Jimmy Kimmel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jimmy Kimmel |
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Kimmel in 2022
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| Birth name | James Christian Kimmel |
| Born | November 13, 1967 New York City, U.S. |
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| Education | Arizona State University (BA) |
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Gina Maddy
(m. 1988; div. 2002)Molly McNearney
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 4 |
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James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel (born November 13, 1967) is an American television host, comedian, and producer. He is best known as the host of the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which he has hosted since 2003. Kimmel has also hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards three times and the Academy Awards four times.
Before his own show, Kimmel co-hosted Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money. He has also produced other TV shows like Crank Yankers and The Andy Milonakis Show. In 2018, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He is currently the longest-running late-night talk show host in the United States.
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Early Life and Family
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He is the oldest of three children. His father, James John Kimmel, was an executive at IBM, and his mother is Joan Iacono. He was raised in the Catholic faith and served as an altar boy.
His mother's family is from Italy. They came to the United States from the island of Ischia after an earthquake in 1883. Some of his father's ancestors were German immigrants. In 2025, he became a citizen of Italy.
When Kimmel was nine, his family moved to Las Vegas. He graduated from Ed W. Clark High School. He attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for one year and then went to Arizona State University.
Many of Kimmel's family members have appeared on his show. His uncle, Frank Potenza ("Uncle Frank"), was a regular guest from 2003 until he passed away in 2011. His cousin, Sal Iacono, is a writer and performer on the show.
Career Path
Starting in Radio
Inspired by David Letterman, Kimmel started his career in radio while he was still in high school. He hosted a show on the college radio station at UNLV. Later, he got his first paying radio job in Seattle, Washington. He also worked at radio stations in Tampa, Florida, and Palm Springs, California.
Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles and worked for the radio station KROQ-FM. For five years, he was known as "Jimmy The Sports Guy" on a morning show. This is where he met his friend and fellow comedian, Adam Carolla.
Rise to Fame on Television
At first, Kimmel wasn't interested in television. But he was offered a role as the funny co-host on the game show Win Ben Stein's Money in 1997. His humor and personality, next to Ben Stein's serious style, made the show a hit. They even won an Emmy award for Best Game Show Host.
In 1999, while still on Win Ben Stein's Money, Kimmel started another show on Comedy Central called The Man Show with Adam Carolla. The show's success allowed them to create other comedy shows, including Crank Yankers, where Kimmel voiced several puppet characters.
Hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In January 2003, Kimmel left The Man Show to start his own late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, on the ABC network. Even though the show is called "Live," it has not been broadcast live since 2004. This is to allow for editing in case anything unexpected happens.
Famous Running Gags
One of the most famous jokes on his show is how he ends it each night: "My apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time." This started a pretend feud between Kimmel and the actor Matt Damon. Once, Damon actually came on the show, but Kimmel told him they were out of time just seconds after he sat down. The "feud" is a long-running joke that both of them enjoy.
In 2008, Kimmel's then-girlfriend, comedian Sarah Silverman, made a joke music video with Matt Damon. In response, Kimmel made his own star-studded music video with Damon's friend, Ben Affleck. The video featured many celebrities, including Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, and Robin Williams.
Controversial Moments
In 2013, a segment on his show called "Kids Table" caused a controversy. During a discussion about U.S. debt, a child suggested a shocking solution involving China. Kimmel's reaction led to protests. ABC and Kimmel both apologized, saying they never meant to upset anyone.
Kimmel has also been open about his political views. He said that after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, he told ABC he would quit if he couldn't make jokes about him. He believes he lost about half of his audience because of his political jokes.
Other Work and Projects
Besides his own show, Kimmel has appeared on many other programs. He was a football expert on Fox NFL Sunday for four years. He has also hosted the American Music Awards five times and the ESPY Awards once.
In 2010, during a conflict between talk show hosts Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, Kimmel appeared on Leno's show. He openly criticized Leno for his role in the conflict, which surprised the audience.
Kimmel has hosted the Academy Awards four times, in 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024. His hosting has been praised for its humor and ability to handle live television moments.
In 2020, he began hosting a celebrity version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. During the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, he started a podcast called Strike Force Five with other late-night hosts to support their staff.
Personal Life
Kimmel is a practicing Catholic. He has also shared that he has narcolepsy, a condition that can cause him to fall asleep suddenly.
He was married to Gina Maddy from 1988 to 2002, and they have two children, Katherine and Kevin. In May 2025, Kimmel became a grandfather when his daughter Katherine had a baby girl. From 2002 to 2009, he dated comedian Sarah Silverman.
In 2013, Kimmel married Molly McNearney, who is a co-head writer for his show. They have a daughter, Jane, and a son, William, who is called "Billy."
Billy was born in 2017 with a serious heart condition. He needed surgery just three days after he was born. Kimmel spoke about his son's health on his show. He used his experience to talk about the importance of good healthcare for all children, especially those with pre-existing conditions.
In 2020, on the TV show Finding Your Roots, Kimmel discovered that he is a cousin of the famous businesswoman and TV personality Martha Stewart.
Images for kids
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Kimmel at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 25, 2013
See also
In Spanish: Jimmy Kimmel para niños
