entertainment

Meet Jimmy Kimmel’s Wife & 'Murder Mystery' Star, Molly McNearney

From his self-titled late-night talk show to his major emcee gigs, ​​Jimmy Kimmel is, by far, one of the biggest names on TV. And this year, he’s hosting the 2023 Oscars ceremony, marking his third time.

In addition to his hosting duties, Kimmel has been busy juggling his career with marriage and fatherhood. So, who is Jimmy Kimmel’s wife? And how long have they been together? Keep scrolling for details.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

1. Who is Jimmy Kimmel’s wife?

Kimmel is married to Molly McNearney, the co-head writer and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live. The 43-year-old Missouri native has also worked as a writer for the Oscars, the Emmys and the 2012 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. (Fun fact: McNearney will executive produce this year’s ceremony on March 12, where Kimmel will host.)

If McNearney looks vaguely familiar, that’s probably because she’s appeared on her husband’s show on a few occasions. Additionally, she made cameos in Murder Mystery, Dumplin' and The Morning Show.

BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

2. How did Kimmel and McNearney meet?

McNearney first met Kimmel when she was hired on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Although their first meeting wasn’t exactly a pleasant one, things took a turn for the better after she had worked there for six years.

"When I first met him, he insulted me," McNearney told Glamour. "The executive producer brought me into his office and said, 'This is Molly; she's my new assistant.' Jimmy barely looked up from his desk until my EP said, 'She competes in triathlons,' and then Jimmy looked up at me and said, 'That is really stupid! What a waste of time.' That was the first and only thing he probably said to me the entire first year of working there."

When asked if she ever thought about dating him, she said, “I was in a relationship and he was in a relationship, so it never occurred to me. And that's workplace 101. You don't date your boss.”

Well, fast-forward to 2010, and her boss had invited her to have a home-cooked meal. She said, “We really liked each other as friends, and then it just kind of turned. He cooked for me, and that was it. It sealed the deal.”

Paul Morigi/Getty Images

3. When did they get engaged?

After dating for nearly three years, Kimmel asked McNearney to marry him while they were vacationing at South Africa’s Kruger National Park. The pair kept details of their engagement under wraps, but it comes as no surprise, given that they’ve been relatively private about their relationship

Greg Doherty/WireImage

4. When did Kimmel and McNearney get married?

McNearney and Kimmel tied the knot in July 2013 in California. Their star-studded guest list included Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski and Kristen Bell. And get this: McNearney pranked Kimmel before they exchanged vows.

When it was time for the bride to walk down the aisle, the groom was shocked to see Empire star Gabourey Sidibe in a wedding gown. While speaking with Elle, she said, “I thought someone was going to jump me, I was so afraid that someone was going to run and attack me like 'No! Molly's day!'” Fortunately, McNearney and Sidibe managed to pull off their prank.

Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

5. Do they have any children?

Kimmel and McNearney currently share two children, who you might've seen on Kimmel’s show. Their daughter, Jane, was born in July 2014, and their son, William "Billy" John, was born in April 2017.

Kimmel also has two children from his previous marriage to Gina Maddy. Katie Kimmel (29) is a ceramic artist based in Los Angeles, and Kevin Kimmel (27) has worked in the sound department for shows like Tosh.0, Big Brother and Last Comic Standing.

Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here.

Quinta Brunson Gets Her Emmys Revenge Against Jimmy Kimmel After His Awkward Stunt


Nakeisha Campbell

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

Nakeisha has been interviewing celebrities and covering all things entertainment for over 8 years, but she has also written on a wide range of topics, like career...
read full bio

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.