John Mulaney

August 26, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

The comedian John Mulaney was born on August 26, 1982, in Chicago. Since he was a young boy, he knew he wanted to earn a place in show business. For this reason, he participated in a Chicago-based children’s sketch group, “The Rugrats,” at age seven. Mulaney moved to New York in 2004 to pursue his dreams. After landing a job at Comedy Central, his career took off. Since then, he has done several stand-up shows and specials. A high point in his career was the eight years he spent as a writer for the acclaimed T.V. show “Saturday Night Live.”

Fast Facts

Full Name:

John Edmund Mulaney

Birth date:

August 26, 1982

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Virgo

Height:

6' 0"

Relationship Status:

In a relationship

Net Worth:

$10 million

Background

John Edmund Mulaney was born on August 26, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the third of five children. Mulaney was born into a family of professionals: His parents attended Georgetown University and Yale Law School. His mom, Ellen Mulaney, is a law professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. His dad, Charles ‘Chip’ Mulaney Jr., is an attorney. But Mulaney took a different path. He attended his parents’ alma mater, Georgetown University. He graduated as an English major and as a minor in theology. Mulaney got his inspiration to become a comedian from the show “I Love Lucy.” When he was seven, he participated in a children’s sketch group called “The Rugrats.”

After graduating from Georgetown in 2004, Mulaney moved to New York. In New York City, he landed his first important job as an assistant at Comedy Central. Things didn’t work out at Comedy Central and he left to be a freelancer. In 2008, Mulaney got the job that would raise his career. He became one of the writers for the popular show “Saturday Night Live.” Mulaney was a writer and producer for “S.N.L.,” from 2008 to 2018; he even appeared in five episodes. He participated in several stand-up specials. In 2018, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, for his work in the stand-up show “Kid Gorgeous.” In 2019, Netflix launched the special “John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch,” a kids’ musical comedy special.

In 2014, Mulaney married make-up artist Annamarie Tendler. The couple broke up in 2021. Since May 2021, the comedian has been dating actress Olivia Munn. Mulaney and Munn had a son in November 2021.

Career timeline

1989

First Comedy Experience

John Mulaney joins a children's sketch group.

2004

His Graduation

He graduates from Georgetown University.

2004

He Moves to New York

Mulaney moves to New York to pursue his dreams.

2008

“Saturday Night Live”

He lands a major job as a writer for “S.N.L.”

Why We Love John Mulaney

He makes us laugh
John Mulaney has made us all laugh since the beginning of his career. His sense of humor, his well-thought jokes, and his hilarious writing are things we all enjoy.
His charity shows
Mulaney and co-worker Pete Davidson joined forces to do a set of stand-up shows for charity. The money the team raised was donated to "My Brother’s Table," a volunteer organization that helps feed the community of Lynn, Massachusetts.
He is trendy
Mulaney keeps his work new and fresh. He often jokes about his anxiety and other mental issues. This type of comedy attracts a younger public, like Gen-Z; they feel they can identify with Mulaney's comedy.

5 Surprising Facts

He could have been in “Home Alone”
John Mulaney was offered an audition to play Kevin in “Home Alone,” but his parents declined the offer.
He was an altar boy
Mulaney was raised as an Irish Catholic, and as a kid, he was an altar boy.
He had stage fright
He used to suffer from stage fright; he overcame it by performing stand-up with co-worker Mike Birbiglia.
He went to rehab
Mulaney attended a rehabilitation center for drugs and alcohol in 2020.
He’s a basketball fan
Mulaney is a huge basketball lover; he is a fan of the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.