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Jimmy Kimmel is a constant part of probably every internet user’s life. The talk show host is pretty much a family member now to the Hollywood celebrities and the viewers who are always excited for the next episode of his ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’.
From his curiosity to truly get to know his guests to his generosity with his affection for his viewers, Kimmel has carved a special place in everyone’s hearts. Except, it seems the President of the United States of America. Both Kimmel and Trump have been critical of each other’s performances in their respective field.Even recently, Trump mocked the late-night talk show host, calling him “horrible” while presenting the 2025 Kennedy Center Honours honourees with their medals at the Oval Office.
He also said that if he can’t beat out Kimmel in terms of talent then, “I think I shouldn’t be the president.”While Kimmel’s professional life is always in the public eye, the talk show host is notoriously secretive with his private life. Here’s all you need to know about Jimmy Kimmel’s love life.
Who is Jimmy Kimmel?
James Christian Kimmel, was born in November 1967 in Brooklyn, New York. He was born into a working-class Catholic family with his father Jim Kimmel working for American Express and his mother Joan being a homemaker.
Raised in Las Vegas from the age of nine, Kimmel grew up fascinated with TV because of David Letterman and Johnny Carson. He began his career as a college DJ before working for local radio stations in Seattle, Tampa and Palm Springs. His first TV breakthrough came in the 1990s with Comedy Central’s Win Ben Stein’s Money where he co-hosted the program. The show, his first, also earned him an Emmy Award and introduced the viewers to the ever-unique humour of Jimmy Kimmel. Later, he went on to co-create and co-host The Man Show with Adam Carolla as well. It was in 2003, that ABC tapped Kimmel to host his own late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a risky move as he hadn’t hosted a show alone before. While the early years of the show suffered rocky roads, by the 2010s everyone was tuning in to watch Kimmel interview Hollywood, much like they all do today.
Marrying Gina Maddy
Kimmel and his first wife Gina Maddy met at Arizona State University.
Maddy was supposedly Kimmel’s first girlfriend, whom he went on to marry at the age of 20 in 1988. “My mom was 19 when she got married, so it didn’t seem unusual to me. It seemed unusual to all my friends, but not to me,” he told HuffPost in 2012. While Kimmel was carving his own career, his wife worked as a costume designer. The couple had their first child, a daughter, Katherine Kimmel in 1991 and then a son, Kevin Kimmel in 1993. After a decade of being in love, Maddy and Kimmel decided to separate and were divorced by 2003. While they cited irreconcilable differences as the cause of the separation, Kimmel later admitted that it was his “workaholic” attitude that led to the demise of his first marriage. His daughter Katie, is an artist who received her BFA from The School of Art Institute of Chicago in 2015 and has also acted in some films. She is married to her partner Will Logsdon.
His son Kevin, pursued a career in television as a production assistant.
Dating Sarah Silverman
Shortly after his divorce, Kimmel began dating comedian Sarah Silverman. They met in 2001 at the New York Friars Club Roast of Hugh Hefner, where Silverman made a joke at Kimmel’s expense. The couple began dating in 2002 and went on to earn the title of ‘People’s Funniest Couple Alive’. They broke up in 2008, but got back together a couple of months later.
However, in 2009, People reported that the relationship was over for good.
Marrying Molly McNearney
Jimmy Kimmel is tied to his late-night show not only through his hosting career, but also his love life. The 58-year-old met his now-wife Molly McNearney on the set of his show. She joined Kimmel’s show as an assistant and went on to become the executive producer and co-head writer. The couple was friends for years before they began dating in 2010.
After three years of dating, Kimmel popped the question to his girlfriend in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. They tied the knot in 2013 in California in a ceremony that was attended by Hollywood biggies such as Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Emily Blunt and Jennifer Aniston. The couple shares two children together, daughter Jane born in 2014 and son William born in 2017. While much is known about Kimmel’s professional struggle to carve a place for himself in the entertainment industry, it is inspiring to see how he has followed the journey of finding love in life. Every person the host associates with is only left with positive things to say about him and his character. However, it seems Trump needs time and rest to be able to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
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