Jimmy Kimmel

Kimmel married Gina Maddy in 1988, and they divorced in 2002. They have two children, Katie and Kevin. He began dating comedian Sarah Silverman in 2002, and their relationship ended in 2009.

Kimmel and Molly McNearney, a co-head writer and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, began dating in 2009, became engaged in 2012, and married in July 2013. They have two children, Jane and William, known as Billy. Kimmel became a grandfather in 2025 when his eldest daughter had a daughter.

Billy was born with tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, a rare congenital heart defect, and underwent open-heart surgery three days after his birth in 2017. Kimmel discussed the condition on his show and used the experience to advocate for coverage of pre-existing conditions and access to affordable healthcare. Billy later underwent additional heart surgery in 2017 and a third successful operation in 2024.

Kimmel began working in radio while he was still in high school, hosting an interview program on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas station KUNV. His first paying radio job was as morning-drive co-host of The Me and Him Show at KZOK-FM in Seattle in 1989. He later worked in Phoenix, Palm Springs, Tucson, and Los Angeles.

At KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, he became known as “Jimmy the Sports Guy” on The Kevin and Bean Show. During this period he befriended Adam Carolla. Kimmel also hired Carson Daly as an intern on his Palm Springs radio show after knowing him since childhood.

Kimmel moved to television in 1997 as co-host of Comedy Central's Win Ben Stein's Money. His quick, conversational style complemented Ben Stein's dry delivery, and the pair won the 1999 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host.

Beginning in 1999, Kimmel co-hosted The Man Show with Adam Carolla on Comedy Central. The program used irreverent humor, sketches, stunts, and discussions aimed at a young male audience. Its success helped establish Kimmel as a television personality and led to appearances as a commentator on Fox NFL Sunday.

Kimmel, Carolla, and Daniel Kellison formed the production company Jackhole Industries. The company produced Crank Yankers, a puppet comedy built around prank phone calls, as well as The Andy Milonakis Show and Sports Show with Norm Macdonald. Kimmel also co-wrote and produced the film Windy City Heat, which won the Comedia Award for Best Film at the 2004 Montreal Comedy Festival.

His other work has included voice roles in Garfield: The Movie, Monsters vs. Aliens, The Boss Baby, The Boss Baby: Family Business, and PAW Patrol: The Movie. In 2018 he launched another production company, Kimmelot.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! debuted on ABC in January 2003. The late-night program initially received modest reviews and ratings, but Kimmel gradually built an audience with edgy monologues, celebrity interviews, and recurring segments such as “Celebrities Read Mean Tweets” and “This Week in Unnecessary Censorship.” His cousin Sal Iacono and aunt Concetta “Aunt Chippy” Potenza have appeared in recurring parts of the show, while his brother Jonathan has worked as a director.

Kimmel has hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012, 2016, and 2020. He hosted the Academy Awards in 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024, and the 2024 ceremony won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special, Live.

In 2023, Kimmel joined Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver to host the comedy podcast Strike Force Five. The podcast supported staff members who were out of work during the writers' strike.

ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September 2025 after comments Kimmel made about reactions to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The program returned to the air on September 23 after protests and a debate over free speech, although some ABC affiliate stations initially declined to broadcast it.

Kimmel's advocacy for healthcare access became especially prominent after Billy's heart condition was diagnosed. In a widely discussed monologue, he described his son's surgery and argued that children with congenital conditions should receive medical care regardless of their family's financial circumstances. He later criticized Senator Bill Cassidy over proposed healthcare legislation and urged viewers to contact their representatives.

Kimmel has also been involved in public disputes connected to his comedy. A long-running joke involving Matt Damon developed into a series of sketches and celebrity appearances after Kimmel's then-partner Sarah Silverman made the video “I'm Fucking Matt Damon.” Kimmel responded with “I'm Fucking Ben Affleck,” which featured Ben Affleck and numerous other performers.

In 2018, Kimmel played Senator Ted Cruz in a one-on-one basketball game known as the Blobfish Basketball Classic after mocking Cruz's appearance. Cruz won the game, and the event raised funds for charity.