Jimmy Kimmel was born in New York in 1967, spending the first decade of his life in Brooklyn. His adolescent and teen years were spent in Nevada and while attending UNLV he found work – and a growing passion – at the college radio station. The interest in the air waves continued at Arizona State University before Jimmy dropped out to pursue his on-air talent full time.
Working gigs in Seattle, Florida, and California eventually led to the creation of “Jimmy the Sports Guy,” the nickname Jimmy was known as on the Los Angeles station KROQ. It was here where Jimmy would participate in a boxing stunt (“The Bleeda in Reseda”) under the tutelage of then part-time boxing instructor Adam Carolla. By 1999, Jimmy was co-hosting “Win Ben Stein’s Money” on Comedy Central and teaming with newfound collaborator Carolla on Comedy Central’s “The Man Show.” The success of both shows paved the way for Kimmel to have his hand in numerous other productions; for himself and his buddies. He teamed with Carolla and other comedians on the animated “Crank Yankers,” and in 2003 was given a shot by ABC to have his very own late night show, aptly titled “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
In the latter part of his career, it is “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that has made the comedian the name he is today. But it is his prolific work on television in addition to his late night show (stepping in for Regis Philbin on occasion, or hosting the American Music Awards) that has established Jimmy as one of the leading personalities on television today.
Jimmy on the Screen
Jimmy’s supplied the voice of Corky the Dog in “Road Trip,” Spanky in “Garfield,” Frank on two episodes of “Robot Chicken,” Elmer on “Crank Yankers,” Joan the Dispatcher on the “Positively Negative” episode of “The Sarah Silverman Program,” as well as tons of appearances on everything from “Dancing with the Stars” to the “Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner.”
Jimmy Says
On his main flaw:
“I always think authority figures or my boss is going to think something I do is funny. And usually they don’t.”