The story of Jimmy Kimmel's parents and siblings and their influence on his career

The story of Jimmy Kimmel's parents and siblings and their influence on his career

Jimmy Kimmel is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He has been the host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show, since 2003. Jimmy Kimmel’s parents and siblings have played a vital role in his life, offering support and influence that helped shape his path in the entertainment industry.

Jimmy Kimmel at The Venetian (L) and with his parents in Hollywood (R).
Jimmy Kimmel at The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas (L). Jimmy and his parents Joan and Jim in Hollywood, California (R). Photo: Tibrina Hobson, Mindy Small (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Jimmy Kimmel’s parents are James John Kimmel and Joan.
  • The television host has two younger siblings: Jonathan and Jill.
  • His brother Jonathan has worked as a writer, director, and producer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Profile summary

Full name James Christian Kimmel
GenderMale
Date of birth13 November 1967
Age 57 years old (as of 2024)
ZodiacScorpio
Place of birthBrooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Current residenceHollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
SexualityStraight
ReligionChristianity
Height in inches 6’
Height in centimetres 183
Weight in pounds182
Weight in kilograms 82
Hair colourBrown
Eye colourBrown
FatherJames John Kimmel
MotherJoan
Siblings2
Marital status Married
Wife Molly McNearney
Children4
SchoolEd W. Clark High School
UniversityArizona State University (BA), University of Nevada, Las Vegas
ProfessionTelevision host, comedian, writer, and producer
Instagram @jimmykimmel
X (Twitter)@jimmykimmel
Facebook@jimmykimmel
YouTube@JimmyKimmelLive
TikTok@jimmykimmellive

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A closer look at Jimmy Kimmel's parents and siblings

The American television host was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and grew up in the neighbourhood of Mill Basin. His family relocated to Las Vegas when Jimmy was nine. Jimmy is the eldest of the three children of Joan and James John Kimmel. Find out more details about Jimmy's siblings and parents below:

Jimmy Kimmel's parents

Jimmy Kimmel's parents played an important role in his early life and have been supportive of his journey to becoming a TV star.

Jimmy Kimmel with his parents in Hollywood, California.
Jimmy Kimmel with his parents at the ceremony honouring him with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on 25 January 2013 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Michael Tran
Source: Getty Images

James John Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel's father was born on 28 October 1945 in New York City. He worked as an executive at American Express and later at IBM. Known for his hard work and steady support, James played an important role in shaping Jimmy’s values and work ethic.

In 2020, the American producer shared a heartfelt message to celebrate his father's 75th birthday. Via Instagram, he wrote:

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Happy 75th birthday to my Dad, a lifelong #dodgers fan, a grandfather beyond compare and the best father a kid could ask for. I wish you another 75 years of bagels, egg creams and willing finger-pullers

Joan Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel's mother, Joan, is of Italian descent, with her family hailing from Ischia, Naples. Her grandparents migrated to the United States following the 1883 earthquake. Joan is reportedly a homemaker.

Jim and Joan Kimmel, Jimmy Kimmel's parents.
Jim and Joan Kimmel, Jimmy Kimmel's parents, are seated together in a studio setting during their appearance on ABC. Photo: @wmar2news on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Joan was born on 19 March. Her exact year of birth remains undisclosed. Like her husband, Joan has been a significant influence in Jimmy's life, nurturing his artistic talents and supporting his entertainment career.

Who are Jimmy Kimmel's siblings?

The American comedian has two younger siblings: Jonathan and Jill. Both have made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. On 10 April 2023, Jimmy took to Instagram to celebrate National Siblings Day with a lighthearted message about his siblings. He wrote:

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Happy National Siblings Day to my sister Jill and this giant baby named Jon

Jill Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel and sister Jill indoors.
Jimmy Kimmel and sister Jill posing for a picture indoors. Photo: @itsmejillkimmel on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Jill was born on 14 November 1970 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is the second-youngest sibling and only sister of Jimmy Kimmel. Jill is a producer and actress known for work in Sunday Night Circus (2013), TMI Hollywood (2012) and Crank Yankers (2002).

Jill is also a stand-up comedian known for her relatable humour. She has performed on stages of various biggest comedy clubs, including Bonkerz comedy club, Stand Up Live, the Improv comedy club, The Comedy Store and other respected venues around the country.

She has worked alongside other notable comedians such as Jimmy Fallon, Norm Macdonald, Jeffrey Ross and DL Hughley. Jill has also appeared on ABC’s The Jimmy Kimmel Live show and Laughs on FOX. She hosts her comedy show at Dos Gringos, a sports bar in Tempe, AZ, every Tuesday night.

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Jonathan Kimmel

Jonathan Kimmel in Hollywood, California.
Jonathan Kimmel at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Prank" at The Montalban on 13 March 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Michael Tullberg
Source: Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel's brother, Jonathan, was born on 4 November 1976 in Brooklyn, New York, United States and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and then Tempe, Arizona, just like Jimmy. He is a director, writer, and producer.

Jonathan has worked as a director on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and served as the executive producer, director, and showrunner for the reboot of Crank Yankers on Comedy Central. ​Jonathan is also an executive producer and co-showrunner of the Kelly Ripa-hosted Generation Gap for ABC. His writing credits include six seasons of South Park, That's My Bush! and The Bonnie Hunt Show.

Jonathan has been married to Carly Hirsch since 12 August 2006. Together, they have two children: a son, Wesley, born in 2009, who is a rising actor and a daughter, Beatrix, born in 2012.

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FAQs

  1. Who is Jimmy Kimmel? He is a prominent American TV host, comedian, writer, and producer best known as the host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that premiered on ABC in 2003.
  2. Where is Jimmy Kimmel from? The American TV host was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States.
  3. What is Jimmy Kimmel's age? The comedian is 57 years old as of 2025. He was born on 13 November 1967.
  4. What did Jimmy Kimmel's parents do for a living? While they were growing up, his father worked for IBM and his mother was a homemaker.
  5. Does Jimmy Kimmel have any brothers? The TV producer has a younger brother called Jonathan.
  6. Does Jimmy Kimmel have a sister? He has a younger sister called Jill.
  7. Is Jimmy Kimmel of Italian heritage? Jimmy is of Italian heritage through his mother, Joan.
  8. How is Aunt Chippy related to Jimmy Kimmel? ​Concetta Potenza, best known as Aunt Chippy, is Jimmy's paternal aunt.

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The story of Jimmy Kimmel’s parents, Joan and James John Kimmel and siblings Jill and Jonathan, offers a glimpse into the early support and strong family ties that helped shape his career. Their influence played a key role in his journey to becoming a well-known figure in the entertainment industry.

Legit.ng recently published an article about Freddie from Love Is Blind UK. He gained recognition for his journey on season one of the reality show, which premiered on Netflix on 7 August 2024. Freddie was engaged to his Love Is Blind UK member, Catherine, but they split before season 1 ended.

Freddie was born on 24 December 1991 in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, where he currently resides. He is a funeral director at a funeral home in Salford, where he assists families with funeral arrangements.

Source: Legit.ng

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Night Mongina (Lifestyle writer) Night Mongina is an article writer with an experience of three years. She has been working as a writer in Legit.ng since August 2021. She won the Writer of the Year Award on Legit in 2023. Night worked with (KNA) Kenya News Agency as a freelance writer (2016-2017). She graduated with a Diploma in Health Records and Information from Kisii University in 2018. In 2023, Night finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In March 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: nightmongina@gmail.com

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