Influential Lives

Born in Brooklyn, Jimmy Kimmel grew up in Las Vegas, in a stereotypical Italian family. As a teenager he was a practical joker. He dropped out of college to work at radio stations, and then got his big break as a TV game-show host. This led to The Man Show, a frat-boy comedy that turned him into a household name. In 2003, he began hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! and transformed into a worldwide celebrity. Today he is an influencer in popular culture and national politics. This biography examines how Kimmel has reinvented the perception of the late-night talk show host.