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"
Had a uncredited cameo in Shallow Hal (2001) as Hal's mother.
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]
Molly Shannon has segued from television to the silver screen and quickly become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. She will next be seen in the CGIanimated live-action comedy The Good Boy! and makes a highly anticipated return to television in the FOX sitcom, Cracking Up. Earlier this year, Shannon appeared in the remake of the classic musical The Music Man.
Shannon's recent film credits include Serendipity opposite John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, the animated comedy Osmosis Jones and the independent feature film Wet Hot American Summer opposite 3aneane Garofalo and David Hyde-Pierce. Molly also appeared in a cameo role opposite Tim Allen in Santa Claus 2. She portrayed Betty Lou Who in Ron Howard's The Grinch That Stole Christmas and played the title role in the comedy Superstar, the film about Mary Katherine Gallagher, a favorite character to Saturday Night Live audiences. Molly's additional credits include, A Night at the Roxbury, Analyze This and Never Been Kissed.
Molly Shannon spent six seasons as a member of the repertory company at Saturday Night Live. Primarily known for the eclectic characters that she created, such as Mary Katherine Gallagher, she was also praised for her parodies of Courtney Love, Liza Minnelli, Monica Lewinsky, & The View's Meredith Vieira, which continue to be a highlight in a revitalized ensemble cast. Prior to joining SNL, Molly appeared at The Up Front Comedy Theater in Los Angeles in The Rob and Molly Show, an improvisational show which she co-wrote with Rob Muir. Her television credits include multiple guest appearances on Seinfeld, Will & Grace and Sex and the City.
