# Molly Shannon

Molly Shannon (born September 16, 1964) is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001. In 2017, she won the Film Independent Spirit Award for playing Joanne Mulcahey in the Chris Kelly autobiographical film Other People.
Shannon appeared in supporting roles in several films, including Happiness (1998), A Night at the Roxbury (1998), Never Been Kissed (1999), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Wet Hot American Summer (2001), Osmosis Jones (2001), My Boss's Daughter (2003), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), More of Me (2007), Evan Almighty (2007), and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015). She appeared in the animated films Igor (2008) and Hotel Transylvania (2012). On television, Shannon had roles in Enlightened (2013), Divorce (2016–2019), The Other Two (2019–2022), The White Lotus (2021), I Love That for You (2022), and Only Murders in the Building (2024), winning her first Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for the lattermost.

## Early life

Shannon was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 16, 1964, to an Irish-American Catholic family. Her maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, with her grandfather being from Cloghmore, Achill, Mayo. When Molly was four years old, she and her older sister survived when their drunk driving father caused a car crash that killed her mother, younger sister, and a cousin; she and her sister were raised by an aunt while their father went through a lengthy recovery from his self-inflicted injuries.
Shannon attended St. Dominic School in Shaker Heights for grade school, and Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio. She attended New York University, where she studied drama and graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1987.

## Career

Before Saturday Night Live, Shannon worked as a hostess at Cravings restaurant on Sunset Boulevard and as a food demo girl at Gelson's super market in Marina Del Rey. She auditioned for her first big film role and was cast, playing the supporting part of Meg in the 1989 horror film remake of The Phantom of the Opera, with Robert Englund. In 1991, she had a brief appearance in the second season of Twin Peaks as "the happy helping hand lady", and in 1993, she appeared with minor roles in three episodes of In Living Color, the first in a fake TV commercial with Shawn Wayans playing Chris Rock, the second in a sketch with Jim Carrey, playing LAPD Sergeant Stacey Koon, and third being a parody of Star Trek.
Shannon's major break came in February 1995, when she was hired as a featured player on Saturday Night Live to replace Janeane Garofalo after Garofalo left mid-season, reason being that the experience left her "anxious and depressed", and that she believed a sexist attitude pervaded the show. Shannon was one of the few cast members to be kept (along with David Spade, Norm Macdonald, Mark McKinney and Tim Meadows) when Lorne Michaels overhauled his cast and writers for season 21 (1995–96).
She appeared in a 1997 episode of Seinfeld titled "The Summer of George", where she played Sam, the co-worker who drove Elaine Benes crazy because she did not swing her arms while walking. She appeared in Sheryl Crow's video for the song "A Change (Will Do You Good)" and played the recurring role of loony neighbor Val Bassett, Grace Adler's nemesis, on Will & Grace, appearing in five episodes over the sitcom's eight-season run. In 1998, she played the role of Emily Sanderson in the film A Night at the Roxbury, featuring Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan who were also cast members of SNL at the time. She appeared in Sex and the City in a number of episodes.
In 1999, Shannon starred in Superstar, a feature film based on her SNL character, Mary Katherine Gallagher, the awkward Catholic school student who aspires to be a musical superstar.
During her run on SNL, Shannon starred in the film Never Been Kissed (1999), How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Osmosis Jones (2001) and Serendipity (2001). Shannon left SNL in 2001. In 2003, she appeared in the romantic comedy My Boss's Daughter and the television remake of The Music Man.
In 2004, she starred in a short-lived Fox network television series Cracking Up. That same year, she guest starred in an episode of Scrubs and starred as Mrs. Baker in the film Good Boy! In 2006, Shannon was featured in the Sofia Coppola-directed movie Marie Antoinette as Aunt Victoire. The next year, Shannon guest-starred on ABC's Pushing Daisies, and appeared in the film Evan Almighty. Shannon made a move to drama, appearing in Mike White's film Year of the Dog in 2007. In 2013, Shannon joined White again, playing his love interest Eileen in the HBO show Enlightened, for which she was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding guest actress.
Shannon hosted Saturday Night Live on May 12, 2007, making her the second former female cast member to host (after Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and the first one to have been a cast member for Lorne Michaels (Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member under Dick Ebersol).
In 2008, Shannon starred as Kath in the American version of the Australian sitcom Kath & Kim.
In early 2010, Shannon was cast in a recurring role on the Fox television series Glee as Brenda Castle, an astronomy and badminton teacher who has a rivalry with main character Sue Sylvester.
She returned to Saturday Night Live for a special Mother's Day episode on May 8, 2010, and the October 2010 reunion special "Women of SNL".
Shannon replaced Katie Finneran in the role of Marge McDougall in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises on October 12, 2010, and remained through its closure on January 2, 2011, along with co-stars Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.
Shannon's first children's book, Tilly the Trickster, was released September 1, 2011.
As of spring 2012, she has replaced Pauley Perrette as the spokesperson for Expedia.
In 2015, Shannon starred in the Sundance premiere of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. She was a guest, along with Denis Leary, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 9, 2015.
In 2016, Shannon co-starred in the HBO comedy Divorce opposite Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church.
Shannon won the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the highly acclaimed drama, Other People. She had two films premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival: The Little Hours and Fun Mom Dinner.
In 2018, Shannon co-hosted the Rose Parade with Will Ferrell on Amazon Prime Video in character as fictional local television personalities, Tish and Cord. In 2018, Shannon and Ferrell co-hosted HBO's broadcast of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as their characters Tish and Cord.
In 2018, Shannon co-starred in the critically acclaimed Netflix film Private Life, playing prickly Cynthia.
In 2022, Shannon released Hello, Molly!: A Memoir (ISBN 9780063056251).
In 2022, Shannon co-starred in the Showtime comedy television series I Love That for You alongside fellow former Saturday Night Live alum Vanessa Bayer.
In 2024, it was announced Shannon would join the upcoming fourth season of the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building in a recurring role.

### Saturday Night Live characters

* Mary Katherine Gallagher: Shannon's best known character. An odd, outcast student at a Catholic school who enjoyed performing in the choir and school plays. Shannon starred in the 1999 feature film Superstar based on the character.
* Sally O'Malley: a proud 50-year-old dancer ("I'm FIFTY!") with a bouffant hairdo, who wore tight red pants and proclaimed how much she loved to "kick, stretch and kick!"
* Circe Nightshade: co-host of "Goth Talk" (with Chris Kattan).
* Miss Colleen: co-host of "Dog Show" (with Will Ferrell).
* Elizabeth: one of the "Southern Gals."
* Helen Madden: an overly exuberant self-proclaimed "Joyologist", who appeared on talk shows with the trademark catchphrase "I love it, I love it, I love it!"
* Veronica Kilvere: an airhead fashion model who hosts the "Veronica & Co." talk show.
* Janette Blow: wife of Joe Blow (played by Colin Quinn) on "The Local News" public-access television cable TV talk show.
* Terri Rialto: co-host of the NPR radio show "Delicious Dish" (with Ana Gasteyer).
* Margaret Healy: a woman who enjoys doing many voices and accents.
* Jeannie Darcy: an unfunny mullet-haired stand-up comedian, who ended almost every joke with the phrase "Don't get me started, don't even get me started!"

#### Celebrity impressions

* Shania Twain
* Ann Miller
* Marie Osmond
* Michelle Kwan
* Keri Russell
* Janis Joplin
* Minnie Driver
* Elizabeth Taylor
* Gisele Bündchen
* Emma Bunton
* Courtney Love
* Gillian Anderson
* Madonna
* Paula Zahn
* Kim Cattrall
* Donatella Versace
* Meredith Vieira
* Monica Lewinsky
* Soon-Yi Previn
* Anna Nicole Smith
* Maggie Haberman
* Gwen Stefani
* Lisa Marie Presley
* Liza Minnelli
* Debbie Rowe
* Melania Trump
* Cate Blanchett
* Téa Leoni
* Tori Amos
* Betty Boothroyd
* Angelina Jolie
* Lucy Lawless
* Neve Campbell
* Courteney Cox (as Monica Geller on Friends)
* Suzy Amis Cameron
* Brooke Shields

## Personal life

Shannon married artist Fritz Chesnut on May 29, 2004. They have two children.

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | The Phantom of the Opera | Meg (New York) | |
| 1995 | Return to Two Moon Junction | Traci | |
| 1996 | Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace | Homeless Lady | |
| 1997 | Dinner and Driving | Arguing Woman in Cafe | |
| 1998 | Happiness | Nancy | |
| 1998 | A Night at the Roxbury | Emily Sanderson | |
| 1998 | The Thin Pink Line | Aanl | |
| 1998 | Daydream Believer | Susan Bradley | Short film |
| 1999 | Analyze This | Caroline | |
| 1999 | Never Been Kissed | Anita | |
| 1999 | My Neighbors the Yamadas | Matsuko Yamada | Japanese animated film; English version, Voiceover |
| 1999 | Superstar | Mary Katherine Gallagher | |
| 2000 | My 5 Wives | Dr. Van Dyke | |
| 2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Betty Lou Who | |
| 2001 | Wet Hot American Summer | Gail von Kleinenstein | |
| 2001 | Osmosis Jones | Mrs. Boyd | |
| 2001 | Serendipity | Eve | |
| 2001 | Shallow Hal | Mrs. Mary Larson | |
| 2002 | The Santa Clause 2 | Tracy | |
| 2003 | Seeing Double | Jo | |
| 2003 | American Splendor | Stage Actor Joyce | |
| 2003 | My Boss's Daughter | Audrey Bennett | |
| 2003 | Good Boy! | Mrs. Baker | |
| 2005 | Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie | Jackie Frost | Voice role |
| 2006 | Shut Up and Sing (aka The Wedding Weekend) | Trish | |
| 2006 | Scary Movie 4 | Marilyn | |
| 2006 | Marie Antoinette | Aunt Victoire | |
| 2006 | Little Man | Soccer Mom | |
| 2006 | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby | Mrs. Dennit | |
| 2006 | Gray Matters | Carrie | |
| 2006 | Air Buddies | Molly | Voice role; Direct-to-video |
| 2007 | Year of the Dog | Peggy Spade | |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | Eve Adams | |
| 2008 | Snow Buddies | Molly | Voice role; Direct-to-video |
| 2008 | Igor | Eva | Voice role |
| 2009 | What Goes Up | Penelope Little | |
| 2011 | Bad Teacher | Melody Tiara | |
| 2012 | Casa de Mi Padre | Sheila | |
| 2012 | The Five-Year Engagement | Onion Chef | |
| 2012 | Scary Movie 5 | Heather Darcy | |
| 2012 | Hotel Transylvania | Wanda | Voice role |
| 2013 | Trust Me | Janice | |
| 2014 | Life After Beth | Geenie Slocum | |
| 2015 | Me and Earl and the Dying Girl | Denise Kushner | |
| 2015 | Addicted to Fresno | Margaret | |
| 2015 | Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant | Emily McCoy | |
| 2015 | Hotel Transylvania 2 | Wanda | Voice role; Cameo appearance |
| 2016 | Other People | Joanne Mulcahey | |
| 2016 | Miles | Pam Walton | |
| 2017 | The Little Hours | Sister Marea | |
| 2017 | Fun Mom Dinner | Jamie | |
| 2017 | We Don't Belong Here | Deborah | |
| 2017 | The Layover | Nancy | |
| 2018 | Private Life | Cynthia | |
| 2018 | Half Magic | Mistress Valesca | |
| 2018 | Wild Nights with Emily | Emily Dickinson | |
| 2018 | Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | Wanda | Voice role |
| 2019 | Sextuplets | Linda | |
| 2019 | Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Joline | |
| 2020 | Promising Young Woman | Mrs. Fisher | |
| 2020 | Horse Girl | Joan | |
| 2022 | Hotel Transylvania: Transformania | Wanda | Voice role |
| 2022 | Spin Me Round | Deb | |
| 2022 | Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special | Herself | Stand-up special |
| 2023 | A Good Person | Diane | |
| TBA | Balls Up | TBA | Post-production |
| TBA | People We Meet on Vacation | TBA | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Twin Peaks | Judy Swain | 1 episode |
| 1992–1993 | In Living Color | Officer Trainee | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | General Hospital | Surrogate Mother #2 | 1 episode |
| 1994 | The John Larroquette Show | Vivian | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Sister, Sister | Cashier | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Ellen | Woman | 1 episode |
| 1995–2001 | Saturday Night Live | Various | 117 episodes |
| 1997 | The Single Guy | Melody Pugh | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Seinfeld | Sam | 1 episode |
| 1999–2004; 2018–2020 | Will & Grace | Val Bassett | 8 episodes |
| 2000 | SNL Fanatic | Anna Nicole Smith | TV short |
| 2001 | Saturday Night Live Primetime Extra 1 | Elizabeth Taylor | TV short |
| 2002 | Sex and the City | Lily Martin | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Herself (cameo) | TV movie |
| 2003 | Johnny Bravo | Multiple voices | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Ed | Linda Berringer | 1 episode |
| 2003 | The Music Man | Mrs. Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn | TV movie |
| 2004 | The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve | Angie | TV movie |
| 2004 | Scrubs | Denise Lemmon | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Cracking Up | Lesley Shackleton | 7 episodes |
| 2005–2007 | American Dad! | Kristy | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | My Gym Partner's a Monkey | Pretties | 1 episode |
| 2006 | The Amazing Screw-On Head | Patience the Vampire | Voice role; unsold pilot |
| 2007 | 30 Rock | Katherine Catherine | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Pushing Daisies | Dilly Balsam | 1 episode |
| 2007 | The Mastersons of Manhattan | Amanda Masterson | TV movie |
| 2007 | More of Me | Alice McGowan | TV movie |
| 2007, 2023 | Saturday Night Live | Herself | Host; 2 episodes |
| 2008–2009 | Kath & Kim | Kath | 18 episodes |
| 2009 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Jeannie | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Glee | Brenda Castle | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Neighbors from Hell | Tina Hellman | Voice role; 10 episodes |
| 2011, 2013 | The Middle | Janet | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Up All Night | Nancy | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Web Therapy | Kirsten Noble | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Partners | Cassandra | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Doc McStuffins | Rita | Voice role; 1 episode |
| 2013 | Happily Divorced | Peggy | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Enlightened | Eileen Foliente | 4 episodes |
| 2013 | Hannibal | Kidnapper | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Jessie | Col. Beverly Shannon | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Super Fun Night | Jane Spencer | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Getting On | Phyllis Marmatan | 3 episodes |
| 2013–2022 | Bob's Burgers | Millie | Voice role; 8 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Raising Hope | Maxine | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Bambi Cottages | Cathleen Burke | TV movie |
| 2014 | The Spoils of Babylon | Meredith Sennheiser | 2 episodes, TV miniseries |
| 2014 | Benched | Judge Conner | 1 episode |
| 2014–2015 | The Millers | Miss Pam | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Mulaney | Markie | 1 episode |
| 2015 | The Spoils Before Dying | Tricksy | 2 episodes, TV miniseries |
| 2015 | Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp | Gail Dana Starfield | 7 episodes |
| 2016 | Animals. | Olivia | Voice role; 1 episode |
| 2016 | Childrens Hospital | Paula Reilly | 1 episode |
| 2016–2019 | Divorce | Diane | Main role |
| 2017 | Life in Pieces | Allie | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later | Gail Dana Starfield | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | The 2018 Rose Parade Hosted by Cord & Tish | Tish Cattigan | Amazon Video coverage |
| 2018 | The Royal Wedding Live with Cord & Tish! | Tish Cattigan | HBO coverage |
| 2018 | Spy Kids: Mission Critical | Murna | Voice role; 12 episodes |
| 2019–2023 | The Other Two | Pat Dubek | Main role |
| 2020 | Better Things | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2021 | The White Lotus | Kitty Patton | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | I Love That for You | Jackie Stilton | Main role |
| 2024 | Only Murders in the Building | Bev Melon | Recurring role |
| 2024 | The Simpsons | Katya | Voice role; 1 episode |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Web Therapy | Kirsten Noble | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Ghost Ghirls | Joy Button | 3 episodes, streaming on Yahoo! Screen |
| 2016 | Rhett and Link's Buddy System | Rhonda | 1 episode, streaming on YouTube Premium |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
| 2017 | "Swish Swish" | Katy Perry feat. Nicki Minaj | Coach Molly |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2016 | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Other People | Nominated |
| 2016 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Other People | Nominated |
| 2012 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film | Hotel Transylvania | Nominated |
| 2000 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Actress – Comedy | Superstar | Nominated |
| 2001 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Nominated |
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series | Enlightened | Nominated |
| 2019 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated |
| 2021 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated |
| 2018 | FilmOut San Diego | Best Actress | Wild Nights with Emily | Won |
| 2016 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | Other People | Won |
| 2022 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | I Love That for You | Nominated |
| 2016 | Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Other People | Nominated |
| 2019 | International Online Cinema Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated |
| 2022 | International Online Cinema Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated |
| 1998 | National Board of Review Awards | Best Acting by an Ensemble | Happiness | Won |
| 1997 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Host or Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | Nominated |
| 2000 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Host or Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | Nominated |
| 2018 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Will & Grace | Nominated |
| 2020 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Will & Grace | Nominated |
| 2021 | Pena de Prata | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Other Two | Nominated |
| 2021 | Pena de Prata | Best Guest Actor or Actress in a Drama or Limited Series | The White Lotus | Nominated |
| 2021 | Pena de Prata | Best Ensemble in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or TV Special | The White Lotus | Won |
| 2000 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | Saturday Night Live | Nominated |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Enlightened (Episode: "The Ghost Is Seen") | Nominated |
| 2018 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Will & Grace (Episode: "There's Something About Larry") | Nominated |
| 2018 | Provincetown International Film Festival | Excellence in Acting Award | — | Won |
| 2016 | Savannah Film Festival | Spotlight Award | — | Won |
| 2006 | TV Guide Awards | Editor's Choice | Will & Grace | Won |
| 2016 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Other People | Nominated |