The Love Story of Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney: A Journey from Workmates to Parenthood

Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney were colleagues on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for six years before their relationship changed.

McNearney, who started dating Kimmel in 2009, shared how their friendship at work grew into something more. "After the show, all the writers would hang out together. We spent more time together and really enjoyed each other's company. Eventually, our friendship turned into romance. He even cooked for me, and that was the moment when I knew he was the one," she revealed in a 2014 interview with Glamour.

The couple got engaged during a safari trip in Africa in 2012 and later tied the knot in Ojai, California in 2013. Before marrying McNearney, Kimmel was previously married to Gina Maddy in 1988, but they divorced in 2002. Together, they have a daughter named Katherine and a son named Kevin, born in 1991 and 1993 respectively.

Kimmel and McNearney welcomed their first child together, daughter Jane, in July 2014. Their second child, son Billy, was born in April 2017, expanding their family even further.

Scroll through for a timeline of their relationship:

2003

McNearney started working on the talk show as an assistant to the executive producer. Her first encounter with her future husband, however, wasn't the most pleasant. Despite this rocky start, she has since moved up the ranks to become co-head writer and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

During their initial meeting, McNearney remembered feeling insulted by Jimmy. The executive producer introduced her as his new assistant, but Jimmy didn't pay much attention until he learned that she competes in triathlons. His response? "That is really stupid! What a waste of time," he remarked.

She explained that Kimmel proceeded to win her over with food, saying, “He cooked for me, and that was it. It sealed the deal.”

Jimmy Kimmel and Wife Molly McNearny s Relationship Timeline

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August 2012

After nearly a decade together, Kimmel popped the question while on a safari in Africa.

July 2013

The pair tied the knot at the Ojai Valley Inn in front of several of their A-list pals, including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Ellen DeGeneres.

February 2014

Kimmel shared the exciting news of his wife's pregnancy on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He mentioned, “It’s funny, because I was just with some friends who had a baby. I was like, ‘Oh, yeah.’ There’s new ways to do things.”

During the show, Kimmel humorously joked about possible baby names, suggesting, “Karate or The Riddler are the names we’re thinking of right now…And I would like the baby’s middle name to be Effin. And not the curse version of it, like e-f-f-i-n. Like Ellen Effin DeGeneres. I mean, what a great name, right?”

Jimmy Kimmel and Wife Molly McNearny s Relationship Timeline

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July 2014

Kimmel shared the exciting news of welcoming his daughter Jane in a heartfelt post on X. He expressed his joy by congratulating his wife Molly McNearney for delivering their baby girl. Kimmel also thanked everyone for their kind wishes, proving that not all tweets are negative.

McNearney advised, "Hey kids, stay away from drugs. But once you have a baby, go ahead and try them all."

A representative for Kimmel also shared the exciting news about the baby with We, mentioning that McNearney is "doing great."

April 2017

In April 2017, Kimmel and McNearney's son Bill was born with congenital heart defects. He had to undergo several surgeries to treat his condition. Kimmel announced this news on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! McNearney later expressed that she was caught off guard by how emotional the experience was.

McNearney shared with The Hollywood Reporter in December 2017 about the emotional moment in her living room breastfeeding Billy with her mom by her side, watching a story unfold. She tearfully witnessed the strength it took for her husband to share their experience just a week after it happened.

Reflecting on the selfless act, she mentioned that their family already had access to excellent healthcare, so there was nothing to gain personally. It was all done for the sake of others they had encountered in the hospital. When he returned home, she embraced him tightly, overwhelmed by his compassion and kindness.

In February 2018, Ellen DeGeneres surprised Jimmy Kimmel by announcing that the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles had dedicated a room in its Heart Institute floor to his son Billy. Kimmel was moved to tears and expressed his gratitude with a kiss on DeGeneres’ cheek.

Jimmy Kimmel and Wife Molly McNearny s Relationship Timeline

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September 2018

During a recent episode of his late night show, Kimmel playfully teased that his wife, McNearney, has a bigger admiration for Beyoncé than she does for him. He humorously remarked, "My wife is a huge Beyoncé fan. I mean, she adores Beyoncé more than she adores me. It's like comparing her love for Beyoncé to her love for a stomach virus - they're just not on the same level."

In September 2020, he expressed his concerns about a hypothetical situation involving Beyoncé. He imagined a scenario where Beyoncé decides to take extreme actions against men, referring to them as animals who will never change. He mentioned that if such a situation were to arise, he would prefer not to be present because he knows his wife would side with Beyoncé.

Kimmel's Coworker Relationship with McNearney

Kimmel shared some insights into his working relationship with McNearney during an episode of the “SmartLess” podcast. He mentioned that he often wakes up in the middle of the night with a new joke or idea and can't resist sharing it with her. He jokingly rationalizes this behavior by thinking that since it's her job, it's okay for him to do so.

Kimmel and McNearney announced on Instagram that they would match donations up to $25,000 for St. Joseph Center, a charity in Los Angeles that helps struggling families during the holiday season.

In the post, Kimmel emphasized the importance of ensuring that every child receives presents this year. He highlighted the work of St. Joseph Center in providing food and gifts to children and their parents in LA. Just $25 can make a difference in bringing holiday cheer to those in need. A heartwarming photo of Jane and Billy laughing together inside a cardboard box under a Christmas tree accompanied the message.

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