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

They've been married for 10 years (and counting)

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Published Feb 23, 2024

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From his self-titled late-night talk show to his major emcee gigs, Jimmy Kimmel, 56, is making major strides in the TV industry. So, it should come as no surprise that he's keeping the momentum going with yet another impressive gig: hosting the 2024 Oscars ceremony. This will mark Kimmel's fourth time spearheading the event, which takes place on March 10, 2024.

At the 95th Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney, worked alongside her partner as an executive producer for the ceremony. She even collaborated with him on his jokes, telling Variety, "We didn't want to make this year all about last year. I cannot tell you how many Will Smith jokes we had that then we got rid of. We think that only the best for that room made it. There were certainly some that went harder, but we didn't think that was our place to do that."

The talented couple are a force to be reckoned with when the cameras are rolling, but now, we want to know, who is McNearney behind the scenes? Does she share any kids with her partner? Keep scrolling for details.

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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 45-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 the 2024 ceremony.)

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.

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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.”

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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

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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 Sibide 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.

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5. What Charities Do They Support?

The couple made headlines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 by matching donations of up to $25,000 to the charity St. Joseph's Center to help families in need. On Instagram, Kimmel wrote, "Let’s make sure that every kid gets presents this year. @StJosephCtr makes sure that children in LA & their parents have food to eat and gifts to open."

6. What Inspired McNearney's Segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live?

McNearney hates her husband's hoarding habits so much that she was inspired to start her own segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, called "Win Jimmy's Crap."

That's right—the screenwriter has used the game to give away random items that range from pink crocs to Princess Leia dolls. On the show, he told the audience, "You know, marriage isn't easy. One of the biggest ongoing conflicts I have with my wife is about stuff. She doesn't like mine. She likes hers."

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7. Do They Have Any Children?

Kimmel and McNearney currently share two children: Jane (9), born in July 2014, and William "Billy" John (6), born in April 2017. According to Kimmel, the kids inherited their parents' sense of humor. Kimmel told People, "They are very funny. Well, they have no respect for me whatsoever. They make fun of me. They're just goofballs."

Two weeks after the couple welcomed Billy, Kimmel revealed on Live! that his son had a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. He explained, "Basically, the pulmonary valve was completely blocked and he has a hole in the wall between the left and right sides of his heart."

Fortunately, his surgeries were successful, and Billy made an appearance on his dad's show at just 7 months old. Kimmel said, "Billy is doing great, by the way...They say he'll probably be on track to win at least a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2036."

In addition to Jane and Billy, Kimmel also has two children from his previous marriage to Gina Maddy. Katie Kimmel (32) is a ceramic artist based in Los Angeles, and Kevin Kimmel (30) has worked in the sound department for shows like Tosh.0, Big Brother and Last Comic Standing.

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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...

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