- Molly Shannon
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Molly Shannon 
Shannon at the 2008 Tribeca Film FestivalBorn Molly Helen Shannon
September 16, 1964
Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S.Occupation Actress Years active 1987–present Spouse Fritz Chesnut (2004–present) Molly Helen Shannon (born September 16, 1964) is an American comic actress best known for her work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995–2001 and for starring in the films Superstar and Year of the Dog. More recently, she starred in NBC's Kath & Kim from 2008–2009 and on the TBS animated series Neighbors from Hell. Throughout Shannon's career she has appeared in a number of films in supporting roles. Molly currently guest-hosts on the CBS daytime talk show The Talk.
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Early life
Shannon was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, to an Irish American Catholic family.[1][2] Her mother, Peg Shannon, was a teacher, and her father, James F. Shannon, was a sales manager.[3] Shannon was involved in a car accident when she was four years old which killed her mother, younger sister and cousin.[4] Shannon attended St. Dominic School in Shaker Heights for grade school, and Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio, for high school.
Career
Before Saturday Night Live, Shannon had a struggling career in films, her most notable being a supporting role as 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, and in 1993, she appeared with minor roles in two episodes of In Living Color, the first in a fake TV commercials with Chris Rock (played by Shawn Wayans), and the second in a sketch with Jim Carrey, playing LAPD Sergeant Stacey Koon.
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. 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 engaged in a major cast overhaul between seasons 20 and 21.
She appeared in a 1997 episode of Seinfeld entitled "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 also 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.
In 1999, Shannon starred alongside Will Ferrell in Superstar, a feature film based on her most famous SNL character, Mary Katherine Gallagher, the awkward Catholic school student who aspires to be a musical superstar.
Shannon left SNL in 2001, surpassing Victoria Jackson as the show's longest-serving female cast member (she has since been surpassed by Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, and Amy Poehler). In 2003, she appeared in the romantic comedy My Boss's Daughter and the television remake of The Music Man.
Fritz Chesnut and Shannon in 2009.
In 2004, she starred in a short-lived Fox network television series Cracking Up with actor Jason Schwartzman. 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 the film Evan Almighty. Shannon also made a rare move to drama, appearing in the critically acclaimed film Year of the Dog in 2007.
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).
Shannon at the Orange County, California Children's Book Festival on October 2, 2011 promoting her first children's book, Tilly the Trickster.In 2008, Shannon starred as Kath in the US version of the hit Australian sitcom Kath & Kim. Also in 2008, she starred in an episode of the comedy series Pushing Daisies and the TV movie More of Me.
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.[5]
She returned to Saturday Night Live for a special Mother's Day episode on May 8, 2010.,[6] and also 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 12 October 2010, and will remain through its closure on 2 January 2011 along with co-stars Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.[7]
Shannon's first children's book, Tilly the Trickster, will be released September 1, 2011.[8]
Personal life
Shannon married artist Fritz Chesnut on May 29, 2004.[9] They have two children: daughter Stella (b. 2003), and son Nolan (b. 2005).[10]
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 1989 The Phantom of the Opera Meg 1991 Twin Peaks Judy Swain 1 episode 1993 In Living Color Officer Trainee 1 episode General Hospital Surrogate Mother #2 1 episode 1994 The John Larroquette Show 1 episode Sister, Sister Cashier 1 episode Ellen Woman 1 episode 1995 Saturday Night Live Various 120 episodes (1995–2001) Return to Two Moon Junction Traci 1996 Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace Homeless Lady 1997 Dinner and Driving Arguing Woman in Café The Single Guy Melody Pugh 1 episode Seinfeld Sam 1 episode 1998 The Thin Pink Line Aanl Happiness Nancy A Night at the Roxbury Emily Sanderson Daydream Believer Susan Bradley 1999 Analyze This Caroline Never Been Kissed Anita My Neighbors the Yamadas Matsuko Yamada Dubbed English Voice Superstar Mary Katherine Gallagher Will & Grace Val Bassett 5 episodes (1999–2004) 2000 SNL Fanatic Anna Nicole Smith TV My 5 Wives Barbara Van Dyke How the Grinch Stole Christmas Betty Lou Who 2001 Wet Hot American Summer Gail von Kleinenstein Saturday Night Live Primetime Extra 1 Elizabeth Taylor TV Osmosis Jones Mrs. Boyd Serendipity Eve Shallow Hal Mrs Mary Larson Uncredited 2002 Sex and the City Lily Martin 3 episodes The Santa Clause 2 Tracy 2003 American Splendor Stage Actor Joyce The Music Man Mrs Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn TV Ed Linda Berringer 1 episode My Boss's Daughter Audrey Bennett Good Boy! Mrs. Baker 2004 Scrubs Denise Lemmon 1 episode The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve Angie TV Cracking Up Lesley Shackleton 7 episodes (2004–2006) 2005 Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie Jackie Frost Voice American Dad! Kristy 3 episodes (2005–2007) 2006 Shut Up and Sing Trish Scary Movie 4 Marilyn Marie Antoinette Aunt Victoire Little Man Soccer Mom Talladega Nights Mrs. Dennit My Gym Partner's a Monkey Pretties 1 episode The Amazing Screw-On Head Patience the Vampire TV / Voice Gray Matters Carrie Air Buddies Molly Voice 2007 The Mastersons of Manhattan Amanda Masterson Year of the Dog Peggy 30 Rock Katherine Catherine 1 episode Evan Almighty Eve Adams More of Me Alice TV Pushing Daisies Dilly Balsam 1 episode 2008 More of Me Alice Made of televisión Snow Buddies Molly Voice Igor Eva Voice Kath & Kim Kath 18 episodes (2008–2009) 2009 What Goes Up Penelope Little The New Adventures of Old Christine Jeannie 1 episode 2010 Glee Brenda Castle 2 episodes: Bad Reputation and Dream On Neighbors from Hell Tina Hellman Voice 2011 Bad Teacher Melody The Middle Frankie's sister, Janet Season 3: "Thanksgiving III" Up All Night Nancy 1 Episode 2012 Hotel Transylvania Wanda Voice Saturday Night Live characters
Original 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 a 1999 feature film based on the character.
- Sally O'Malley, a proud 50-year old dancer 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 women who enjoys doing lots of 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
- Angelina Jolie
- Ann Miller
- Anna Nicole Smith
- Betty Boothroyd
- Brooke Shields
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Björk
- Bobbi McCaughey
- Cate Blanchett
- Courtney Love
- Donatella Versace
- Debbie Rowe
- Denise Rich
- Gisele Bundchen
- Gwen Stefani
- Emma Bunton
- Janis Joplin
- Julianna Margulies
- Kim Cattrall
- Liza Minnelli
- Madonna
- Meredith Vieira
- Minnie Driver
- Monica Lewinsky
- Paula Zahn
- Shania Twain
- Soon-Yi Previn
- Tori Amos
References
- ^ Cranky Critic StarTalk: Movie Star Interview with Molly Shannon
- ^ The Lantern - Shannon talks about SNL and being a "Superstar"
- ^ Molly Shannon Biography (1964-)
- ^ YouTube - Molly Shannon - Life Insurance Awareness Month 2007
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (February 10, 2010). "'Glee' exclusive: Molly Shannon declares war on Sue Sylvester!". The Ausiello Files. Entertainment Weekly. http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/02/10/glee-molly-shannon-sue-sylvester/. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
- ^ STAGE TUBE: New Betty White SNL Promo! (TV Content)
- ^ Broadway Revival of Promises, Promises to Close
- ^ http://www.abramsbooks.com/Books/Tilly_the_Trickster-9781419700309.html
- ^ Associated Press (June 2, 2004), "Former 'SNL' Member Molly Shannon Weds", Fox News Channel (Fox News Network), http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,121525,00.html, retrieved May 16, 2010
- ^ Hontz, Jenny (October 5, 2008), "Funny Girl: Molly Shannon", Page Six Magazine (News Corporation), http://www.nypost.com/pagesixmag/issues/20081005/Funny+Girl+Molly+Shannon, retrieved May 16, 2010
External links
Categories:- 1964 births
- Living people
- Actors from Ohio
- American comedians
- American film actors
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- American comedians of Irish descent
- American people of Irish descent
- Circle in the Square Theatre School alumni
- Emmy Award winners
- People from Cleveland, Ohio
- People from Shaker Heights, Ohio
- Women comedians
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