Biography for
Molly Shannon More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

16 September 1964, Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA

Birth Name

Molly Helen Shannon

Height

5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Biography

Before "Saturday Night Live" (1975), Molly Shannon had a struggling career in films. She gained notice as Meg in the present day sequences in the horror film remake of The Phantom of the Opera (1989) with Robert Englund and Jill Schoelen, which was a major hit in 1989. Her big break came in 1995 when she joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" (1975), where she played various characters, the best known of which was Mary Katharine Gallagher. After her departure from SNL she refocused on a film career. She again played Mary Katharine Gallagher in Superstar (1999) and had a supporting role in Never Been Kissed (1999). Her more recent films include How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Shallow Hal (2001), The Santa Clause 2 (2002), Serendipity (2001) and Osmosis Jones (2001).

IMDb Mini Biography By: A. Nonymous

Mini 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 DeNiro; 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; the independent feature film, Wet Hot American Summer, opposite Janeane Garofalo and David Hyde-Pierce; and a featured cameo opposite Tim Allen in Disney's The Santa Clause 2.

On television, Shannon has been seen opposite Christopher MacDonald 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.

IMDb Mini Biography By: PMK HBH

Spouse

Fritz Chesnut

(29 May 2004 - present) 2 children

Trade Mark

Known for her characters on Saturday Night Live(1975) Mary Katherine Gallagher (the nerdy Catholic school girl) and Helen Madden (the licensed joyologist).

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"

Became engaged to Fritz Chesnut - an artist. [March 2003]

Molly & Fritz welcomed their first child, a girl named Stella Shannon Chestnut. [28 September 2003]

BFA in Drama - New York University, Tisch School of the Arts (1987)

Broke up with longtime boyfriend screenwriter Neal Brennan. [1998]

Had a second baby, a boy, named Nolan Shannon Chesnut [15 March 2005]

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, Fred Willard and David Wain.

Personal 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."

Where Are They Now

(September 2003) Had first born child with the name of Stella Shannon Chesnut.

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