Career Timeline of Kathy Griffin: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Kathy Griffin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Kathleen Mary Griffin, known professionally as Kathy Griffin, is an American comedian and actress. She's recognized for her stand-up comedy, television series appearances, and numerous comedy specials and albums. Griffin gained wider recognition for her reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, for which she won Primetime Emmy Awards in 2007 and 2008. In addition to her comedy work, she has played supporting roles in various films.
1978: Moves to Los Angeles
In 1978, Kathy Griffin relocated to Los Angeles to study drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and joined The Groundlings comedy troupe.
1991: Appearance in Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful
In 1991, Kathy Griffin appeared in Julie Brown's Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful, which was a Showtime parody of the Madonna film Truth or Dare.
1996: Supporting role on Suddenly Susan
In 1996, Griffin began a supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan.
1998: HBO Special Hot Cup of Talk
In 1998, Kathy Griffin created the standup act called "Hot Cup of Talk" with Janeane Garofalo which became her solo HBO special.
2000: End of Suddenly Susan
In 2000, Kathy Griffin concluded her supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan.
2004: Reference to Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction"
On June 12, 2008, while hosting the Bravo! Canada A-List Awards, Kathy Griffin included a parody of the "wardrobe malfunction" experienced by Janet Jackson in the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.
2005: Dakota Fanning Joke and Bans
In 2005, Kathy Griffin made a joke about Dakota Fanning at an E! televised event, leading to her being banned from several television shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The View. She was also re-banned from The View after a joke about Barbara Walters.
2005: My Life on the D-List premiere
In 2005, Kathy Griffin's reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List premiered on Bravo and became a ratings hit.
June 2006: Premiere of My Life on the D-List Season 2
In June 2006, the second season of Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List premiered.
May 2007: Co-hosting The View
In May 2007, Kathy Griffin became a co-host of The View, replacing Rosie O'Donnell.
September 2007: Departure from The View
In September 2007, Kathy Griffin departed from her role as co-host of The View.
2007: Ending Feud with Hilton
In 2007, Kathy Griffin and Hilton ended their feud after the death of Griffin's father, and Hilton appeared on an episode of Griffin's show. Griffin also commented on her aversion to making fun of celebrity friends.
2007: Oxygen's "The 50 Funniest Women Alive"
In 2007, Kathy Griffin was ranked 17th on Oxygen's list of "The 50 Funniest Women Alive".
2007: Primetime Emmy Award
In 2007, Kathy Griffin won a Primetime Emmy Award for her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.
2007: Emmy Win for My Life on the D-List
In 2007, Kathy Griffin won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program for the second season of My Life on the D-List.
February 17, 2008: Recording of "For Your Consideration" comedy CD
On February 17, 2008, Kathy Griffin's comedy CD "For Your Consideration" was recorded at the ETK Theatre at the Grand Theatre Center For The Arts in Tracy, California.
June 10, 2008: Release of "For Your Consideration" comedy CD
On June 10, 2008, Kathy Griffin released a comedy CD titled "For Your Consideration" to try to win a Grammy award.
June 12, 2008: Hosting Bravo! Canada A-List Awards
On June 12, 2008, Kathy Griffin hosted the first Bravo! Canada A-List Awards, including a parody of Janet Jackson's 2004 Super Bowl halftime show "wardrobe malfunction".
2008: Release of For Your Consideration Album
In 2008, Kathy Griffin released her first comedy album, For Your Consideration, becoming the first female comedian to debut at the top of the Billboard Top Comedy Albums chart.
2008: Primetime Emmy Award
In 2008, Kathy Griffin won a Primetime Emmy Award for her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.
2008: Sarah Palin jokes
Since the 2008 presidential election, Kathy Griffin has made jokes about Sarah Palin and her family. Griffin parodied Palin on Glee and made fun of Christine O'Donnell.
April 15, 2009: Hosting 2009 Bravo A-List Awards
On April 15, 2009, Kathy Griffin hosted the 2009 Bravo A-List Awards, preceded by her Bravo special Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch.
July 2009: Apollo Theater Ban
In July 2009, Kathy Griffin used profanity in an Octomom joke during a performance at New York's Apollo Theater, resulting in a letter banning her from the venue.
August 9, 2009: Teen Choice Awards with Levi Johnston
On August 9, 2009, Kathy Griffin attended the Teen Choice Awards with Levi Johnston and then interviewed him on Larry King Live, joking that they were in a serious relationship.
August 2009: Un-banned from The View
As of August 2009, Kathy Griffin had been un-banned from The View.
August 25, 2009: Release of "Suckin' It for the Holidays"
On August 25, 2009, Kathy Griffin released a second comedy album, "Suckin' It for the Holidays", in another bid for a Grammy.
September 8, 2009: Release of Memoir
On September 8, 2009, Ballantine Books published Kathy Griffin's memoir, Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, which debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
September 18, 2009: Guest on The View
On September 18, 2009, Kathy Griffin was a guest on The View after being un-banned from the show.
November 3, 2009: Hosting ABC's Let's Dance
On November 3, 2009, it was announced that Kathy Griffin would host ABC's new show Let's Dance, where celebrity contestants reenacted famous dance routines for charity.
November 2009: AFA Angel Award
In November 2009, Aid For AIDS presented Kathy Griffin with an AFA Angel Award at their silver anniversary celebration for her long-time support of the Aid for AIDS annual fundraiser Best in Drag Show in Los Angeles.
2009: Release of Autobiography
In 2009, Kathy Griffin released her autobiography, Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin.
2009: Golden Palm Star on Palm Springs Walk of Stars
In 2009, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to Kathy Griffin.
December 31, 2009: New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper
On December 31, 2009, Kathy Griffin co-hosted CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper, during which she used profanity, causing controversy.
March 2010: Advocating for the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell"
In March 2010, Kathy Griffin organized a rally in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" after meeting with closeted gay people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also held meetings with Members of Congress to encourage its repeal and organized a rally in Freedom Plaza.
June 15, 2010: Guest on The View
On June 15, 2010, Kathy Griffin was a guest on The View.
2010: Confrontation with Michele Bachmann
In 2010, Kathy Griffin confronted Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann over her views on homosexuality at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner. Griffin stated she asked Bachmann "were you born a bigot or did you grow into it".
2010: Grammy nomination for Kathy Griffin: Does the Bible Belt
In 2010, Kathy Griffin received her third Grammy nomination for "Kathy Griffin: Does the Bible Belt."
2010: End of My Life on the D-List
In 2010, the Bravo reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List ended its run.
2010: Release of Shout! Factory DVD
In early 2010, Shout! Factory released an extended version of Kathy Griffin's Bravo special on DVD.
March 2011: Sarah Palin calls Griffin a "bully"
In March 2011, Sarah Palin responded to Kathy Griffin by calling her a "bully" due to Griffin making fun of Palin and her daughter, Bristol Palin, in her comedy routines.
2011: Four televised comedy specials
In 2011, Kathy Griffin became the first comedian to have four specials televised in a single year.
2011: Release of "50 and Not Pregnant" album
In 2011, Kathy Griffin released her fourth album "50 and Not Pregnant".
January 7, 2012: Announcement of Kathy Show
On January 7, 2012, it was announced that Kathy Griffin would host a weekly one-hour talk show on the channel Kathy.
May 4, 2012: Release of "I'll Say It" on iTunes
On May 4, 2012, the full-length version of "I'll Say It", the theme song of her show Kathy, was released to iTunes as a single.
August 20, 2012: Release of remixes of "I'll Say It"
On August 20, 2012, Kathy Griffin released a seven-track EP containing dance remixes of "I'll Say It".
2012: Release of "Seaman 1st Class" album
In 2012, Kathy Griffin released her fifth album "Seaman 1st Class".
April 8, 2013: Cancellation of Kathy
On April 8, 2013, Kathy Griffin announced that her show Kathy would not be renewed for a third season.
2013: Grammy win for Calm Down Gurrl
In 2013, Kathy Griffin's sixth album, "Calm Down Gurrl", won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album at the 56th Grammy Awards.
June 13, 2014: Hosting Daytime Emmy Awards Announcement
On June 13, 2014, it was announced that Kathy Griffin would host the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards.
June 22, 2014: Hosting Daytime Emmy Awards
On June 22, 2014, Kathy Griffin hosted the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards, the first time the event bypassed network television for a live online streaming media event.
2014: Grammy Award Win
In 2014, Kathy Griffin won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album after six consecutive nominations.
2014: Release of Look at My Butt Crack album
In 2014, Kathy Griffin's seventh album, "Look at My Butt Crack", which was recorded in Las Vegas, was released.
August 2017: Worldwide Comedy Tour Announcement
In August 2017, Kathy Griffin announced her worldwide "Laugh Your Head Off" comedy tour, referencing the Trump severed head controversy, with shows selling out quickly.
October 28, 2017: Release of A Hell of a Story Video
On October 28, 2017, Kathy Griffin uploaded a YouTube video titled "Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story" detailing the backlash she received for the Trump photo controversy, which became the basis for her A Hell of a Story concert film. Griffin also said she was under a federal investigation and on the No Fly and Interpol lists.
2017: CNN termination and Law & Order guest role
In 2017, CNN terminated Kathy Griffin from its New Year's Eve broadcast after the Trump severed head photo controversy. In 2009, Griffin also guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a lesbian activist.
May 23, 2018: North America Tour Commencement
On May 23, 2018, Kathy Griffin began the North America leg of her "Laugh Your Head Off" tour in Ottawa, Ontario, including performances at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City.
2019: Release of A Hell of a Story
In 2019, Kathy Griffin released her concert film, A Hell of a Story, based on the Trump severed head controversy.
2020: Hosting Str8Up Gay Porn Awards
In 2020, Kathy Griffin hosted the Str8Up Gay Porn Awards.
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