Molly Shannon filmography and biography
Date of birth: 16 September 1964, Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA
Molly Shannon biography
Molly Shannon has successfully become one of Hollywood's most
sought-after talents on television and the silver screen.
Shannon returned to television in 2008 starring in the US version of the
popular Australian sitcom, "Kath and Kim" for NBC with
Selma Blair. "Kath and Kim" earned a "Favorite New Comedy"
nomination from the People's Choice Awards in its first season.
The very busy Shannon also lent her voice to Exodus Film Group's CG
animated feature Igor, a comedy that brought a new twist to the classic
monster genre, along with Jeremy Piven, Steve Buscemi and
John Cleese.
Shannon was also seen in the Lifetime Original movie, More of Me,
playing multiple versions of an overwhelmed and overextended career
woman who struggles to find balance in her roles as a wife, mother and
working professional. In her most recent big screen appearance, Shannon
starred in the quirky Paramount Vantage comedy Year of the Dog for
writer-director Mike White.
Shannon's recent film credits include a cameo in Evan Almighty, the
sequel to the hilarious comedy Bruce Almighty, opposite
Steve Carell; Keenen Ivory Wayans' Little Man; Talladega
Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Will Ferrell and an
appearance in the box-office smash hit Scary Movie 4. Molly's
independent film credits include Sue Kramer's Gray Matters opposite
Heather Graham and Bruce Leddy's Shut Up & Sing.
Shannon starred as Betty Lou Who in Ron Howard's worldwide blockbuster,
How the Grinch Stole Christmas; and the title role in Paramount's hit
comedy, Superstar, portraying everybody's favorite Catholic schoolgirl,
Mary Katherine Gallagher. Additionally, she also starred in the
following feature films: A Night at the Roxbury, a spin-off of the
popular head-bopping, nightclubbing brothers on
Saturday Night Live; Warner Bros. comedy, Analyze This,
opposite Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro; Todd Solondz's
controversial Happiness; and Fox 2000's Never Been Kissed, opposite
'Drew Barrymore'; The Good Boy!, a CGI-animated live-action comedy; My
Boss's Daughter with Ashton Kutcher; Miramax's romantic comedy,
Serendipity, opposite John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale;
Osmosis Jones, the animated comedy co-starring Bill Murray (I);
the independent feature film, Wet Hot American Summer, opposite
Janeane Garofalo and David Hyde Pierce; and a featured
cameo opposite Tim Allen (I) in Disney's The Santa Clause 2.
On television, Shannon has been seen opposite
Christopher McDonald (I) and Jason Schwartzman in the
off-beat comedy series, Cracking Up, created by her
Year of the Dog director, Mike White. Molly also starred in USA
Networks original movie, 12 Days of Christmas Eve and appeared in the
remake of the classic musical, The Music Man, co-starring Matthew
Broderick and Kristen Chenoweth. Additional television guest
appearances include memorable roles on "Will & Grace," "Sex and the
City," and "Seinfeld," among many others.
Molly Shannon spent six seasons as a member of the repertory company on
"Saturday Night Live," primarily known for the eclectic characters she
created, such as Mary Katherine Gallagher and Sally O'Malley. She is
also praised for her parodies of Courtney Love, Liza Minnelli, Monica
Lewinsky, and Meredith Vieira.
Prior to joining "SNL," Molly appeared at The Up Front Comedy Theater in
Los Angeles in "The Rob and Molly Show," an improvisational show she
co-wrote with Rob Muir.
Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Molly earned a BFA in drama from New York
University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.
Molly Shannon trivia
- Presented at the 2000 GLAAD Media Awards for films and TV shows that
accurately portray gay and lesbian characters.
- Graduated from Hawken School in Chesterland, Ohio, June 1983, where she
was a classmate of actress Greer Goodman.
- Was in a car crash at age 4 that killed her 34 year old mother, her 3
year old sister, and a 25 year old cousin. She has used that as a
motivation for her life.
- Graduated from NYU in 1987.
- Dated songwriter and guitarist James Patrick Whalen Jr..
- Appeared in Sheryl Crow's 1997 video "A Change Would Do You Good"
- (March 2003) Became engaged to Fritz Chestnut, an artist.
- (28 September 2003) Molly & Fritz welcomed their first child, a girl
named Stella Shannon Chestnut.
- BFA in Drama - New York University, Tisch School of the Arts (1987)
- (1998) Broke up with longtime boyfriend screenwriter
Neal Brennan.
- (15 March 2005) Had a second baby, a boy, named Nolan Shannon Chesnut
- Wore an off-white "garden dress" designed by SNL wardrobe department
head Dale Richards in her May 2004 wedding to Fritz Chesnut.
- She is from the neighborhood in Ohio as Paul Newman (I),
Fred Willard and David Wain.
- She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Molly Shannon quotes
- "I used to get painful crushes on really unavailable guys."
- "I feel great about it. I did six full years, and I loved it. I just
felt like it was time. Not everything is going to be a perfect
decision. Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss, and that's the way it
goes." - about leaving "Saturday Night Live" to pursue a film career
- "My dad was a real fun guy and, despite his personal problems, he was a
great father. It wasn't easy, but he did a good job of raising my
sister Mary and I all by himself."