History of Jim Gaffigan in Timeline
"James Christopher Gaffigan is a renowned American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. His comedic style centers around relatable topics such as fatherhood, laziness, food, religion, and everyday observations. Known for his "clean" humor, Gaffigan rarely incorporates profanity into his routines. His impressive career boasts numerous successful comedy specials, including "Mr. Universe," "Obsessed," "Cinco," and "Quality Time," all of which have earned him Grammy nominations."
July 7, 1966: Jim Gaffigan is Born
On July 7, 1966, James Christopher Gaffigan was born in Elgin, Illinois, the youngest of six children.
1985: Marcia Gaffigan Receives Award
In 1985, Marcia Gaffigan, Jim's mother, received a national award for original design and craftsmanship from the American Needlepoint Guild.
1988: Gaffigan Graduates from Georgetown
Jim Gaffigan graduates from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business with a degree in finance in 1988.
1990: Gaffigan Moves to New York
In 1990, Jim Gaffigan moved to New York to pursue a career in comedy.
1990: Marcia Gaffigan Passes Away
In 1990, Marcia Gaffigan, Jim's mother, died of cancer at age 53.
1991: Michael Gaffigan Retires
In 1991, Michael Gaffigan, Jim's father, retired from his position as president and CEO of the Mercantile National Bank of Indiana after 15 years.
1999: Gaffigan's Big Break
After auditioning for six years, Jim Gaffigan performed stand-up on The Late Show with David Letterman in 1999, which launched his career.
1999: Welcome to New York
After his first appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in 1999, Jim Gaffigan was tapped by David Letterman to develop and co-star in the sitcom 'Welcome to New York,' which received positive reviews but was cancelled after its first season.
1999: Salesman of the Year
In 1999, Jim Gaffigan's ubiquity in TV commercials earned him the title of 'Salesman of the Year' by BusinessWeek. He appeared in over 200 TV commercials, which significantly boosted his career.
1999: Michael Gaffigan Passes Away
In 1999, Michael Gaffigan, Jim's father, passed away due to lung cancer.
2000: The Ellen Show
During the 2000/2001 TV season, Jim Gaffigan was a cast member of 'The Ellen Show' on CBS, Ellen DeGeneres's second sitcom.
2001: Sundance Film Festival
In 2001, Jim Gaffigan appeared in two movies chosen for the Sundance Film Festival: 'Super Troopers' and '30 Years to Life.'
2002: Guantanamo Bay Performance
In 2002, Jim Gaffigan participated in a United Service Organization event at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
2003: Marriage to Jeannie Noth
Jim Gaffigan married actress Jeannie Noth in 2003.
2004: Shorties Watchin' Shorties Features Gaffigan
Jim Gaffigan's stand-up material was featured in Comedy Central's animated series, "Shorties Watchin' Shorties," in 2004.
October 2005: Beyond the Pale Filmed
In October 2005, Jim Gaffigan filmed his live Comedy Central special, "Beyond the Pale," which aired the following January.
2005: Laugh Spin Interview
Jim Gaffigan participated in an interview with Laugh Spin in 2005.
2005: Pale Force
From 2005 to 2008, Jim Gaffigan voiced an animated version of himself on 'Pale Force' with Conan O'Brien. The series featured the duo as superheroes fighting crime with their pale skin and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2007.
2007: Sierra Mist Commercials
In 2007, Jim Gaffigan performed in a trio of Sierra Mist commercials for the Super Bowl as part of the comedy ensemble 'The Mis-Takes,' alongside fellow comedian Michael Ian Black.
2007: Daytime Emmy Nomination for "Pale Force"
In 2007, "Pale Force," a show which Jim Gaffigan wrote, produced, and starred in, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Broadband Program in Comedy.
2007: Justin M. Damiano
In 2007, Daniel Clowes published the graphic novella 'Justin M. Damiano,' which would later become a source of controversy when Shia LaBeouf's film 'Howard Cantour.com,' starring Jim Gaffigan, was found to be plagiarized from it.
2007: Daytime Emmy Nomination
In 2007, 'Pale Force,' featuring Jim Gaffigan and Conan O'Brien, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the category of 'Outstanding Broadband Program – Comedy.'
2008: The Love Guru
In 2008, Jim Gaffigan appeared in the movie 'The Love Guru' starring Mike Myers.
2008: Pale Force Conclusion
In 2008, the animated series 'Pale Force,' featuring Jim Gaffigan and Conan O'Brien, concluded its run.
March 2009: Gaffigan Defends "The Sexy Tour" Name
During an interview on Anytime with Bob Kushell in March 2009, Jim Gaffigan defended the name of his comedy tour, "The Sexy Tour."
June 11, 2009: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
On June 11, 2009, Jim Gaffigan appeared on 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.'
2009: The Daily Show
In 2009, Jim Gaffigan appeared in an episode of 'The Daily Show' as a man posing as a correspondent who knows nothing about the show, parodying the 2009 White House gatecrash incident.
March 2011: Broadway Debut
In March 2011, Jim Gaffigan appeared on Broadway in 'That Championship Season,' earning praise for his performance as 'the most moving' and potentially 'stealing the show.'
February 25, 2012: Mr. Universe Taping
On February 25, 2012, Jim Gaffigan taped his one-hour stand-up special, "Mr. Universe," at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.
2012: Mr. Universe
In 2012, Jim Gaffigan released his stand-up special, "Mr. Universe."
2012: Rolling Stone's Funniest People on Twitter
In 2012, Jim Gaffigan was listed by Rolling Stone as one of the '25 funniest people on Twitter' due to his humorous quips that earned him over two and a half million followers.
March 14, 2013: Gaffigan Named "King of Clean"
On March 14, 2013, the Wall Street Journal named Jim Gaffigan the "King of Clean".
March 2013: CBS Pilot
In March 2013, CBS agreed to shoot a pilot for a show based on Jim Gaffigan's life, but ultimately passed on the project.
June 2013: Second Book Deal
In June 2013, Jim Gaffigan signed with Crown Publishing to write a second book of comic essays.
2013: Dad Is Fat
In 2013, Jim Gaffigan released his book 'Dad Is Fat,' a collection of essays on raising his children and his own childhood. The title was inspired by his eldest son's first complete sentence.
2013: Dad is Fat Published
In 2013, Jim Gaffigan's memoir, "Dad is Fat," was published by Crown Publishers.
2013: Stand Up for Heroes Performance
In 2013, Jim Gaffigan performed at the Stand Up for Heroes charity event, which benefits the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
2013: Appearance on "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!"
In 2013, Jim Gaffigan appeared as a guest on the NPR radio quiz show "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!".
2013: Howard Cantour.com
In 2013, Jim Gaffigan starred in Shia LaBeouf's short film 'Howard Cantour.com,' which was later revealed to be largely plagiarized from Daniel Clowes's graphic novella. Gaffigan clarified he had no involvement in the plagiarism.
January 18, 2014: Obsessed Taping
On January 18, 2014, Jim Gaffigan filmed his comedy special, "Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed," at Boston's Wilbur Theater.
April 26, 2014: American Comedy Award for Concert Comedian
On April 26, 2014, Jim Gaffigan was honored with the American Comedy Award for Concert Comedian in recognition of his comedic work.
May 2014: Make It Right Gala Performance
Jim Gaffigan performed at the Make It Right Gala in May 2014, an organization founded by Brad Pitt.
2014: Food: A Love Story
In 2014, Jim Gaffigan released 'Food: A Love Story,' a book of comic essays that received positive reviews for its humor and wit.
2014: Food: A Love Story Published
In 2014, Jim Gaffigan's book, "Food: A Love Story," was published by Crown Publishers.
June 2015: Online Episodes Release
In June 2015, two online-only episodes of 'The Jim Gaffigan Show' were released before the pilot episode aired on TV Land.
July 15, 2015: The Jim Gaffigan Show Premiere
On July 15, 2015, the pilot episode of 'The Jim Gaffigan Show,' a sitcom about a couple raising five kids in a two-bedroom New York City apartment, aired on TV Land.
September 26, 2015: Festival of Families Performance
Jim Gaffigan performed at the Festival of Families, a Catholic event held in Philadelphia, on September 26, 2015, which was attended by Pope Francis.
2015: Gaffigan's Headlining Tour
In 2015, Jim Gaffigan embarked on a headlining tour that culminated in a winter show at Madison Square Garden.
2015: Move to a Larger Home in Manhattan
In 2015, to accommodate their growing family, Jim Gaffigan and his family moved from a two-bedroom apartment to a larger home, all within Manhattan.
February 2016: KFC Commercials
In February 2016, Jim Gaffigan began appearing in KFC commercials as Colonel Sanders, replacing Norm Macdonald.
April 8, 2016: Chrysler Pacifica Campaign
Since April 8, 2016, Jim Gaffigan has appeared with his family in a marketing campaign for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.
May 2016: Commencement Address at Catholic University of America
Jim Gaffigan and his wife, Jeannie, delivered the commencement address at the Catholic University of America in May 2016.
June 2016: Gaffigan Most Popular Comic on Pandora
As of June 2016, Jim Gaffigan was the most popular comic on Pandora.com, with over 647 million spins.
October 2016: Fargo Casting Announcement
In October 2016, it was announced that Jim Gaffigan would join the cast of the third season of 'Fargo.' However, he was later replaced by Mark Forward due to scheduling conflicts.
2016: The Jim Gaffigan Show Ends
In 2016, after two seasons, Jim Gaffigan and his wife Jeannie decided not to continue with a third season of 'The Jim Gaffigan Show' to spend more time with their kids.
2016: Daytime Emmy Win for "CBS Sunday Morning" Commentary
Jim Gaffigan won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2016 for his work as a commentator on the television program "CBS Sunday Morning".
2016: Fully Dressed Tour
Jim Gaffigan embarked on his "Fully Dressed Tour" in 2016, performing in the United States, Canada, and the UK.
2016: Daytime Emmy Win for "CBS Sunday Morning" Commentary
In 2016, Jim Gaffigan won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program for his contributions as a commentator on "CBS Sunday Morning".
2017: Chrysler Pacifica Campaign Continues
In 2017, Jim Gaffigan continued to appear with his family in the marketing campaign for the Chrysler Pacifica.
May 2018: Commencement Address at Marquette University
Jim Gaffigan and his wife, Jeannie, gave the commencement address at Marquette University, Jeannie's alma mater, in May 2018. During the ceremony, they both received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.
2018: Chappaquiddick and American Dreamer
In 2018, Jim Gaffigan portrayed Paul Markham in the biographical drama 'Chappaquiddick' and took on the lead role in the neo-noir film 'American Dreamer,' both of which received positive reviews.
September 20, 2019: American Dreamer Release
On September 20, 2019, the neo-noir film 'American Dreamer,' starring Jim Gaffigan in a lead role, was released. His performance was highly praised by critics.
2019: Apology for Endorsing "Moriori First" Myth
Jim Gaffigan issued an apology on social media in 2019 for endorsing the inaccurate "Moriori First" myth during one of his stand-up routines. This myth falsely portrays Māori as displacing Moriori as the original inhabitants of New Zealand and has been used to rationalize colonization by white settlers.
2020: Tesla
In 2020, Jim Gaffigan portrayed George Westinghouse in Michael Almereyda's film 'Tesla.'
2020: Stargirl Voice Role
In 2020, Jim Gaffigan was announced to provide the voice of Thunderbolt in season two of 'Stargirl.' By season three, the role was recast to Seth Green.
January 2021: Peter Pan & Wendy
In January 2021, Jim Gaffigan joined the cast of Disney's 'Peter Pan & Wendy' as Mr. Smee.