Brief Profile Overview
| Full Name | Kathleen Mary Griffin |
|---|---|
| Birthday | November 4, 1960 (Age 62) |
| Birth Place | Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Comedian, Actress, Television Personality |
| Years Active | 1980–present |
| Spouse | Matt Moline (m. 2001–2006) |
| Net Worth | $35 million |
| Social Media | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube |
Introduction
As a long-time fan, I’m thrilled to introduce the one and only Kathy Griffin – the outrageously hilarious and unapologetic queen of comedy.
Fiery-haired Kathy has been making audiences cackle and celebrities cringe for over 30 years with her cutting, observational humor. Known for relentlessly mocking pop culture and chopped up style, Griffin is a true comedic force to be reckoned with.
But Kathy is more than just a shock comic. Throughout her impressive career, she has shown incredible authenticity, resilience, and guts in the face of adversity.
Let‘s take a deeper look at this groundbreaking performer.
Her Chicago Beginnings
Kathleen Mary Griffin was born in Oak Park, Illinois on November 4, 1960 and raised in the Chicago suburbs. From a young age, Griffin loved watching classic TV shows and stayed up late listening to her parents’ comedy records.
After graduating high school, Kathy began taking improv classes and working her way through the Chicago comedy club scene. We all have to start somewhere!
Griffin quickly became known for her conversational storytelling and pop culture parodies. I love that she wasn’t afraid to get scrappy and rub elbows with her idols like Richard Pryor.
Big Break on Suddenly Susan
In the 90s, Griffin headed to Hollywood and finally got her big break playing quirky colleague Vicki on “Suddenly Susan” alongside Brooke Shields.
While the show wasn’t a critical hit, it allowed Griffin to hone her acting chops and on-camera presence. And we got to delight in her wacky one-liners each week!
Kathy also popped up on shows like “ER” and “Seinfeld” honing her comedy skills. But little did we know her meteoric rise to fame was right around the corner…
Reality TV Fame
The 2000s catapulted Kathy to new levels of fame through reality television. She shined on “Celebrity Mole" showcasing her vivacious, competitive spirit to a larger audience.
But it was “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” that made her a household name. The show offered an intimate, hilarious look into Griffin’s unusual life as a Hollywood outsider.
We witnessed her endearing self-deprecating humor and loved watching her hustle for any gig no matter how bizarre. Two well-deserved Emmys followed!
Pushing Comedic Boundaries
While Griffin built her career on unfiltered comedy, I think she took it too far with the infamous Trump severed head photo. As a fan, I was disappointed to see her make such an ill-advised decision.
But true to form, Kathy bounced back with her revealing “Laugh Your Head Off” comedy tour addressing the controversy head-on. You just can‘t keep this girl down!
Over the years, Griffin has continued breaking barriers with her caustic yet clever takes on everything from religion to sexuality. She pulls no punches when skewering hypocritical celebs either!
As Kathy says, “I‘m the girl that goes onstage and talks about what other people are afraid to talk about.” Preach it!
The Queen of Pop Culture Parody
From the Kardashians to Tom Cruise, Griffin excels at exaggerated impressions intended to humanize the ridiculousness of Hollywood.
She’s especially brilliant at emulating self-important divas. Her bits pretending to be everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Meryl Streep are PRICELESS!
And who can forget her laugh-out-loud parodies with the iconic Anderson Cooper every New Year’s Eve? Their friendship shows Kathy‘s talents translating to mainstream TV.
Never Apologizing for Having a Voice
Say what you will about Kathy Griffin, but she unabashedly speaks her mind onstage and off.
Whether discussing life after cancer, her bitter divorce, or ongoing Hollywood sexism, Griffin remains transparent and gutsy. She’s paved the way for female comics to tackle risky topics without censorship.
I admire that Kathy never apologizes for having an opinion or being an assertive woman in comedy. She’s a true inspiration!
She Keeps Pushing Forward
Now in her 60s, Griffin is still selling out venues with her hysterical storytelling and incisive cultural commentary.
And she keeps it real by uploading backstage vlogs and showcasing her work ethic. Kathy reminds me that passion and drive matter more than age.
I‘m certain edgy Kathy has much more boundary-pushing comedy up her sleeve. She’s nowhere near done provoking reactions and making us double over with laughter.
What an incredible career the one-of-a-kind Kathy Griffin has forged over the decades. Thanks for the endless laughs and memories. We adore you!