Jimmy Kimmel started off as a comedian on cable before landing his own long-running late-night show on ABC. He now holds the distinction of being the longest-running current late-night talk show host, after Conan O’Brien retired in 2021.
The comedian headed to his third stint hosting the Oscars on March 12, 2023—a distinction few have reached. With all these accomplishments and Jimmy Kimmel Live! turning 20 this year, we need to know who he is married to and whether he has any kids.
Who is Jimmy Kimmel’s wife?
Since first starting out in show biz in the ’80s, Jimmy Kimmel has built an incredibly successful career as a TV show host, actor, producer, writer, and media personality.
A two-time Emmy Award winner, Jimmy has entertained millions of viewers over the past few decades.
The famous Tv host has been married twice and still going strong in his current relationship with Molly McNearney since 2013. He married his first wife (now ex-wife) Gina Kimmel from 1988 to 2002.
He and his wife of nine years, Molly McNearney, have two kids, Jane and William “Billy” John. Jimmy shares two older kids, Katie and Kevin, with his ex-wife Gina.
Jimmy Kimmel is the proud dad of four children.
Jimmy married Gina in June 1988.
They welcomed their first daughter, Katie, on Aug. 28, 1991, and their first son, Kevin, on Sept. 19, 1993. Jimmy and Gina divorced in 2002.
Now 30, Katie carved a successful career as an actress and the star of TV shows like Crank Yankers. An actor, sound mixer, and seasoned production assistant, Kevin has worked on shows like Tosh.0 and Last Comic Standing in the past.
Jimmy and Molly McNearney started dating around 2009, and they tied the knot on July 13, 2013. They share two younger children, Jane and William “Billy” John.
How did Jimmy Kimmel become famous?
Jimmy Kimmel worked incredibly hard to get where he is. He started off working in radio back in high school, hosting a Sunday night interview show at a local college station. By 1989, he had found his first paying radio job, as a morning drive co-host alongside Kent Voss of The Me and Him Show at KZOK-FM in Seattle, however, the pair were fired around 10 months later when several stunts they performed resulted in a loss of $8,000 worth of advertising.
The pair were fired again a year later from WRBQ-FM in Tampa. Kimmel found a gig hosting his own show at KCMJ in Palm Springs, California, and actually recruited as an intern fellow future-prolific host Carson Daly, who was a family friend. He eventually landed a five-year position as “Jimmy The Sports Guy” at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, during which time he met and befriended fellow comedian and future collaborator Adam Carolla.
Despite initially having no interest in appearing on television, and turning down several offers to do so, in 1997 Kimmel took his first on-camera role as the comedic relief to Ben Stein’s straight man on the Comedy Central game show Win Ben Stein’s Money. This hosting gig put Kimmel on the map, even earning him an Emmy in 1999. That same year, he and Carolla launched Comedy Central’s The Man Show, which, while it did not age incredibly well, was successful enough to allow the two comedians along with Daniel Kellison to launch Jackhole Productions.
In January 2003, Kimmel had earned enough clout to leave The Man Show when he was offered the opportunity to host his own late-night talk show on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel Live! This hosting gig has since made Kimmel a household name and one of the biggest stars in late-night TV.
