Molly Shannon
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Distinguish Template:Infobox person Molly Shannon is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001. In 2017, she won the Film Independent Spirit Award for playing Joanne Mulcahey in the Chris Kelly autobiographical film Other People.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Shannon appeared in supporting roles in several films, including Happiness (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), and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015). She appeared in the animated films Igor (2008) and Hotel Transylvania (2012). On television, Shannon had roles in Enlightened (2013), Divorce (2016–2019), The Other Two (2019–2022), The White Lotus (2021), I Love That for You (2022), and Only Murders in the Building (2024), winning her first Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for the lattermost.
Early life
Shannon was born to an Irish-American Catholic family.<ref>Template:Cite interview</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, with her grandfather being from Cloghmore, Achill, Mayo.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>
On June 1, 1969, when Shannon was four years old, she and her older sister, Mary, survived a car crash that killed her younger sister, Katie, her cousin Fran and her mother.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (since that time, most light poles have been converted to breakaway poles to reduce injuries).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.”<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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,<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
She returned to Saturday Night Live for a special Mother's Day episode on May 8, 2010,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Broadway Revival of Promises, Promises to Close Template:Webarchive</ref>
Shannon's first children's book, Tilly the Trickster, was released September 1, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2018, Shannon co-starred in the critically acclaimed Netflix film Private Life, playing prickly Cynthia.
In 2022, Shannon released Hello, Molly!: A Memoir (Template:Isbn).<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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
Personal life
Shannon married artist Fritz Chesnut on May 29, 2004.<ref name=Foxwed>Template:Citation</ref> They have two children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
Television
| 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 (also known as ‘crazy Val’, among other nicknames used by the main characters of the show.) | 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 | The Twelve 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 2018 Rose Parade Hosted by Cord & Tish | Tish Cattigan | Amazon Video coverage |
| The Royal 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 |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Web Therapy | Kirsten Noble | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Ghost Ghirls | Joy Button | 3 episodes, streaming on Yahoo! Screen |
| 2016 | Rhett & Link's Buddy System | Rhonda | 1 episode, streaming on YouTube Premium |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Swish Swish" | Katy Perry feat. Nicki Minaj | Coach Molly |
Awards and nominations
References
External links
Template:Commons category Template:Wikiquote
Template:IndependentSpiritBestSupportingFemale Template:Former Saturday Night Live cast members
- Living people
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century American comedians
- 21st-century American memoirists
- Actresses from Shaker Heights, Ohio
- American film actresses
- American people of Irish descent
- American sketch comedians
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- Circle in the Square Theatre School alumni
- Hawken School alumni
- Best Supporting Female Independent Spirit Award winners
- Tisch School of the Arts alumni
- Date of birth missing (living people)
- Place of birth missing (living people)