Career Timeline of Jimmy Kimmel: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Jimmy Kimmel built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Jimmy Kimmel is a prominent American television host, comedian, writer, voice actor, and producer. He is best known for hosting and executive producing Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003. Additionally, he has hosted major award shows, including the Primetime Emmy Awards multiple times and the Academy Awards on four occasions, solidifying his presence in the entertainment industry.
1989: First paying radio job
In 1989, Jimmy Kimmel landed his first paying job as morning drive co-host of The Me and Him Show at KZOK-FM in Seattle, Washington, alongside Kent Voss.
1990: Fired by KZOK
In 1990, Jimmy Kimmel and Kent Voss were fired by KZOK.
1996: Appeared as "Jimmy the Fox Guy"
In spring 1996, Jimmy Kimmel appeared as "Jimmy the Fox Guy" in promos on the Fox Network.
1997: Win Ben Stein's Money Debut
In 1997, Jimmy Kimmel became the comedic counterpart to Ben Stein on the game show Win Ben Stein's Money, which began airing on Comedy Central.
1999: Co-hosted The Man Show
In 1999, Jimmy Kimmel co-hosted and co-produced Comedy Central's The Man Show with Adam Carolla.
January 2003: Leaves The Man Show, Hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In January 2003, Jimmy Kimmel permanently left The Man Show to host his own late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, on ABC.
2003: Host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In 2003, Jimmy Kimmel became the host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show.
2003: Hosted American Music Awards
In 2003, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the American Music Awards on ABC.
2003: Uncle Frank appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In 2003, Jimmy Kimmel's uncle, Frank Potenza ("Uncle Frank"), began appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a regular.
2004: Show Pulled After Pistons Comment
During the 2004 NBA Finals in Detroit, Jimmy Kimmel made a comment on ABC's halftime show suggesting Detroit would burn if the Pistons won, leading to his show being pulled from Detroit's ABC affiliate and then the entire network. He later apologized.
2004: Jimmy Kimmel Live! no longer airs live
In 2004, Jimmy Kimmel Live! stopped airing live due to censorship issues.
2004: Windy City Heat wins award
In 2004, the feature film Windy City Heat, which Jimmy Kimmel produced and co-wrote, won the Comedia Award for Best Film at the Montreal Comedy Festival.
August 2006: Hosting "Set for Life"
In August 2006, ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel would be the host of their new game show Set for Life.
2006: Hosted American Music Awards
In 2006, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the American Music Awards on ABC.
April 6, 2007: Filled in for Larry King
On April 6, 2007, Jimmy Kimmel filled in for Larry King on Larry King Live, discussing paparazzi and reproaching Emily Gould of Gawker.com.
July 8, 2007: Managed National League in All-Star Game
On July 8, 2007, Jimmy Kimmel managed the National League in the 2007 Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game in San Francisco.
July 11, 2007: Hosted the ESPY Awards
On July 11, 2007, Jimmy Kimmel, along with LeBron James, hosted the 2007 ESPY Awards.
July 15, 2007: Aired ESPY Awards on ESPN
On July 15, 2007, the 2007 ESPY Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and LeBron James, aired on ESPN.
July 20, 2007: "Set for Life" Debuts
On July 20, 2007, Set for Life, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, debuted on ABC.
2007: Guest-hosted Live with Regis and Kelly
During the week of October 22–26, 2007, Jimmy Kimmel guest-hosted Live with Regis and Kelly, commuting between New York and Los Angeles and breaking a Guinness World Record for distance traveled in one work week.
2007: Hosted American Music Awards
In 2007, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the American Music Awards on ABC.
February 2008: "I'm Fucking Ben Affleck" Video
In February 2008, Jimmy Kimmel released a mock music video titled "I'm Fucking Ben Affleck" as a response to Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon's video "I'm Fucking Matt Damon". The video featured numerous celebrities and parodied the 1985 "We Are the World" video.
July 20, 2008: Performing with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
On July 20, 2008, Jimmy Kimmel performed with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones on the song "The Impression That I Get" at a concert in Costa Mesa, California.
2008: Hosted American Music Awards
In 2008, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the American Music Awards on ABC.
January 14, 2010: Special guest on The Jay Leno Show
On January 14, 2010, amid the 2010 Tonight Show host and time slot conflict, Jimmy Kimmel appeared as a special guest of Jay Leno on The Jay Leno Show's "10 at 10" segment, where he derided Leno for taking back the 11:35 pm time slot from Conan O'Brien.
2010: Latest appearance on The Late Show
Jimmy Kimmel last appeared on The Late Show in 2010.
September 23, 2012: Hosted 64th Primetime Emmy Awards
On September 23, 2012, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards.
2012: Host of Primetime Emmy Awards
In 2012, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards.
October 2013: "Kids Table" Controversy
In October 2013, a "Kids Table" segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! featuring children discussing the U.S. government shutdown sparked controversy after a child suggested "killing all the people in China" to resolve U.S. debt, leading to protests and apologies from ABC and Kimmel.
September 18, 2016: Hosted 68th Primetime Emmy Awards
On September 18, 2016, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards, pointing out Mark Burnett's role in the rise of Trump.
2016: Hosted Primetime Emmy Awards
In 2016, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards for the second time.
2016: 2016 Election and Trump Jokes
In November 2022, Jimmy Kimmel revealed he told ABC executives, soon after the 2016 election of Donald Trump, that if he could not tell Trump jokes, then he would leave the show. He estimates he lost around half of his audience due to Trump jokes.
February 26, 2017: Hosted 89th Academy Awards
On February 26, 2017, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 89th edition of the Academy Awards ceremony.
2017: Hosted Academy Awards
In 2017, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Academy Awards for the first time.
March 4, 2018: Hosted 90th Academy Awards
On March 4, 2018, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 90th edition of the Academy Awards ceremony.
June 2018: Blobfish Basketball Classic
In June 2018, Jimmy Kimmel played a one-on-one basketball game against U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, known as the Blobfish Basketball Classic, which raised over $80,000 for charity.
November 2018: Launched Kimmelot
In November 2018, Jimmy Kimmel launched his second production company, Kimmelot.
2018: Fundraising for Jacky Rosen
In 2018, Jimmy Kimmel fundraised for Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Jacky Rosen.
2018: Hosted Academy Awards
In 2018, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Academy Awards for the second time.
July 2019: Release of "The Serious Goose"
In July 2019, Jimmy Kimmel released his first book, "The Serious Goose", an interactive children's picture book featuring his own illustrations.
April 8, 2020: Hosting "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"
On April 8, 2020, Jimmy Kimmel hosted and co-executive produced a celebrity edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" for the show's 20th anniversary, which premiered on ABC.
June 2020: Announcement of hosting the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards
In June 2020, it was announced that Jimmy Kimmel would return to host the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards.
September 20, 2020: Hosting the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards
On September 20, 2020, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards.
2020: Hosted Primetime Emmy Awards
In 2020, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards for the third time.
2021: Title sponsor of the LA Bowl
In 2021, Jimmy Kimmel became the title sponsor of the LA Bowl, which was later officially known as the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.
November 2022: Revealed ultimatum to ABC executives
During a November 2022 appearance on Stitcher's Naked Lunch podcast, Jimmy Kimmel revealed he told ABC executives, soon after the 2016 election of Donald Trump, that if he could not tell Trump jokes, then he would leave the show.
March 12, 2023: Hosted 95th Academy Awards
On March 12, 2023, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 95th edition of the Academy Awards ceremony.
August 30, 2023: Hosting "Strike Force Five" podcast
On August 30, 2023, Jimmy Kimmel began hosting the comedy podcast "Strike Force Five" with Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver.
2023: Hosted Academy Awards
In 2023, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Academy Awards for the third time.
March 10, 2024: Hosted 96th Academy Awards
On March 10, 2024, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 96th edition of the Academy Awards ceremony.
2024: Hosted Academy Awards
In 2024, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Academy Awards for the fourth time.
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