Molly Shannon has successfully become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents on television and the silver screen.
Shannon was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, to Mary Margaret (Keating), a teacher, and James Francis Shannon, a sales manager. Her parents were both of Irish descent. She earned a BFA in drama from New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.
Prior to joining "SNL", Molly appeared at The Up Front Comedy Theater in Los Angeles in "The Rob and Molly Show", an improvisational show she co-wrote with Rob Muir. Shannon spent six seasons as a member of the repertory company on Saturday Night Live (1975), primarily known for the eclectic characters she created, such as "Mary Katherine Gallagher" and "Sally O'Malley". She is also praised for her parodies of Courtney Love, Liza Minnelli, Monica Lewinsky and Meredith Vieira.
Shannon starred as "Betty Lou Who" in Ron Howard's worldwide blockbuster, Le Grinch (2000); and the title role in Paramount's hit comedy, Superstar (1999), portraying everybody's favorite Catholic schoolgirl, "Mary Katherine Gallagher". Additionally, she also starred in the following feature films: Une nuit au Roxbury (1998), a spin-off of the popular head-bopping, nightclubbing brothers on Saturday Night Live (1975); Warner Bros. comedy, Mafia blues (1999), opposite Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro; Todd Solondz's controversial Happiness (1998); and Fox 2000's Collège attitude (1999), opposite 'Drew Barrymore'; Mon chien, ce héros! (2003), a CGI-animated live-action comedy; Mon boss, sa fille et moi (2003) with Ashton Kutcher; Miramax's romantic comedy, Un amour à New York (2001), opposite John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale; Osmosis Jones (2001), the animated comedy co-starring Bill Murray; the independent feature film, Wet Hot American Summer (2001), opposite Janeane Garofalo and David Hyde Pierce; and a featured cameo opposite Tim Allen in Disney's Hyper Noël (2002).
Shannon's recent film credits include a cameo in Evan tout-puissant (2007), the sequel to the hilarious comedy, Bruce tout-puissant (2003), opposite Steve Carell; Keenen Ivory Wayans' Little Man (2006); Ricky Bobby, roi du circuit (2006) with Will Ferrell and an appearance in the box-office smash hit, Scary Movie 4 (2006). Molly's independent film credits include Sue Kramer's Gray Matters (2006) opposite Heather Graham and Bruce Leddy's Shut Up and Sing (2006).
On television, Shannon has been seen opposite Christopher McDonald and Jason Schwartzman in the off-beat comedy series, Cracking Up (2004), created by her Year of the Dog (2007) director, Mike White. Molly also starred in USA Networks original movie, The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve (2004), and appeared in the remake of the classic musical, The Music Man (2003), co-starring Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth. Additional television guest appearances include memorable roles on Will & Grace (1998), Sex and the City (1998) and Seinfeld (1989), among many others.
Shannon returned to television in 2008, starring in the US version of the popular Australian sitcom, Kath & Kim (2008), for NBC with Selma Blair. "Kath and Kim" earned a "Favorite New Comedy" nomination from the People's Choice Awards in its first season.
The very busy Shannon also lent her voice to Exodus Film Group's CG animated feature, Igor (2008), a comedy that brought a new twist to the classic monster genre, along with Jeremy Piven, Steve Buscemi and John Cleese.
Shannon was also seen in the Lifetime Original movie, Moi, moi et moi, c'est beaucoup (2007), playing multiple versions of an overwhelmed and overextended career woman who struggles to find balance in her roles as a wife, mother and working professional. In her most recent big screen appearance, Shannon starred in the quirky Paramount Vantage comedy, Year of the Dog (2007), for writer-director Mike White.
