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 is an American comedian and actress recognized for her stand-up specials, television roles, and comedy albums. She is best known for her reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, for which she won two Primetime Emmy Awards in 2007 and 2008. Griffin has also taken on supporting roles in various films throughout her career.
1991: Appeared in 'Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful'
In 1991, Kathy Griffin appeared in 'Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful', a Showtime parody of the Madonna film 'Truth or Dare'.
1996: Supporting role on 'Suddenly Susan'
In 1996, Kathy Griffin had a supporting role on the NBC sitcom 'Suddenly Susan'.
1998: HBO special 'Hot Cup of Talk'
In 1998, Kathy Griffin's solo HBO special called 'Hot Cup of Talk' was released.
2000: End of 'Suddenly Susan' role
In 2000, Kathy Griffin's supporting role on the NBC sitcom 'Suddenly Susan' ended.
2005: Dakota Fanning Joke
In 2005, Kathy Griffin made a joke during an E! televised event saying that eleven-year-old actor Dakota Fanning had entered drug rehabilitation.
2005: 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List' Premiere
In 2005, the reality show 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List' premiered on Bravo.
June 2006: Premiere of My Life on the D-List Season 2
In June 2006, the second season of 'My Life on the D-List' premiered.
May 2007: Co-host of The View
From May 2007, Kathy Griffin served as a co-host of The View, replacing Rosie O'Donnell.
September 2007: Departure from The View
In September 2007, Kathy Griffin's run as a co-host on The View came to an end.
2007: Comments on Aversion to Celebrity Jokes and Reconciliation with Paris Hilton
In 2007, Kathy Griffin commented on her reluctance to make fun of celebrity friends, stating her stance is changeable. Also in 2007, Griffin and Paris Hilton ended their feud after the death of Griffin's father, leading Hilton to appear on Griffin's show.
2007: Ranked on Oxygen's "The 50 Funniest Women Alive"
In 2007, Kathy Griffin placed 17th on Oxygen's list of "The 50 Funniest Women Alive".
2007: Emmy win for 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'
In 2007, Kathy Griffin won a Primetime Emmy Award for her reality show, 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'.
2007: Emmy Award for My Life on the D-List
In 2007, Kathy Griffin won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program in non-competition for the second season of 'My Life on the D-List'.
February 17, 2008: Recorded "For Your Consideration" Comedy CD
On February 17, 2008, Kathy Griffin recorded the comedy CD "For Your Consideration" at the ETK Theatre at the Grand Theatre Center For The Arts in Tracy, California.
June 10, 2008: Released Comedy CD "For Your Consideration"
On June 10, 2008, Kathy Griffin released a comedy CD titled "For Your Consideration". Griffin stated she decided to release the CD to try to win a Grammy award.
June 12, 2008: Hosts Bravo! Canada A-List Awards
On June 12, 2008, Kathy Griffin hosted the first Bravo! Canada A-List Awards, which included a parody of Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" from the Super Bowl halftime show in 2004.
2008: Ordained as a Minister
In 2008, Kathy Griffin became an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church to officiate at the wedding of two fans.
2008: Release of 'For Your Consideration' album
In 2008, Kathy Griffin released her first comedy album, 'For Your Consideration', which debuted at the top of the Billboard Top Comedy Albums chart.
2008: Second Emmy win for 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'
In 2008, Kathy Griffin won a Primetime Emmy Award for her reality show, 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'.
2008: Frequent jokes about Sarah Palin
Since the 2008 presidential election, Kathy Griffin has made frequent jokes about Sarah Palin and her family.
April 15, 2009: Hosts 2009 Bravo A-List Awards
On April 15, 2009, Kathy Griffin hosted the 2009 Bravo A-List Awards, with her Bravo special 'Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch' airing beforehand.
July 2009: Banned from Apollo Theater
In July 2009, Kathy Griffin used profanity in an Octomom joke during her routine at New York's Apollo Theater, resulting in a ban from the venue.
August 2009: Re-banned from The View
As of August 2009, Kathy Griffin had been un-banned from The View.
August 25, 2009: Released Comedy Album "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, Kathy Griffin's memoir 'Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin' was published and 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.
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'.
November 2009: AFA Angel Award
In November 2009, Aid For AIDS presented Kathy Griffin with an AFA Angel Award at their silver anniversary celebration. Griffin is a long-time supporter of the Aid for AIDS annual fundraiser Best in Drag Show in Los Angeles, and hosted the opening of the show for more than five years.
2009: Publication of autobiography 'Official Book Club Selection'
In 2009, Kathy Griffin released her autobiography 'Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin'.
December 31, 2009: CNN New Year's Eve Co-host
On December 31, 2009, Kathy Griffin co-hosted CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper and made a controversial statement during the show.
March 2010: Organized Rally to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
In March 2010, Kathy Griffin organized a rally in Washington, D.C., advocating for the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell". She was inspired after meeting closeted gay people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and she also held meetings with members of Congress to encourage the repeal.
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 about her views on homosexuality at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner. Griffin reportedly asked Bachmann if she was born a bigot or grew into it, referencing Bachmann's belief that homosexuality is environmental.
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: 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List' Concludes
In 2010, the reality show 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List' concluded its run on Bravo.
2010: DVD release of Bravo special
In early 2010, Shout! Factory released an extended version on DVD of Kathy Griffin's Bravo special.
2011: Record-breaking year for comedy specials
In 2011, Kathy Griffin became the first comedian to have four comedy specials televised in a single year.
2011: Released album 50 and Not Pregnant
In 2011, Kathy Griffin released her fourth album, 50 and Not Pregnant.
January 7, 2012: Announcement of Weekly Talk 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" as a Single
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: Released EP Containing Dance 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: Released album Seaman 1st Class
In 2012, Kathy Griffin released her fifth album, Seaman 1st Class.
April 8, 2013: Cancellation of talk show
On April 8, 2013, Kathy Griffin announced that her talk show would not be renewed for a third season.
2013: Won Grammy for Best Comedy Album 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: Announcement of Daytime Emmy Host
On June 13, 2014, it was announced that Kathy Griffin would host the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards.
June 22, 2014: Hosting the Daytime Emmy Awards
On June 22, 2014, Kathy Griffin hosted the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards.
2014: Released Album "Look at My Butt Crack"
In 2014, Kathy Griffin released her seventh album, "Look at My Butt Crack", recorded in Las Vegas.
2014: Grammy Award win
In 2014, Kathy Griffin won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
May 2017: Dropped by Squatty Potty and Fired by CNN
In May 2017, Kathy Griffin was dropped by Squatty Potty as a spokesperson, and CNN fired her from its New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper, due to the controversial photo.
August 2017: Announcement of Worldwide Comedy Tour
In August 2017, Kathy Griffin announced a worldwide comedy tour titled "Laugh Your Head Off", a reference to her controversial depiction of Donald Trump's severed head.
August 2017: Australian Television Interview
In August 2017, during an interview on Australian television, Kathy Griffin defended her controversial photo and criticized the focus on it compared to the actions of the U.S. President.
October 28, 2017: Uploads YouTube video 'Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story'
On October 28, 2017, Kathy Griffin uploaded a YouTube video titled "Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story", which is about the backlash she received for the Trump photo controversy.
November 2017: Takes Back Apology for Trump Photo
In November 2017, Kathy Griffin appeared on Skavlan and retracted her apology for the controversial photo with the model of Donald Trump's severed head.
2017: CNN Termination
In 2017, CNN terminated Kathy Griffin from its New Year's Eve Broadcast after Griffin showed pictures of herself holding a bloody, model severed head resembling President Donald Trump.
May 23, 2018: Start of North America Tour Leg
On May 23, 2018, Kathy Griffin commenced the North America leg of her "Laugh Your Head Off" tour in Ottawa, Ontario.
2019: Release of 'A Hell of a Story' concert film
In 2019, Kathy Griffin released her concert film 'A Hell of a Story', based on the controversy surrounding the Donald Trump severed head photo.
November 4, 2020: Posts another Trump Severed Head Photo
On November 4, 2020, Kathy Griffin (on her 60th birthday) once again posted a photo of herself with a model of Donald Trump's bloody, severed head.
2020: Hosted Str8Up Gay Porn Awards
In 2020, Kathy Griffin hosted the Str8Up Gay Porn Awards.
November 6, 2022: Suspension from Twitter for Impersonating Elon Musk
On November 6, 2022, Kathy Griffin was suspended from Twitter after impersonating Elon Musk. She used his profile photo, changed her name, and tweeted under his name, urging people to vote for Democrats. Elon Musk then announced that impersonating a public figure would lead to permanent suspension.
2025: Named Advocate of the Year by The Advocate magazine
In 2025, Kathy Griffin was named the Advocate of the Year by The Advocate magazine, highlighting her bold activism and unique humor.
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