Molly Shannon

Biography

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, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (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: A Night at the Roxbury (1998), a spin-off of the popular head-bopping, nightclubbing brothers on Saturday Night Live (1975); Warner Bros. comedy, Analyze This (1999), opposite Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro; Todd Solondz's controversial Happiness (1998); and Fox 2000's Never Been Kissed (1999), opposite 'Drew Barrymore'; Good Boy! (2003), a CGI-animated live-action comedy; My Boss's Daughter (2003) with Ashton Kutcher; Miramax's romantic comedy, Serendipity (2001), opposite John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale; Osmosis Jones (2001), the animated comedy co-starring Bill Murray; the independent feature film, Wet Hot…