Molly Helen Shannon was born on the 16th September 1964, in Shaker Heights, Ohio USA, of Irish descent. She is an actress, comedian and writer, best known for being part of the cast in the series “Saturday Night Live” (1995 – 2001) and also starring in the series “Kath & Kim” (2008 – 2009) alongside co-star Selma Blair. She has also landed a number of roles in feature films, in which she often appears with the actor and comedian Will Ferrell. Shannon has been active in the entertainment industry since 1987.
How rich is the actress? Authoritative sources estimate that the total size of Molly Shannon’s wealth is as much as $5 million, as of the data presented in the middle of 2016. Acting is the main source of her net worth.
Molly Shannon Net Worth $5 Million
To begin with, Shannon was raised in Shaker Heights in a Catholic household. Her mother, Peg Shannon, was a teacher whereas his father, James F. Shannon, was a sales manager. Shannon was involved in a car accident when she was four years old, in which her mother, younger sister and cousin were killed. Shannon was educated at St. Dominic school in Shaker Heights and Hawken school in Gates Mills, Ohio. She is a graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts.
Shannon began her career in a supporting role in the film “The Phantom of the Opera” (1989) as Meg, alongside Robert Englund. In 1991, she appeared in the second season of “Twin Peaks”, then in 1993, she appeared in a supporting role in two episodes of “In Living Colour”, in the first with Shawn Wayans and the second with Jim Carrey. Molly joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” by replacing Janeane Garofalo in 1995. These contributed a steady start to Molly’s net worth.
In 1999, Shannon starred opposite Will Ferrell in the feature film based on her most famous character of SNL, Mary Katherine Gallagher “Superstar”, about an awkward Catholic school student who aspires to be a musical superstar. In 2001, Shannon left SNL, after beating Victoria Jackson as the longest serving member of the cast of women in the show. Later, she starred in the feature films “My Boss’s Daughter” (2003), “American Splendour” (2003) and “Good Boy!”. In 2004, she starred in a series “Cracking Up” with actor Jason Schwartzman, and the same year, Shannon was a guest star in an episode of “Scrubs”. In 2006, Shannon starred in the film “Marie Antoinette”, then the following year was a guest star in the series “Pushing Daisies” and appeared in the film “Evan Almighty”, and was also cast as main in “Year of the Dog” in 2007. Being in constant demand served her net worth very well.
Afterwards, she landed the lead role in the television series “Kath & Kim” (2008 – 2009), and starred in the comedy-drama film “What Goes Up” (2009) co-written, co-produced and directed by Jonathan Glatzer. In 2013, she was in the main cast of comedies “Scary Movie 5” by Malcolm D. Lee and “Trust Me” by Clark Gregg. The same year she appeared as a guest star in the series “Enlightened”, and was nominated for Critic’s Choice and Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of the Outstanding Guest Actress. In 2014, she received mixed reviews starring in the zombie comedy “Life After Beth” by Jeff Baena.
Most recently, Molly has starred in the comedy drama “Other People” written and directed by Chris Kelly, and number of films featuring Shannon will be released – “We Don’t Belong Here” (2016), “Half Magic” (2016), “The Layover” (2016), “Fun Mom Dinner” (2017) and “The Little Hours” (2017).
Finally, in the personal life of the actress, she is married to the artist Fritz Chesnut; the family has two children.
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series (2013), Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2013)
Movies
“The Phantom of the Opera” (1989), “Twin Peaks” (1991), “Marie Antoinette” (2006), "Enlightened" (2013), “Evan Almighty”, “Half Magic” (2016), “The Layover” (2016), “Fun Mom Dinner” (2017), “The Little Hours” (2017)
Known for her characters on Saturday Night Live (1975): Mary Katherine Gallagher (the nerdy Catholic school girl) and Helen Madden (the licensed joyologist).
#
Quote
1
My dad was a real fun guy and, despite his personal problems, he was a great father. It wasn't easy, but he did a good job of raising my sister Mary and I all by himself.
2
I feel great about it. I did six full years, and I loved it. I just felt like it was time. Not everything is going to be a perfect decision. Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss, and that's the way it goes - about leaving Saturday Night Live (1975) to pursue a film career.
3
I used to get painful crushes on really unavailable guys.
Had first born child with the name of Stella Shannon Chestnut. [September 2003]
3
Both of her parents were of Irish descent.
4
She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
5
She is from the neighborhood in Ohio as Paul Newman, Fred Willard and David Wain. Shaker Heights, Ohio is also the name of the place that the Cleaver family was from in the early sitcom, "Leave It To Beaver".
6
Wore an off-white "garden dress" designed by SNL wardrobe department head Dale Richards in her May 2004 wedding to Fritz Chestnut.
7
Had a second baby, a boy, named Nolan Shannon Chestnut. [March 2005]
8
BFA in Drama - New York University, Tisch School of the Arts (1987).
9
Molly & Fritz welcomed their first child, a girl named Stella Shannon Chestnut. [September 2003]
10
Became engaged to Fritz Chestnut, an artist. [March 2003]
11
Appeared in Sheryl Crow's 1997 video "A Change Would Do You Good".
12
Graduated from NYU in 1987.
13
Was in a car crash at age 4 that killed her 34 year old mother, her 3 year old sister, and a 25 year old cousin. She has used that as a motivation for her life.
14
Graduated from Hawken School in Chesterland, Ohio, June 1983, where she was a classmate of actress Greer Goodman.
15
Presented at the 2000 GLAAD Media Awards for films and TV shows that accurately portray gay and lesbian characters.
Various Mary Katherine Gallagher Courtney Love ...
Web Therapy
2010
TV Series
Kirsten Noble
The New Adventures of Old Christine
2009
TV Series
Jeannie
What Goes Up
2009
Penelope Little
Kath & Kim
2008-2009
TV Series
Kath Day
Igor
2008
Eva (voice)
Snow Buddies
2008
Video
Molly (voice)
The Mastersons of Manhattan
2007
TV Movie
Amanda Masterson
Pushing Daisies
2007
TV Series
Dilly Balsam
More of Me
2007
TV Movie
Alice McGowan
American Dad!
2005-2007
TV Series
Kristy
Evan Almighty
2007
Eve Adams
30 Rock
2007
TV Series
Katherine Catherine
Year of the Dog
2007/I
Peggy
Air Buddies
2006
Video
Molly (voice)
Gray Matters
2006/I
Carrie
The Amazing Screw-On Head
2006
TV Short
Patience the Vampire (voice)
My Gym Partner's a Monkey
2006
TV Series
Pretties
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006
Mrs. Dennit
Littleman
2006
Soccer Mom
Marie Antoinette
2006
Aunt Victoire
Cracking Up
2004-2006
TV Series
Lesley Shackleton
Scary Movie 4
2006
Marilyn
Shut Up and Sing
2006
Trish
Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie
2005
Video
Jackie Frost (voice)
The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve
2004
TV Movie
Angie
Scrubs
2004
TV Series
Denise Lemmon
Will & Grace
1999-2004
TV Series
Val Bassett
Good Boy!
2003
Mrs. Baker
My Boss's Daughter
2003
Audrey Bennett
Ed
2003
TV Series
Linda Berringer
The Music Man
2003
TV Movie
Mrs. Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn
Johnny Bravo
2003
TV Series
Heather Asplund / Woman / Hequia
American Splendor
2003
Stage Actor Joyce
The Santa Clause 2
2002
Tracy
Sex and the City
2002
TV Series
Lily Martin
Shallow Hal
2001
Mrs. Mary Larson (uncredited)
Serendipity
2001
Eve
Osmosis Jones
2001
Mrs. Boyd
Saturday Night Live Primetime Extra 1
2001
TV Short
Elizabeth Taylor
Wet Hot American Summer
2001
Gail
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000
Betty Lou Who
My 5 Wives
2000
Barbara Van Dyke
SNL Fanatic
2000
TV Short
Anna Nicole Smith
Superstar
1999
Mary Katherine Gallagher
My Neighbors the Yamadas
1999
Matsuko Yamada (English version, voice)
Never Been Kissed
1999
Anita
Analyze This
1999
Caroline
The Thin Pink Line
1998
Aanl
A Night at the Roxbury
1998
Emily Sanderson
Happiness
1998
Nancy
Dinner and Driving
1997
Arguing Woman in Cafe
Seinfeld
1997
TV Series
Sam
The Single Guy
1997
TV Series
Melody Pugh
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace
1996
Homeless Lady
Return to Two Moon Junction
1995
Traci
Ellen
1994
TV Series
Woman
Sister, Sister
1994
TV Series
Checker
The John Larroquette Show
1994
TV Series
Vivian
In Living Color
1992-1993
TV Series
Officer Trainee / Various
General Hospital
1993
TV Series
Surrogate Mother #2
Twin Peaks
1991
TV Series
Judy Swain
The Phantom of the Opera
1989
Meg (New York)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2015
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special
2015
TV Special performer: "SNL 40th Medley"
Saturday Night Live
1995-2010
TV Series performer - 5 episodes
Scrubs
2004
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Music Man
2003
TV Movie performer: "Pick A Little Talk A Little", "Its You"
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Molly Shannon
2001
Video short performer: "Do-Re-Mi", "The Lady Is a Tramp", "What's Love Got to Do with It", "Private Dancer", "Proud Mary", "Sometimes When We Touch" - uncredited