Jimmy Kimmel Bio, Age, Height, Education, Career, Wife, Kids, Net Worth, Major Achievements
Jimmy Kimmel Biography And Wiki
Jimmy Kimmel, born James Christian Kimmel on November 13, 1967, in Brooklyn, New York, is a prominent American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. Raised in Las Vegas, he is the eldest of three children and has Italian roots through his mother, Joan. Jimmy attended Ed W. Clark High School and later Arizona State University after a year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His career began in radio, where he hosted shows like The Kevin & Bean Show on KROQ in Los Angeles, inspired by his idol David Letterman. He later gained national fame as the co-host of Win Ben Stein’s Money from 1997 to 2002, which earned him a Daytime Emmy Award.
Age And Birthday
Jimmy Kimmel, born on November 13, 1967, is currently 57 years old.
Height And Weight
Jimmy Kimmel is 6 feet 1 inch (186 cm) tall and weighs approximately 184 pounds (84 kg).
Education Background
Jimmy Kimmel attended Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas before briefly studying at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He then transferred to Arizona State University, where he graduated.
Nationality And Ethnicity
Jimmy Kimmel is an American born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, with his family when he was nine years old. Ethnically, he is of mixed heritage; his mother, Joan (Iacono), is of Italian descent with roots from Ischia, Naples, Italy, while his father, James John Kimmel, has Irish, German, and Welsh ancestry.
Milestones, Significant Contributions, And Notable Works
Milestones:
Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, debuted on ABC on January 26, 2003, and has since become one of the network’s longest-running shows. He has hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards three times (2012, 2016, and 2020) and the Academy Awards twice (2017 and 2018). In 2018, Time magazine recognized him as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People.”
Significant Contributions:
Kimmel’s Mean Tweets segment, where celebrities react to unflattering tweets about themselves, has become one of his show’s most popular and viral features. Known for his political satire, Kimmel regularly uses his platform to humorously critique political issues. He is also actively involved in charity work, having co-founded Joke 4 Miles, a charity supporting children battling cancer.
Notable Works:
Kimmel co-hosted The Man Show from 1999 to 2002, which gained a loyal following. He also co-created and co-executive produced Crank Yankers, a comedy series featuring prank calls reenacted by puppets. Additionally, he co-hosted Win Ben Stein’s Money from 1997 to 2002, earning a Daytime Emmy Award for his efforts. Kimmel authored and illustrated The Serious Goose, a children’s book with all proceeds benefiting children’s hospitals. Moreover, he has lent his voice to characters in animated films and TV shows like The Boss Baby and Family Guy.
Wife and Children
Jimmy Kimmel is married to Molly McNearney, the executive producer and co-head writer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. They tied the knot in 2013 and have two children: Jane, 10, and Billy, 7. Billy was born with a rare, life-threatening heart condition, and the family has been actively involved in supporting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Kimmel also has two adult children, Katie, 33, and Kevin, 31, from his previous marriage to Gina Maddy.
Family, Siblings, Parents
Jimmy Kimmel has two siblings: his younger brother, Jonathan, who works as a director on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and his sister, Jill, who is a comedian. His father, James John Kimmel, worked at American Express and as an IBM executive. His mother, Joan (Iacono), is of Italian descent, with her family coming from Ischia, Naples, Italy. Jimmy’s family has been very supportive of his career, with some members even appearing on his show.
Career
Jimmy Kimmel started his career in radio, working at stations in Seattle, Tampa, and Palm Springs, where he developed his unique comedy style. He became well-known as “Jimmy the Sports Guy” on The Kevin & Bean Show at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, where his funny sports commentary helped him gain recognition.
Kimmel’s TV career took off when he co-hosted Win Ben Stein’s Money from 1997 to 2002. His witty interactions with Ben Stein won them a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host. From 1999 to 2003, he co-hosted The Man Show with Adam Carolla, a popular but controversial show on Comedy Central that gained a strong fanbase for its bold take on male topics.
In 2003, Kimmel launched Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC, which became one of the longest-running late-night talk shows. The show features celebrity interviews, comedy skits, and live music performances. Popular segments include “Mean Tweets,” where celebrities read mean tweets about themselves, and the Halloween candy prank, where parents tell their kids they ate all their Halloween candy.
Kimmel has hosted major events, including the Primetime Emmy Awards three times (2012, 2016, and 2020) and the Academy Awards twice (2017 and 2018), earning praise for his ability to manage these events with humor.
In addition to hosting, Kimmel co-created and co-executive produced Crank Yankers, a comedy series with prank calls acted out by puppets. In 2019, he wrote and illustrated The Serious Goose, a children’s book with all proceeds going to children’s hospitals. He has also voiced characters in animated films and shows like The Boss Baby and Family Guy.
Hobbies And Personal Challenges
Jimmy Kimmel enjoys cooking and likes trying out new recipes. He also loves playing pranks, especially his annual Halloween prank where he tells his kids he ate all their candy. Spending time with his wife, Molly, and their children is very important to him.
Kimmel has dealt with narcolepsy, a condition that causes him to feel very sleepy during the day and have sudden sleep attacks, though he keeps it mostly private. Like many parents, he has to balance his work with his family responsibilities.
Net Worth
Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth is estimated at $55 million. He earns a significant income from his role as the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC, where he makes $15 million annually. He also earns $15,000 for hosting the Oscars and receives $3 million in bonuses from ABC.
Major Achievements
Jimmy Kimmel’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been nominated multiple times for Outstanding Talk Series at the Emmy Awards. He won the award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for his work on the 2024 Oscars and was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for the same event.
He has also been nominated several times for Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host at the People’s Choice Awards for his role on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kimmel received a nomination for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television at the PGA Awards for his work on the show.
In 2018, Kimmel was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.” He also won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for Win Ben Stein’s Money and has received numerous other nominations, including for the Primetime Emmy Awards and PGA Awards.
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