Molly Shannon

Early life

Shannon was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to an Irish-American Catholic family. Her maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, with her grandfather being from Cloghmore, Achill, Mayo.{{cite episode |title=Molly Shannon |series=Who Do You Think You Are? |first1=Alex |last1=Graham |author-link1=Alex Graham (producer) |first2=Pam |last2=Healey |first3=Lisa |last3=Kudrow |author-link3=Lisa Kudrow |display-authors=et al. |network=TLC |date=2018-06-11}}

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. 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 (since that time, most light poles have been converted to breakaway poles to reduce injuries). 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.”

Shannon attended St. Dominic School in Shaker Heights for grade school, and Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio. She attended New York University, where she studied drama and graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1987.

Career

Before Saturday Night Live, Shannon worked as a hostess at Cravings restaurant on Sunset Boulevard, and as a food demo girl at Gelson's super market in Marina Del Rey. She auditioned for her first big film role and was cast, playing the supporting part of Meg in the 1989 horror film remake of The Phantom of the Opera, with Robert Englund. In 1991, she had a brief appearance in the second season of Twin Peaks as "the happy helping hand lady", and in 1993, she appeared with minor roles in three episodes of In Living Color, the first in a fake TV commercial with Shawn Wayans playing Chris Rock, the second in a sketch with Jim Carrey, playing LAPD Sergeant Stacey Koon, and third being a parody of Star Trek.

Shannon's major break came in February 1995, when she was hired as a featured player on Saturday Night Live to replace Janeane Garofalo, who had left mid-season. Shannon was one of the few cast members to be kept (along with David Spade, Norm Macdonald, Mark McKinney and Tim Meadows) when Lorne Michaels overhauled his cast and writers for season 21 (1995–96).

She appeared in a 1997 episode of Seinfeld titled "The Summer of George", where she played Sam, the co-worker who drove Elaine Benes crazy because she did not swing her arms while walking. She appeared in Sheryl 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, on Will & Grace, appearing in five episodes over the sitcom's eight-season run. In 1998, she played the role of Emily Sanderson in the film A Night at the Roxbury, featuring Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan who were also cast members of SNL at the time. She appeared in Sex and the City in a number of episodes.

In 1999, Shannon starred in Superstar, a feature film based on her character Mary Katherine Gallagher, an awkward Catholic school student who aspires to be a musical superstar. Shannon had created the character while a student at NYU, and had expanded on her in a series of SNL sketches prior to the film.

During her run on SNL, Shannon starred in the films Never Been Kissed (1999), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Osmosis Jones (2001) and Serendipity (2001). Shannon left SNL in 2001. In 2003, she appeared in the romantic comedy My Boss's Daughter and the television remake of The Music Man.

In 2004, she starred in a short-lived Fox network television series Cracking Up. That same year, she guest starred in an episode of Scrubs and starred as Mrs. Baker in the film Good Boy! In 2006, Shannon was featured in the Sofia Coppola-directed movie Marie Antoinette as Aunt Victoire. The next year, Shannon guest-starred on ABC's Pushing Daisies, and appeared in the film Evan Almighty. At that time, Shannon also made a move to drama, appearing in Mike White's film Year of the Dog in 2007. In 2013, Shannon joined White again, playing his love interest Eileen in the HBO show Enlightened, for which she was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding guest actress.

Shannon hosted Saturday Night Live on May 12, 2007, making her the second former female cast member to host (after Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and the first one to have been a cast member for Lorne Michaels (Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member under Dick Ebersol).

In 2008, Shannon starred as Kath in the American version of the Australian sitcom Kath & Kim.

In early 2010, Shannon was cast in a recurring role on the Fox television series Glee as Brenda Castle, an astronomy and badminton teacher who has a rivalry with main character Sue Sylvester.

She returned to Saturday Night Live for a special Mother's Day episode on May 8, 2010, and the October 2010 reunion special "Women of SNL".

Shannon replaced Katie Finneran in the role of Marge McDougall in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises on October 12, 2010, and remained through its closure on January 2, 2011, along with co-stars Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.

Shannon's first children's book, Tilly the Trickster, was released September 1, 2011.

As of spring 2012, she has replaced Pauley Perrette as the spokesperson for Expedia.

In 2015, Shannon starred in the Sundance premiere of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. She was a guest, along with Denis Leary, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 9, 2015.

In 2016, Shannon co-starred in the HBO comedy Divorce opposite Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church.

Shannon won the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the highly acclaimed drama, Other People. She had two films premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival: The Little Hours and Fun Mom Dinner.

In 2018, Shannon co-hosted the Rose Parade with Will 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 of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as their characters Tish and Cord.

In 2018, Shannon co-starred in the critically acclaimed Netflix film Private Life, playing prickly Cynthia.

In 2022, Shannon released Hello, Molly!: A Memoir ().

In 2022, Shannon co-starred in the Showtime comedy television series I Love That for You alongside fellow former SNL alum Vanessa Bayer.

In 2024, Shannon joined the cast of the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building for its fourth season.

''Saturday Night Live'' characters

• Mary Katherine Gallagher: Shannon's best known character. An odd, outcast student at a Catholic school who enjoyed performing in the choir and school plays. Shannon starred in the 1999 feature film Superstar based on the character.
• Sally O'Malley: a proud 50-year-old dancer ("I'm FIFTY!") with a bouffant hairdo, who wore tight red pants and proclaimed how much she loved to "kick, stretch and kick!"
• Circe Nightshade: co-host of "Goth Talk" (with Chris Kattan).
• Miss Colleen: co-host of "Dog Show" (with Will Ferrell).
• Elizabeth: one of the "Southern Gals."
• Helen Madden: an overly exuberant self-proclaimed "Joyologist", who appeared on talk shows with the trademark catchphrase "I love it, I love it, I love it!"
• Veronica Kilvere: an airhead fashion model who hosts the "Veronica & Co." talk show.
• Janette Blow: wife of Joe Blow (played by Colin Quinn) on "The Local News" public-access television cable TV talk show.
• Terri Rialto: co-host of the NPR radio show "Delicious Dish" (with Ana Gasteyer).
• Margaret Healy: a woman who enjoys doing many voices and accents.
• Jeannie Darcy: an unfunny mullet-haired stand-up comedian, who ended almost every joke with the phrase "Don't get me started, don't even get me started!"

Celebrity impressions

• Shania Twain
• Ann Miller
• Marie Osmond
• Michelle Kwan
• Keri Russell
• Janis Joplin
• Minnie Driver
• Elizabeth Taylor
• Gisele Bündchen
• Emma Bunton
• Courtney Love
• Gillian Anderson
• Madonna
• Paula Zahn
• Kim Cattrall
• Donatella Versace
• Meredith Vieira
• Monica Lewinsky
• Soon-Yi Previn
• Anna Nicole Smith
• Maggie Haberman
• Gwen Stefani
• Lisa Marie Presley
• Liza Minnelli
• Debbie Rowe
• Melania Trump
• Cate Blanchett
• Téa Leoni
• Tori Amos
• Betty Boothroyd
• Angelina Jolie
• Lucy Lawless
• Neve Campbell
• Courteney Cox (as Monica Geller on Friends)
• Suzy Amis Cameron
• Brooke Shields

Personal life

Shannon married artist Fritz Chesnut on May 29, 2004. They have two children.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web series

Music videos

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. O'Falt, Chris. (2017-02-26). "Molly Shannon Wins the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female".
2. "Happy birthday to two 'SNL' legends, Molly Shannon and Amy Poehler".
3. Shannon, Molly. (1999). "Cranky Critic Superstar Talk". crankycritic.com.
4. Spolnik, Jenny. (2009-06-21). "Shannon talks about SNL and being a "Superstar"". [[The Lantern]].
5. Itzkoff, Dave. (2022-04-05). "The Unsinkable Molly Shannon". The New York Times.
6. "How Molly Shannon's Loss of Her Mom and Sister in Tragic Car Crash Inspired Her SNL Character".
7. (2016-08-08). "Breakaway Hit: Street-Side Posts Designed to Sever Strategically on Impact".
8. Shannon, Molly. (2022). "Hello, Molly!: A Memoir". HarperCollins.
9. (October 11, 1975). "NYU Alumni Magazine: Live from New York, It's…". Nyu.edu.
10. (26 March 2018). "2018 Outfest Film Festival Q&A's - Wild Nights With Emily". [[Outfest]].
11. Ausiello, Michael. (February 10, 2010). "'Glee' exclusive: Molly Shannon declares war on Sue Sylvester!". Entertainment Weekly.
12. "STAGE TUBE: New Betty White SNL Promo! (TV Content)".
13. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143064-Broadway-Revival-of-Promises-Promises-to-Close Broadway Revival of Promises, Promises to Close] {{webarchive. link. (June 29, 2011)
14. (September 2011). "Tilly the Trickster". Abramsbooks.com.
15. Park, Andrea. (May 2, 2018). "Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon to cover royal wedding as Cord and Tish for HBO".
16. "Molly Shannon Is as Real as Ever in Her Charming Memoir 'Hello, Molly!'".
17. Andreeva, Nellie. (2024-02-14). "Molly Shannon Joins 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 4 As Recurring".
18. Associated Press. (June 2, 2004). "Former 'SNL' Member Molly Shannon Weds". Fox News Network.
19. (August 26, 2021). "Iconic TV Mom Molly Shannon Is Also a Mother in Real Life".
20. "Who Is Molly Shannon's Husband? All About Fritz Chesnut".
21. N'Duka, Amanda. (2018-10-23). "Molly Shannon, Glynn Turman, Michael Ian Black Join Marlon Wayans' Netflix Comedy 'Sextuplets'".
22. Hannett, Michelle. (April 13, 2021). "Celebrate National Pet Day 2021 With Monster Pets: A Hotel Transylvania Short".
23. (May 30, 2022). "Norm Macdonald says goodbye in a Netflix special, with a little help from his friends".
24. "Molly Shannon Joins Florence Pugh And Morgan Freeman in Zach Braff's 'A Good Person' At MGM".
25. Grobar, Matt. (March 3, 2025). "Sophie Telegadis, Mohana Krishnan, Aidan Laprete & Lilah Pate Round Out Cast Of Bobby Farrelly's 'Driver's Ed'".
26. Grobar, Matt. (July 2, 2024). "Molly Shannon Joins Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser In Amazon MGM Comedy 'Balls Up'".
27. (February 6, 2017). "AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards: Complete Winners List".
28. Team TVLine. (May 22, 2013). "''Big Bang'', ''Horror Story'', ''Parks & Rec'', ''Good Wife'', ''The Americans'' Lead Critics Choice Nominations". [[TVLine]].
29. Hammond, Pete. (December 8, 2019). "'The Irishman', 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Lead Critics' Choice Nominations; Netflix Dominates With 61 Noms In Movies And TV". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
30. Pedersen, Erik. (December 6, 2021). "Critics Choice TV Nominations: 'Succession' leads field as HBO Edges Netflix". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
31. "37 Years of Nominees and Winners".
32. "2023 Nominees".
33. (December 16, 2016). "2016 IFJA Film Awards".
34. "1998 Award Winners".
35. "1st Annual TV Awards (1996-97)".
36. "4th Annual TV Awards (1999-2000)".
37. "22nd Annual TV Awards (2017-18)".
38. "24th Annual TV Awards (2019-20)".
39. "Molly Shannon". [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]].
40. Rooney, David. (17 June 2018). "Sean Baker and Molly Shannon Honored at Provincetown Film Festival". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
41. "Past Honored Guests".
42. (January 8, 2025). "SAG Awards Nominations: 'Wicked,' 'Shogun' Lead With Five Nods Each".
43. (December 5, 2016). "The 2017 WAFCA Awards". [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association]].