, when she was hired as a featured player onSaturday Night Live to replaceJaneane Garofalo, who had left mid-season. Shannon was one of the few cast members to be kept (along withDavid Spade,Norm Macdonald,Mark McKinney andTim Meadows) whenLorne Michaels overhauled his cast and writers for season 21 (1995–96).
She appeared in a 1997 episode ofSeinfeld titled "The Summer of George", where she played Sam, the co-worker who droveElaine Benes crazy because she did not swing her arms while walking. She appeared inSheryl Crow's video for the song "A Change (Will Do You Good)" and played the recurring role of loony neighbor Val Bassett,Grace Adler's nemesis, onWill & Grace, appearing in five episodes over the sitcom's eight-season run. In 1998, she played the role of Emily Sanderson in the filmA Night at the Roxbury, featuringWill Ferrell andChris Kattan who were also cast members ofSNL at the time. She appeared inSex and the City in a number of episodes.
In 1999, Shannon starred inSuperstar, a feature film based on her characterMary Katherine Gallagher, an awkward Catholic school student who aspires to be a musical superstar. Shannon had created the character while a student at NYU,[11] and had expanded on her in a series ofSNL sketches prior to the film.
During her run on SNL, Shannon starred in the filmsNever Been Kissed (1999),How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000),Osmosis Jones (2001) andSerendipity (2001). Shannon leftSNL in 2001. In 2003, she appeared in the romantic comedyMy Boss's Daughter and the television remake ofThe Music Man.
In 2004, she starred in a short-livedFox networktelevision seriesCracking Up. That same year, she guest starred in an episode ofScrubs and starred as Mrs. Baker in the filmGood Boy! In 2006, Shannon was featured in theSofia Coppola-directed movieMarie Antoinette asAunt Victoire. The next year, Shannon guest-starred on ABC'sPushing Daisies, and appeared in the filmEvan Almighty. At that time, Shannon also made a move to drama, appearing inMike White's filmYear of the Dog in 2007. In 2013, Shannon joined White again, playing his love interest Eileen in the HBO showEnlightened, for which she was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding guest actress.
Shannon hostedSaturday Night Live on May 12, 2007, making her the second former female cast member to host (afterJulia Louis-Dreyfus) and the first one to have been a cast member for Lorne Michaels (Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member underDick Ebersol).
In 2008, Shannon starred as Kath in the American version of the Australian sitcomKath & Kim.
In early 2010, Shannon was cast in a recurring role on theFox television seriesGlee as Brenda Castle, an astronomy and badminton teacher who has a rivalry with main characterSue Sylvester.[12]
She returned toSaturday Night Live for a specialMother's Day episode on May 8, 2010,[13] and the October 2010 reunion special "Women of SNL".
Shannon replacedKatie Finneran in the role of Marge McDougall in theBroadway revival ofPromises, Promises on October 12, 2010, and remained through its closure on January 2, 2011, along with co-starsSean Hayes andKristin Chenoweth.[14]
Shannon's first children's book,Tilly the Trickster, was released September 1, 2011.[15]
As of spring 2012, she has replacedPauley Perrette as the spokesperson forExpedia.
In 2015, Shannon starred in the Sundance premiere ofMe and Earl and the Dying Girl directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. She was a guest, along withDenis Leary, onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 9, 2015.
In 2016, Shannon co-starred in theHBO comedyDivorce oppositeSarah Jessica Parker andThomas Haden Church.
Shannon won the 2017Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the highly acclaimed drama,Other People. She had two films premiere at the 2017Sundance Film Festival:The Little Hours andFun Mom Dinner.
In 2018, Shannon co-hosted theRose Parade withWill Ferrell on Amazon Prime Video in character as fictional local television personalities, Tish and Cord. In 2018, Shannon and Ferrell co-hosted HBO's broadcast of the wedding ofPrince Harry andMeghan Markle as their characters Tish and Cord.[16]
In 2018, Shannon co-starred in the critically acclaimed Netflix filmPrivate Life, playing prickly Cynthia.
In 2022, Shannon releasedHello, Molly!: A Memoir (ISBN 9780063056251).[17]
In 2022, Shannon co-starred in theShowtime comedy television seriesI Love That for You alongside fellow formerSNL alumVanessa Bayer.
In 2024, Shannon joined the cast of theHulu comedy seriesOnly Murders in the Building for its fourth season.[18]
Shannon married artist Fritz Chesnut on May 29, 2004.[19] They have two children.[20][21]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Twin Peaks | Judy Swain | 1 episode |
| 1992–1993 | In Living Color | Officer Trainee | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | General Hospital | Surrogate Mother #2 | 1 episode |
| 1994 | The John Larroquette Show | Vivian | 1 episode |
| Sister, Sister | Cashier | 1 episode | |
| Ellen | Woman | 1 episode | |
| 1995–2001 | Saturday Night Live | Various | 117 episodes |
| 1997 | The Single Guy | Melody Pugh | 1 episode |
| Seinfeld | Sam | 1 episode | |
| 1999–2004; 2018–2020 | Will & Grace | Val Bassett | 8 episodes |
| 2000 | That '70s Show | Tiffany | 1 episode |
| SNL Fanatic | Anna Nicole Smith | TV short | |
| 2001 | Spin City | Deborah | 1 episode |
| Saturday Night Live Primetime Extra 1 | Elizabeth Taylor | TV short | |
| 2002 | Sex and the City | Lily Martin | 3 episodes |
| It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Herself (cameo) | TV movie | |
| 2003 | Johnny Bravo | Multiple voices | 1 episode |
| Ed | Linda Berringer | 1 episode | |
| The Music Man | Mrs. Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn | TV movie | |
| 2004 | 12 Days of Christmas Eve | Angie | TV movie |
| Scrubs | Denise Lemmon | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | Cracking Up | Lesley Shackleton | 7 episodes |
| 2005–2007 | American Dad! | Christie White | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | My Gym Partner's a Monkey | Pretties | 1 episode |
| The Amazing Screw-On Head | Patience the Vampire | Voice role; unsold pilot | |
| 2007 | 30 Rock | Katherine Catherine | 1 episode |
| Pushing Daisies | Dilly Balsam | 1 episode | |
| The Mastersons of Manhattan | Amanda Masterson | TV movie | |
| More of Me | Alice McGowan | TV movie | |
| 2007, 2023 | Saturday Night Live | Herself | Host; 2 episodes |
| 2008–2009 | Kath & Kim | Kath | 18 episodes |
| 2009 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Jeannie | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Glee | Brenda Castle | 2 episodes |
| Neighbors from Hell | Tina Hellman | Voice role; 10 episodes | |
| 2011, 2013 | The Middle | Janet | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Up All Night | Nancy | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Web Therapy | Kirsten Noble | 2 episodes |
| Partners | Cassandra | 1 episode | |
| 2013 | Doc McStuffins | Rita | Voice role; 1 episode |
| Happily Divorced | Peggy | 1 episode | |
| Enlightened | Eileen Foliente | 4 episodes | |
| Hannibal | Kidnapper | 1 episode | |
| Jessie | Col. Beverly Shannon | 1 episode | |
| Super Fun Night | Jane Spencer | 1 episode | |
| Getting On | Phyllis Marmatan | 3 episodes | |
| 2013–2022 | Bob's Burgers | Millie | Voice role; 8 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Raising Hope | Maxine | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Bambi Cottages | Cathleen Burke | TV movie |
| The Spoils of Babylon | Meredith Sennheiser | 2 episodes, TV miniseries | |
| Benched | Judge Conner | 1 episode | |
| 2014–2015 | The Millers | Miss Pam | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Mulaney | Markie | 1 episode |
| The Spoils Before Dying | Tricksy | 2 episodes, TV miniseries | |
| Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp | Gail Dana Starfield | 7 episodes | |
| 2016 | Animals. | Olivia | Voice role; 1 episode |
| Childrens Hospital | Paula Reilly | 1 episode | |
| 2016–2019 | Divorce | Diane | Main role |
| 2017 | Life in Pieces | Allie | 1 episode |
| Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later | Gail Dana Starfield | 3 episodes | |
| 2018 | The 2018Rose Parade Hosted by Cord & Tish | Tish Cattigan | Amazon Video coverage |
| TheRoyal Wedding Live with Cord & Tish! | Tish Cattigan | HBO coverage | |
| Spy Kids: Mission Critical | Murna | Voice role; 12 episodes | |
| 2019–2023 | The Other Two | Pat Dubek | Main role |
| 2020 | Better Things | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2021 | The White Lotus | Kitty Patton | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | I Love That for You | Jackie Stilton | Main role |
| 2024 | Only Murders in the Building | Bev Melon | Recurring role |
| The Simpsons | Katya | Voice role; 1 episode |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Web Therapy | Kirsten Noble | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Ghost Ghirls | Joy Button | 3 episodes, streaming onYahoo! Screen |
| 2016 | Rhett & Link's Buddy System | Rhonda | 1 episode, streaming onYouTube Premium |
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Swish Swish" | Katy Perry feat.Nicki Minaj | Coach Molly |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Other People | Nominated | [28] |
| 2016 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film | Hotel Transylvania | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Actress – Comedy | Superstar | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series | Enlightened | Nominated | [29] |
| 2019 | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated | [30] | |
| 2021 | Nominated | [31] | |||
| 2018 | FilmOut San Diego | Best Actress | Wild Nights with Emily | Won | |
| 2016 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | Other People | Won | [32] |
| 2022 | Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | I Love That for You | Nominated | [33] | |
| 2016 | Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Other People | Nominated | [34] |
| 2019 | International Online Cinema Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Nominated | ||||
| 1998 | National Board of Review Awards | Best Acting by an Ensemble | Happiness | Won | [35] |
| 1997 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Host or Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | Nominated | [36] |
| 2000 | Nominated | [37] | |||
| 2018 | Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Will & Grace | Nominated | [38] | |
| 2020 | Nominated | [39] | |||
| 2021 | Pena de Prata | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated | |
| Best Guest Actor or Actress in a Drama or Limited Series | The White Lotus | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or TV Special | Won | ||||
| 2000 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | Saturday Night Live | Nominated | [40] |
| 2013 | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Enlightened(Episode: "The Ghost Is Seen") | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | Will & Grace(Episode: "There's Something About Larry") | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Provincetown International Film Festival | Excellence in Acting Award | N/a | Won | [41] |
| 2016 | Savannah Film Festival | Spotlight Award | N/a | Won | [42] |
| 2025 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Only Murders in the Building | Won | [43] |
| 2006 | TV Guide Awards | Editor's Choice | Will & Grace | Won | |
| 2016 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Other People | Nominated | [44] |
