Kathy Griffin

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Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Pp-move Template:Pp-pc Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox comedian

Kathleen Mary Griffin (born November 4, 1960) is an American comedian and actress who has starred in television series, comedy specials and has released multiple comedy albums. In 2007 and 2008, Griffin won Primetime Emmy Awards for her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. She has also appeared in supporting roles in films.

Griffin was born in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. In 1978, she moved to Los Angeles, where she studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and became a member of the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings. In the 1990s, Griffin began performing as a stand-up comedian and appeared as a guest star on television shows, and then had a supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan (1996–2000).

The Bravo reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005–2010) became a ratings hit for the network and earned her two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality Program. Griffin has released six comedy albums, all of which received Grammy Award nominations. Her first album For Your Consideration (2008) made her the first female comedian to debut at the top of the Billboard Top Comedy Albums chart. In 2009, she released her autobiography Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin. After being nominated for six years in a row for the Grammy for Best Comedy Album, she won the award in 2014. Griffin has recorded numerous standup comedy specials for HBO and Bravo. For the latter network, she has recorded sixteen television specials, breaking the Guinness World record for the number of aired television specials on any network.<ref name="vSppc">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="t8IpH">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011, she also became the first comedian to have four specials televised in a year.<ref name="NMTni">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin is known for her controversial style and statements about celebrities, religion and sexuality, including holding a mask stylized as Donald Trump's severed head in 2017, which provoked a United States Secret Service investigation and later became the basis of her concert film A Hell of a Story (2019).

Early life

Kathleen Mary Griffin was born on November 4, 1960, in the Chicago suburb Oak Park, Illinois,<ref name="biography.com">Template:Cite web</ref> to first-generation Irish-Americans Margaret Mary Griffin (née Corbally), who was a cashier at a Hospital in Oak Park, and John Patrick Griffin, an employee at a RadioShack.<ref name="playboy">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="griffin1">Template:Harvnb</ref> She has four older siblings.<ref name="griffin1" /> Griffin grew up Catholic.<ref name="vulture">Template:Cite web</ref> She described growing up in a "dysfunctional" and "Irish alcoholic" family.<ref name="vulture" /><ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>

Kathy's eldest brother "Kenny" (Kenneth John Griffin, December 25, 1942...October 15, 2001) was a pedophile, drug addict and homeless at various times. When Kathy was 7, Kenny, who was 20 years older, sexually abused her and would climb into her bed and whisper into her ears. She did not tell her parents until she was in her 20s, at which point Kenny admitted his pedophilia to them. For many years, Kathy was "shunned" by her own family because she tried to get Kenny arrested after learning he had abused other children. She was "afraid of him until the moment he died" because of his violent, abusive nature.<ref name="cnn">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="PNCLe">Template:YouTube</ref><ref name="huff">Template:Cite web</ref> "...two of his girlfriends confessed to me he also physically abused them very violently and I called the LAPD about it twice"<ref name="buzzfeednews/pedophile-brother">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin described herself during her early years as being "a kid who needed to talk, all the time".<ref name="griffin1" /> She would often visit her neighbors to tell them stories about her family; she has referred to those visits as her first live shows where she learned "the power of juicy material".<ref name="griffin1" /> After most of her siblings had moved, Griffin developed a binge eating disorder.<ref name="griffin2">Template:Harvnb</ref> In her 2009 autobiography Official Book Club Selection, Griffin said she "still suffers [from food issues]" but has learned to "deal with them".<ref name="griffin2" />

At elementary school, Griffin began to develop a dislike for organized religion because of the punishments she and other "vulnerable" students received from the nuns.<ref name="griffin2" /> At her high school, she sought refuge in musical theater, playing roles such as Rosemary in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof.<ref name="griffin3">Template:Harvnb</ref> During her senior year, she wanted to become a professional actor. Her first appearance on television was as an extra on a Chicago White Sox commercial, and she was signed with several Chicago talent agencies. At 18, Griffin persuaded her parents to move to Los Angeles to help her become famous.<ref name="griffin3" />

At 19, Griffin attended a performance by the improvisational group The Groundlings. She said, "I thought this is where I want to be. This is the greatest thing in the world."<ref name="griffin4">Template:Harvard citation no brackets</ref>

Career

Stand-up comedy, television and film

File:KathyGriffin.png
Griffin performing stand up in Las Vegas in 2008

Griffin began performing in the early 1990s in the Los Angeles improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings.<ref name="groundlingsalumnikathygriffin">Template:Cite web</ref> She went on to perform standup comedy and became part of the alternative comedy scene in Los Angeles. With Janeane Garofalo, she created a standup act called "Hot Cup of Talk", which became the title of her 1998 solo HBO special.<ref name="Chat">Template:Cite news</ref> Griffin earned a number of television and film credits during the 1990s. She appeared in Julie Brown's Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful, a Showtime parody of the 1991 Madonna film Truth or Dare. Griffin twice appeared as Susan Klein, a reporter on NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; it was her television sitcom debut.<ref name="XbEMd">Template:Cite web</ref>

On June 12, 2008, Griffin hosted the first Bravo! Canada A-List Awards, which included a parody of the "wardrobe malfunction" experienced by Janet Jackson in the Super Bowl halftime show in 2004. She also hosted the 2009 Bravo A-List Awards, which aired on April 15, 2009, and her Bravo special Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch aired beforehand. Shout! Factory released an extended version of the show on DVD in early 2010.<ref name="YErjJ">Template:Cite web</ref>

On September 8, 2009, Ballantine Books published Griffin's memoir, titled Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, which debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list. A week prior, she released her second comedy album Suckin' It for the Holidays; it was her second bid to win a Grammy Award.<ref name="dG0aP">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nj1DB">Template:Cite press release</ref> It was announced on November 3, 2009, that Griffin was to host ABC's new show Let's Dance, on which celebrity contestants would have re-enacted famous dance routines while competing for a $250,000 grand prize for their favorite charity.<ref name="erPg1">Template:Cite news</ref>

Griffin hosted CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast on December 31, 2009, along with Anderson Cooper. As Cooper talked about the Balloon boy hoax, Griffin said "fucking".<ref name="hIVRt">Template:Cite news</ref> Although Griffin was rumored to have been banned from future CNN broadcasts,<ref name="AfDMo">Template:Cite news</ref> she co-hosted the show with Cooper until 2017.<ref name="3g67E">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, CNN terminated Griffin from its New Year's Eve Broadcast after Griffin showed pictures of herself holding a bloody, model severed head resembling President Donald Trump.<ref name="3jDfD">Template:Cite web</ref> Griffin has also guest-starred in a 2009 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing a lesbian activist.<ref name="eRZXd">Template:Cite web</ref>

Since the 2008 presidential election, Griffin has made frequent jokes about Republican vice-presidential contender Sarah Palin and her family.<ref name="wzfw9">Template:Cite web</ref> On US television program Glee, Griffin parodied Palin posing as a judge at a regional singing competition. Griffin also made fun of Christine O'Donnell in the show by stating, "Before we start, I would like to say I am not a witch".<ref name="ps4Ug">Template:Cite news</ref>

On January 7, 2012, it was announced that Griffin would host a weekly one-hour talk show on the channel Kathy, which would consist of standup routines, "rant about pop culture", and celebrity interviews.<ref name="tv-guide-jan5-griffin-shows">Template:Cite web</ref> On April 8, 2013, during a live standup performance in Cincinnati, Ohio, Griffin announced that her show would not be renewed for a third season. She confirmed it later on her Twitter account. According to FOX 411, Bravo was planning to film several comedy specials starring Griffin after the show ended.<ref name="o5rOF">Template:Cite news</ref>

On June 13, 2014, it was announced that Griffin would host the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards.<ref name="yTrCL">Template:Cite web</ref> For the first time in the event's four-decade history, the show bypassed a network television airing for a live online streaming media event.<ref name="nubC4">"Daytime Emmys to Be Streamed Online", from Broadcasting & Cable, May 6, 2014</ref> The ceremony took place on June 22, 2014. Griffin's performance was well received by critics.<ref name="jOhyt">Template:Cite web</ref>

Guest co-host of The View

Kathy Griffin served as a co-host of The View from May 2007 to September 2007, replacing the recently departed Rosie O'Donnell.<ref name="N67qs">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="LIynq">Template:Cite web</ref> She declined to discuss the ban on Access Hollywood<ref name="WyQUA">Template:Cite web</ref> As of August 2009, Griffin had been un-banned from The View and was a guest on September 18, 2009, and June 15, 2010. In an interview on The Talk, Griffin said that she has been re-banned from The View<ref name="BWB9D">Template:Cite web</ref> due to an argument with its co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.<ref name="Un7XQ">Template:Cite web</ref>

Laugh Your Head Off World Tour 2017–2018

In August 2017, Griffin announced a worldwide comedy tour. The title "Laugh Your Head Off" was a reference to her depiction of an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump's severed head. The tour visited major cities in Singapore, Australia, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and many more European, and Asian cities. Several shows sold out within minutes of going on sale, leading to Griffin adding several shows to the lineup.<ref name="s7FaO">Template:Cite web</ref> She continued with a North America leg of the tour, commencing May 23, 2018, in Ottawa, Ontario and including both Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City.<ref name="rNnnx">Template:Cite web</ref>

Controversies

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Various talk shows bans

Griffin said she was banned from appearing on several television shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The View.<ref name="LuM4f">Template:Cite web</ref> She was re-banned from The View after making a joke about Barbara Walters.<ref name="RhBvR">Template:Cite web</ref> Griffin made a joke during a 2005 E! televised event saying that eleven-year-old actor Dakota Fanning had entered drug rehabilitation.<ref name="BGonS">Template:Cite news</ref>

Emmy Awards controversy

File:Griffin Turner McDonald.jpg
Griffin, Michael McDonald, and Karri Turner perform an improvisational skit for soldiers and airmen in Tikrit, Iraq in 2006.

The second season of My Life on the D-List, which premiered June 2006, earned Griffin the 2007 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program in non-competition. She received it during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which was hosted by Carlos Mencia and aired on E! in September. Griffin said,

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Griffin later said that she meant the remark to be a satire of celebrities who thank Jesus for their awards, especially artists who are controversial in their speech and actions, rather than as a slight on Jesus.<ref name="UfIOw">Template:Cite news</ref> The academy said her "offensive remarks will not be part of the E! telecast on Saturday night".<ref name="XDXmP">Template:Cite news</ref> Griffin said that she was fired from an appearance on Hannah Montana because of her Emmy acceptance speech.<ref name="7GV86">Template:Cite web</ref>

Ban from Apollo Theater

In a July 2009 episode of My Life on the D-List, Griffin used profanity in an Octomom joke during her routine at New York's Apollo Theater. Griffin said that she received a letter banning her from the venue.<ref name="Xvmvr">Template:Cite web</ref>

Depiction of Donald Trump

On May 30, 2017, Griffin posted a video of herself holding "a mask styled to look like the severed, bloody head" of then U.S. President Donald Trump.<ref name="ypwgs">Template:Cite web</ref> It was posted on her Instagram and Twitter accounts. She wrote: "I caption this 'there was blood coming out of his eyes, blood coming out of his ... wherever'", referencing a comment Trump had made about Megyn Kelly. The video was from a session with photographer Tyler Shields, who is known for producing "shocking" imagery.<ref name="y5sLE">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Qvy1K">Template:Cite news</ref> Griffin later took down the image and apologized for posting the image, saying that she went too far and adding, "I beg for your forgiveness".<ref name="mIJR3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

On June 2, 2017, Lisa Bloom, an attorney for Griffin stated, "Like many edgy works of artistic expression, the photo could be interpreted different ways. But Griffin never imagined that it could be misinterpreted as a threat of violence against Trump. That was never what she intended. She has never threatened or committed an act of violence against anyone."<ref name="JbXhv">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nfLKX">Template:Cite news</ref> Griffin said the Trump family was "trying to ruin my life forever".<ref name="JN14f">Template:Cite news</ref>

In May 2017, Griffin was dropped by Squatty Potty as a spokesperson.<ref name="2LShD">Template:Cite news</ref> CNN fired her from its New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper.<ref name="De19M">Template:Cite web</ref> Cooper said, "For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in. It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate."<ref name="v7DEw">Template:Cite tweet</ref> All of Griffin's remaining scheduled tour dates were canceled by their venues.<ref name="wemEs">Template:Cite news</ref> During an interview on Australian television in August 2017, Griffin talked about the photo, saying, "Stop acting like my little picture is more important than talking about the actual atrocities that the president of the United States is committing".<ref name="K1yKy">Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2017, she appeared on Skavlan where she said, "I take that apology back by the way. I take it back big time". He said she had received a lot of bad advice at the time.<ref name="RsOk5">"Kathy Griffin". Skavlan. YouTube. November 13, 2017.</ref>

On October 28, 2017, Griffin uploaded a YouTube video titled "Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story", which is about the backlash she received for the Trump photo controversy.<ref name="L6jVM">Template:Cite web</ref> It was the basis for her A Hell of a Story concert film. She said she was under a federal investigation by the Justice Department for two months and was on the No Fly List during that time. She also said that she was put on the Interpol list which is the Five Eyes list; she said that she had been detained at every airport during her Laugh Your Head Off World Tour.<ref name="irishexaminercatchher">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporterkathygriffinblasts">Template:Cite news</ref>

On November 4, 2020 (her 60th birthday and the day after the 2020 United States presidential election), Griffin once again posted a photo of herself with a model of Donald Trump's bloody, severed head.<ref name="2020_retweet">Template:Cite news</ref>

Twitter suspension

On November 6, 2022, Griffin was suspended from Twitter for impersonating Elon Musk. Griffin used his profile photo and changed her name on the service, tweeting under his name imploring people to vote for Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections and encouraging them to retweet and spread her post. She also posted that she, posing as Musk, had decided to vote blue to support women's rights. Musk tweeted the same day that anyone impersonating a public figure would be permanently suspended unless the account was clearly marked as parody.<ref name="2022_twitter_suspension">Template:Cite news</ref> On the next day, Griffin posted on her deceased mother's Twitter account, calling Musk an "asshole". She further challenged the site's policy that she had used her Twitter profile for impersonation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk tweeted sardonically in reply to another tweet, "Actually she was suspended for impersonating a comedian."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 18, Elon Musk announced that her account has been reinstated due to new rules concerning "negative/hate tweets".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Style of humor

File:Kathy Griffin 2009 VH1 Divas 2.jpg
Griffin at the VH1 Divas Awards in 2009

Griffin developed her love of popular culture through her immediate and extended family, who were frequently commenting about the latest news. She said; "I may have been into The Brady Bunch like every other kid, but I also wanted to watch John Lennon and Yoko Ono on The Dick Cavett Show, and every minute of the Watergate hearings. It was fear of the dinner table that got me hooked."<ref name="autogenerated2">Template:Harvnb</ref> She has also named her mother Maggie as influential in her consumption of pop culture, calling her "the ideal audience for the Hollywood dish". Griffin named the character Rhoda Morgenstern of 1970s sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show as an influence.<ref name="autogenerated1">Template:Harvnb</ref>

Griffin established her career with candid observations of everyday life and her dating experiences, later focusing on mocking celebrities; her act currently consists of embellished stories involving celebrities. Griffin hopes people understand that no malice is intended by her humor. "I'm genuinely a fan of most of the people I trash in the act", she said; "I really, really try and focus on making fun of people for their behavior. I'm not so into making fun of someone for the way they look, or something that's out of their control."<ref name="1BcfO">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin is sometimes the object of her own humor, particularly with regard to her D-list status. She portrays herself as a Hollywood outsider and has a group of close celebrity friends such as Rosie O'Donnell, Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Gloria Estefan, and Lance Bass. Her longtime friendship with Bass was the catalyst for a feud between Griffin and gossip blogger Perez Hilton.<ref name="HiltonFeud1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="HiltonFeud2">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2007, Griffin commented on her aversion to making fun of celebrity friends; "There's nothing I won't do, but on the other hand I'm full of shit because that changes".<ref name="kkXUK">Template:Cite web</ref> Griffin and Hilton ended their feud after the death of Griffin's father, and Hilton appeared on an episode of Griffin's show in 2007.<ref name="HiltonFeud2" />

LGBT rights and political advocacy

Griffin arriving at the rally to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Freedom Plaza, Washington DC)
Griffin arriving at the rally to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Freedom Plaza, Washington, D.C.)

Griffin is a supporter for LGBT rights including same-sex marriage.<ref name="m2FlO">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ieVZy">Template:Cite web</ref> She has protested with fellow proponents in West Hollywood, California<ref name="tDcV9">Template:Cite web</ref> and included the footage from protests on her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. Her mother was also a supporter of LGBT rights during her lifetime. She was often seen on the same television shows protesting alongside her daughter. Prior to the Proposition 8 ballot results, Griffin volunteered for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's "Vote for Equality" campaign, going door-to-door asking Los Angeles residents for their opinion of LGBT marriage rights.<ref name="zsFNB">Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2010, Griffin helped organize a rally in Washington, D.C., to advocate the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell". She said that she organized the rally after meeting with several closeted gay people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Griffin held meetings with several Members of Congress to encourage its repeal; she also organized a rally in Freedom Plaza.<ref name="mhDhR">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin caused controversy when she confronted Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann over her views on homosexuality at the 2010 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner; according to Griffin, she asked Bachmann "were you born a bigot or did you grow into it", a reference to Bachmann's belief that homosexuality is strictly environmental.<ref name="anBXQ">Template:Cite web</ref> Griffin said Bachmann replied, "That's a good question, I'll have to think about that". Bachmann's office confirmed the exchange but said Griffin confronted Bachmann after Bachmann approached Griffin to compliment her appearance.<ref name="sXYCY">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Lc7Yv">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin is a long-time supporter of the Aid for AIDS annual fundraiser Best in Drag Show in Los Angeles, and hosted the opening of the show for more than five years.<ref name="KGmom">Template:Cite web"</ref> In November 2009, Aid For AIDS presented Kathy Griffin with an AFA Angel Award at their silver anniversary celebration.<ref name="KGmom" /><ref name="Ozvb3">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin is a long-time critic of Sarah Palin and has made fun of Palin's daughter, Bristol Palin, using the Palin family as material for her comedy routines.<ref name="138F2">Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2011, Sarah Palin responded to Griffin by calling her a "bully".<ref name="wY0au">Template:Cite news</ref> In her reality television show, Griffin visited the Palin family home in Wasilla, Alaska, and invited Palin to attend her stand-up show in Anchorage, Alaska.<ref name="JIcqT">Template:Cite web</ref> Griffin has also poked fun at Willow Palin as a result of Palin's Facebook statements on homosexuality.<ref name="Y82uf">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2020, Griffin hosted the Str8Up Gay Porn Awards.<ref name="7oN6l">Template:Cite web</ref>

She was named the 2025 Advocate of the Year by the magazine The Advocate; an article in the magazine about this stated, "The Advocate is highlighting her bold activism and utterly unique humor by selecting her as our 2025 Advocate of the Year."<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

File:KathyGriffinTIFFSept2011.jpg
Griffin at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

In a 2006 interview, Griffin said she does not drink alcohol in spite of growing up in a family where she was surrounded by “lots” of alcoholism. She said, “I still think that if I would've taken a drink, I think I would have become an alcoholic very quickly.” By June 2020, Griffin developed an addiction to prescription drugs.<ref name="ykUcH">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="abc">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin's estranged eldest brother, Kenny, died from a drug overdose in October 2001.<ref name="cnn" /> Her brother Gary died of esophageal cancer in 2014.<ref name=":34" /> Her sister, Joyce Patricia Griffin, died in September 2017 from an undisclosed form of cancer.<ref name=":34">Template:Cite web</ref> Kathy had shaved her head in solidarity with her in late July.<ref name=":34" />

Her father, John Patrick Griffin, died of heart failure in 2007.<ref name="autogenerated3">Template:Cite news</ref> Her mother, Maggie, died on March 17, 2020.<ref name="autogenerated3" /><ref name="FkG2R">Template:Cite web</ref> In a post on her social media accounts, Griffin said, "I am gutted. My best friend. I am shaking. I won't ever be prepared. I'm so grateful you guys got to be part of her life. You knew her. You loved her. She knew it. Oh, and OF COURSE she went on St. Patrick's Day."<ref name="Mother dying">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1999, Griffin nearly died during a liposuction procedure in Los Angeles. She has undergone multiple plastic surgeries including breast augmentation and a nose job.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

She placed 17th on Oxygen's 2007 list of "The 50 Funniest Women Alive". In 2009, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to her.<ref name="Xhp1q">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin is an atheist. Speaking to Sacramento's Outword Magazine, Griffin said: "I think I'm getting more atheist because of the way the country is getting more into bible-thumping".<ref name="mB9z3">Quotelines Template:Webarchive, by Rex Wockner at Windy City Times (Accessed August 29, 2006).</ref> In her book Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, Griffin said that while in high school, she fell away from Catholicism. She considered becoming a Unitarian but was not sure what that would involve. In 2008, Griffin became an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church to officiate at the wedding of two fans.<ref name="YbPPR">Template:Cite news</ref>

She is an opponent of LASIK eye surgery, having had a series of operations that left her partially blind in one eye with a visible eyeball deformity.<ref name="33YjU">Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2021, she announced that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer although she is not a smoker, and needed to have half of her left lung removed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She underwent surgery the same month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In April 2023, Griffin revealed she was diagnosed with an "extreme case" of complex post-traumatic stress disorder.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin lived in the Hollywood Hills from 2004 to 2016.<ref name="varietybelairhouse">Template:Cite news</ref> Since then, she has resided in Bel Air.<ref name="varietybelairhouse" />

Marriages and relationships

File:Kathy and Woz (2400485190) (cropped2).jpg
Kathy Griffin with her then-boyfriend Steve Wozniak in April 2008
File:Defense.gov photo essay 080403-D-8901Q-004.jpg
Griffin and Jim Weiskopf of the Fisher House Foundation during her visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in April 2008

Griffin married computer administrator Matt Moline in 2001, after being introduced by Moline's sister, television producer Rebecca Moline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They divorced in May 2006.<ref name="JWIP7">Template:Cite news</ref> On Larry King Live, Griffin accused Moline of stealing $72,000 from her; Moline did not respond to the allegation publicly but said that he was saddened by it.<ref name="l1nb0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="QruVN">Template:Cite news</ref>

In July 2007, rumors that Griffin was dating Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak circulated.<ref name="tHReX">Template:Cite web</ref> Griffin and Wozniak attended the 2007 Emmy Awards together.<ref name="fGdyc">Template:Cite web</ref> On Tom Green's House Tonight on February 6, 2008, Griffin confirmed her relationship with Wozniak. Wozniak and Griffin served as King and Queen of the Humane Society of Silicon Valley Fur Ball on April 5, 2008, in Santa Clara, California.<ref name="Qj07g">Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2008, it was confirmed that Griffin and Wozniak were no longer dating.<ref name="z5P2X">Template:Cite episode</ref>

On August 9, 2009, Griffin attended the Teen Choice Awards with Levi Johnston<ref name="rpp10">Template:Cite web</ref> and then interviewed him on Larry King Live. In the interview, Griffin and Johnston joked that they were in a serious relationship.<ref name="lLDRT">Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 7, 2011, while appearing on The Howard Stern Show, Griffin announced that she was romantically involved with actor and former NFL practice-squad player Isaiah Mustafa. He later said that he was single.<ref name="efJbO">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the same interview, she said that the previous July, she had ended a four-year relationship with a man she did not identify but said he is "a regular guy with a regular job", and that it was a "messy breakup".<ref name="9mDgK">Template:Cite web</ref> It was later revealed that the man is Griffin's tour manager, who had appeared on several seasons of My Life on the D List.<ref name="gHifQ">Template:Cite web</ref>

From 2012 until November 2018, Griffin was in a relationship with marketing executive Randy Bick. They also reconciled in April 2019.<ref name="huffpost">Template:Cite web</ref> Griffin married Bick at her home on January 1, 2020, in a ceremony officiated by comedian Lily Tomlin.<ref name="2rKSj">Template:Cite web</ref> On December 29, 2023, Griffin filed for divorce from Bick, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The divorce was finalized on January 13, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Film

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1980 Battle Beyond the Stars Alien Extra Uncredited
Fade to Black Grauman's Chinese Theater Extra
1985 Streets of Fire Concertgoer
1991 The Unborn Connie
1992 Shakes the Clown Lucy
Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful Taffy
1994 Pulp Fiction Hit-and-run witness
It's Pat Herself
1995 Big News TV film
Four Rooms Betty
The Barefoot Executive Mary TV film
1996 The Cable Guy Mother
1997 The Big Fall Sally
Who's the Caboose? Katty
Trojan War Cashier
Courting Courtney Ona Miller
1999 Can't Stop Dancing Modeling agent
Dill Scallion Tina
Muppets from Space Female armed guard
Jackie's Back Herself TV film
2000 Lion of Oz Caroline Voice role
The Intern Cornelia Crisp
Enemies of Laughter Cindy
A Diva's Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Past TV film
E Nurse "The Real Slim Shady", music video collection
2001 On Edge Karen Katz
2002 Run Ronnie Run! Herself
2003 Beethoven's 5th Evie Kling
2005 Dirty Love Madame Pelly
2005 Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone Rhoga Voice role, direct-to–video
Her Minor Thing Maggie
Love Wrecked Belinda
2006 Bachelor Party Vegas Spaghetti Wrestling She-Elvis Uncredited cameo
2007 Judy Toll: The Funniest Woman You've Never Heard of Herself Documentary
In Search of Puppy Love
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
Heckler
2010 A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures Vera Voice role
Shrek Forever After Taran
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work Herself Documentary
2011 The Muppets Scene removed from theatrical release
Hall Pass
2015 Being Canadian Herself Documentary
2019 Kathy Griffin: A Hell Of A Story Herself Documentary
2021 Hysterical Herself Documentary

Television

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1989–1991 On the Television Various Episode: "Beauty and the Beast"
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990 Susan Klein Episode: "Not With My Pig, You Don't"
1993 Civil Wars Yvonne Episode: "Watt, Me Worry?"
Dream On Dawn Episode: "The French Conception"
1995 ER Dolores Minky Episode: "Motherhood"
Dweebs Sheila Episode: "The Birthday Party Show"
1995 Mad About You Brenda Episode: "New Year's Eve"
1996 Ellen Peggy Episode: "Oh, Sweet Rapture"
Partners Michelle Episode: "Can We Keep Her, Dad?"
Caroline in the City DMV clerk Episode: "Caroline and the Movie"
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Herself Episode: "Koppleman and Katz"
Saturday Night Special 2 episodes
1995–1996 Ned and Stacey Jeanne 2 episodes
1997 Oddville, MTV Episode: August 13, 1997
The Wonderful World of Disney Mary Episode: "The New Barefoot Executive"
1996–1998 Seinfeld Sally Weaver Episode: "The Cartoon" and "The Doll"
1997–1998 Premium Blend Herself Hostess
1999 Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Celebrity edition
2000 The X-Files Betty Templeton/Lulu Pfeiffer Episode: "Fight Club"
2000 Curb Your Enthusiasm Herself Episode: "The Pants Tent"
1999–2000 Dilbert Alice Voice role (uncredited)
1996–2000 Suddenly Susan Vicki Groener Main role; 93 episodes
2001 The Simpsons Francine Episode: "Bye Bye Nerdie"
Strong Medicine Matchmaker Episode: "Silent Epidemic"
Weakest Link Herself Episode: "Comedians Special"
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire "Comedy Edition"
Kathy's So-Called Reality Hostess
2002 The Drew Carey Show Kathy Episode: "The Eagle Has Landed"
The Anna Nicole Show Herself Christmas special
2003 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Luis Agent Autumn Summerfield Episode: "The Unnatural" (voice role)
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Roxanne Gaines Voice; episode: "Mind Games"
Crank Yankers Marion Simons Voice; episode: "Jim Florentine & Kathy Griffin"
The Mole Herself Season 3 winner
2002–2003 Whose Line Is It Anyway? 4 episodes (5–02, 5–15, 5–19, 5–29)
2002 National Lampoon's Funny Money Episode 1 (guest comedian)
2003 Average Joe Host, Season 1
2004 Stripperella The Bridesmaid Voice, 2 episodes
Half & Half Dr. Morgan Episode: "The Big Labor of Love Episode"
Celebrity Poker Showdown Herself Two episodes, third tournament
2001–2004 Hollywood Squares 86 episodes
2005 Cheap Seats Rae Episode: "1995 SuperDogs! Superjocks!"
Days of Our Lives Limo driver
All-Star Reality Reunion Herself Hostess
2006 Gameshow Marathon Herself Episode: "Match Game"
2007 Ugly Betty Fashion TV anchor Episode: "In or Out"
Loose Women Herself
2008 Rosie Live Impersonated Nancy Grace
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan Season 4, episode 24
2009 Privileged Olivia Episode: "All About a Brand New You"
Paris Hilton's My New BFF Herself Episode: "Must Have Thick Skin" (special guest)
2008–2010 Larry King Live Six episodes
2009 The Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers Roast Master
The Celebrity Apprentice 2 Special guest
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Celebrity question presenter
2005–2010 Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List 47 episodes
Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Babs Duffy Episode: "P.C."
RuPaul's Drag Race Guest judge Episode: "Gone With The Windows"
The Marriage Ref Episode: "Tracy Morgan, Kathy Griffin, and Nathan Lane"
Last Comic Standing Performer Season 7 finale
Shep & Tiffany Watch TV: The Best of 2010 Executive producer
2011 Glee Tammy Jean Albertson Episode: "Original Song"
Same Name Herself Season 1, episode 2<ref name="hollywoodreporter-griffin-samename">Template:Cite news</ref>
Drop Dead Diva Jenna Kaswell-Bailey Episode: "He Said, She Said"
America's Next Top Model Guest Judge Season 17, episode 7<ref name="RnkGX">Template:Cite web</ref>
2012 American Dad! Kelly Wilk Voice, episode: "The Kidney Stays in the Picture"<ref name="WG0G8">Template:Cite web</ref>
Whitney Lindsay Episode: "Codependence Day"
The Rosie Show Herself
Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off Herself Season 2, episode 6: "Star Studded Supper"
2012–2013 Kathy Host Talk show<ref name="tv-guide-jan5-griffin-shows" />
2013 Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual Herself Episode: "No Voice, No Choice"
2014 Kirstie Herself Episode: "The Girl Next Door"
2014 Big Brother 16 Herself Episode 25
2015 Fashion Police Host Talk show<ref name="6LGHE">Template:Cite web</ref>
RuPaul's Drag Race Guest judge 2 episodes
Big Brother 17 Herself Episode 5
2016 Lopez Herself Episode: "George Doubles Down"
2018 Make America Great-a-Thon: A President Show Special and A President Show Documentary: The Fall of Donald Trump Kellyanne Conway TV special
Funny You Should Ask Herself 9 episodes
2019 Crank Yankers Herself (voice) Episode: "Jimmy Kimmel, Kathy Griffin & Jeff Ross"
You Herself Episode: "Farewell, My Bunny"
2022 Search Party Liquorice Montague Recurring
2023 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Herself - Guest Episode: October 3<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2023 Futurama Captain Cranky Voice, episode: "Zapp Gets Canceled"

Other

Year Film Role Notes
1980s In Search of the Missing Numbers Negative Number Educational mathematics video
1980s Math Rock Countdown Member of the trio The Products Educational mathematics video

Stand-up specials

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Discography

On June 10, 2008, Griffin released a comedy CD titled For Your Consideration.<ref name="E5N9L">Template:Cite news</ref> The disc was recorded at the ETK Theatre at the Grand Theatre Center For The Arts in Tracy, California on February 17, 2008.<ref name="AZ-daily-star">Template:Cite news</ref> Griffin stated she decided to release the CD to try to win a Grammy award.<ref name="AZ-daily-star" />

On August 25, 2009, Griffin released a second comedy album, Suckin' It for the Holidays, in another bid for a Grammy.<ref name="81JQS">Template:Cite web</ref>

Griffin received her third Grammy nomination for Kathy Griffin: Does the Bible Belt in 2010,.<ref name="EpUeC">Template:Cite web</ref>

On May 4, 2012, the full length version of "I'll Say It", the theme song of her show Kathy, was released to iTunes as a single.<ref name="nSurg">Template:Cite web</ref> On August 20, 2012, Griffin released a seven-track EP containing dance remixes of "I'll Say It".<ref name="sWIip">Template:Cite web</ref>

Her fourth and fifth albums are 50 and Not Pregnant (2011) and Seaman 1st Class (2012) respectively.

Calm Down Gurrl (2013), her sixth album, won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album at the 56th Grammy Awards.

Look at My Butt Crack is her seventh album, it was recorded in Las Vegas and released in 2014.

Bibliography

Awards and nominations

Template:BLP sources section Primetime Emmy Awards
Emmy Awards source:<ref name="emmyawards">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Awards table |- | 2006 |Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List |Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program | Template:Nom |- | 2007 |Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List |Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program | Template:Won |- | 2008 |Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List |Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program | Template:Won |- |2008 | Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell |Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special | Template:Nom |- | 2009 |Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List |Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program | Template:Nom |- |2009 |Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut A Bitch | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special | Template:Nom |- | 2010 |Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List |Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program | Template:Nom |- | 2011 |Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List |Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program | Template:Nom |- | 2012 | Kathy Griffin: Tired Hooker | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special | Template:Nom |}

Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards source:<ref name="grammyawards">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Awards table |- | 2008 | For Your Consideration | rowspan="6" style="text-align:left;"|Best Comedy Album | Template:Nom |- | 2009<ref name="grammy2009">Template:Cite web</ref> | Suckin' It for the Holidays | Template:Nom |- | 2010<ref name="grammy2010">Template:Cite web</ref> | Kathy Griffin Does the Bible Belt | Template:Nom |- | 2011 | Kathy Griffin: 50 and Not Pregnant | Template:Nom |- | 2012 | Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class | Template:Nom |- | 2013 | Calm Down Gurrl | Template:Won |- |}

GLAAD Media Awards Template:Awards table |- | 2009<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Kathy Griffin | Vanguard Award | Template:Won |}

PGA Awards Template:Awards table |- | 2008 | rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|Television Producer of the Year Award in Non-Fiction Television | Template:Nom |- | 2009 | Template:Nom |- | 2010 | Template:Nom |}

Gracie Awards Template:Awards table |- | 2009 | Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Outstanding Female Lead – Comedy Series | Template:Won |}

Other Template:Awards table |- | 2025<ref name="auto"/> | | Advocate of the Year from the magazine The Advocate | Template:Won |}

References

Citations

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Bibliography

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