Jimmy Kimmel first wife is Gina Maddy, an American costume designer and his college sweetheart from Arizona State University. Her exact birth date and birthplace have never been made public.
Jimmy Kimmel is the Emmy-winning host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC. He is also a comedian, writer, and producer. Fans know him for his sharp monologues, celebrity pranks, and his openness about family life. Before he became a late-night star, he was a young radio host moving from job to job. Gina was beside him for that whole stretch.
In this article, you’ll learn who Gina Maddy is, what she does for a living, how she and Kimmel met, and why their marriage ended. You’ll also meet their children and see how Kimmel’s life moved on. Gina keeps a low profile, so we’ve kept to details that are well documented.
Who Is Gina Maddy, Jimmy Kimmel’s First Wife?
Gina Maddy is an American woman who has spent most of her life away from the spotlight. Her full name is Gina Maddy. Some websites call her “Gina Kimmel,” which is the name she used during her marriage. Her date of birth and hometown have never been confirmed by reliable sources, so be careful with sites that list exact dates.
What is well known is where her story with Jimmy began. Gina attended Arizona State University, the same school Kimmel attended. That is where the two met and started dating as students. She was Kimmel’s first serious girlfriend, and the relationship grew quickly.
Beyond that, Gina has chosen privacy. She rarely gives interviews and does not court media attention. That is not unusual for the former partner of a famous person. It also explains why so many “facts” about her online conflict with each other. When you read about her, favor sources that agree on the basics: her name, the 1988 marriage, the 2002 divorce, and her two children.
Gina Maddy’s Career: What the Jimmy Kimmel First Wife Does Now
Gina Maddy works in the creative world, mainly in fashion and costume design. According to her listing on IMDb, she has worked in the costume department on television projects. These include the TV movies Party Like the Queen of France and Party Like the Rich and Famous, both from 2012.
She also runs a business. Gina is behind a vintage-inspired loungewear line called Maddy James. The brand fits her design background and gives her a creative outlet of her own, separate from her famous ex-husband.
Her exact net worth has not been reported. No trusted outlet has published numbers about her income or business earnings, so any figure you see online is a guess. What we can say is that she has built a career on her own skills and kept her work fairly quiet.
How Did Jimmy Kimmel and Gina Maddy Meet?
Kimmel and Maddy met in college at Arizona State University in the mid-to-late 1980s. Kimmel has said he was very young when he got married. He noted that his own mother married at 19, so marrying early did not seem strange to him, even though it surprised his friends.
Not many details about their first date or early romance are public. What we know is that they moved from college sweethearts to a committed couple fast. There is no widely reported engagement story, and the couple never turned their romance into a media event.
The early years were not easy. Kimmel was a radio host in a tough, unstable industry. He was fired from jobs more than once and had to move to new cities for work. Money was tight, and the couple relocated several times as his career took shape. Many fans find this part of the story relatable. Fame did not arrive overnight, and Gina was there before any of it.
Jimmy Kimmel First Wife: Marriage and Wedding Details
Jimmy Kimmel and Gina Maddy married in 1988, when Kimmel was about 20 years old. Kimmel was born on November 13, 1967, so that timeline checks out. Public records and interviews do not describe the wedding itself, such as the venue, guest list, or ceremony. The couple never shared photos or a full account with the press.
The marriage lasted about 14 years, ending in 2002. Reports say the couple cited irreconcilable differences. Kimmel has been open about his part in the split. He has admitted that his heavy focus on work put a strain on family life. Constant job changes and money stress made things harder.
After the divorce, both moved on. Kimmel dated comedian Sarah Silverman for several years. He then began a relationship with Molly McNearney, a writer on his show, and they married in July 2013. Gina chose to stay out of the public eye.
Children and Family Life With Jimmy Kimmel’s First Wife
Jimmy Kimmel and Gina Maddy have two children:
- Katherine “Katie” Kimmel, born in 1991. Katie is an artist and has spoken about her creative path.
- Kevin Kimmel, born in 1993. Kevin has worked in television, including behind the scenes on his father’s show.
Reports differ on this point. A few low-quality websites claim they had only one child or none. Most sources, and Kimmel’s own comments over the years, point to two children.
Kimmel speaks warmly about his older kids on air and often shares family stories. He now also has two younger children with Molly McNearney, Jane and Billy, so his household spans two generations of kids. Gina remains the mother of his two oldest children. She has kept her family life private and has not turned it into content.
Gina Maddy on Social Media
Gina Maddy does not have a large public social media presence like many celebrity spouses. She does not appear to promote her past marriage online. Her most visible connection to social media is through her Maddy James loungewear brand, which is where her work as a designer shows up.
Follower counts change often and are not confirmed by reliable sources, so we won’t list a number. If you want to follow her work, the best place to look is the brand’s official page. Expect design and product content, not celebrity gossip or details about her ex-husband.
Quick Facts About Jimmy Kimmel’s First Wife
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gina Maddy |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Costume designer; runs the Maddy James loungewear line |
| Married to | Jimmy Kimmel (first wife) |
| Marriage Year | 1988 (divorced 2002) |
| Children | Two: Katie (b. 1991) and Kevin (b. 1993) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
FAQ: Jimmy Kimmel’s First Wife
Q: What is Jimmy Kimmel’s first wife’s name?
A: Jimmy Kimmel’s first wife is Gina Maddy. They were married from 1988 to 2002.
Q: How old is Gina Maddy?
A: Her exact age is not public because her birth date has never been confirmed. Kimmel and Maddy married in 1988, and both were young adults at the time.
Q: What does Gina Maddy do for a living?
A: She is a costume designer with TV movie credits. She also runs a vintage-inspired loungewear line called Maddy James.
Q: When did Jimmy Kimmel and Gina Maddy get married?
A: They married in 1988 and divorced in 2002. The marriage lasted about 14 years.
Q: How many kids do Jimmy Kimmel and Gina Maddy have?
A: They have two children, a daughter named Katie and a son named Kevin. Kimmel has two more kids with his current wife, Molly McNearney.
Conclusion
Gina Maddy is a designer, entrepreneur, and mother of two who has built her life outside the spotlight. As the Jimmy Kimmel first wife, she was there during the hard early years, before the Emmys and the late-night desk. Their marriage ended in 2002, but both went on to build full lives, and they remain the parents of Katie and Kevin. It’s a story of two young people who grew up together, changed, and parted without public drama. That’s a fine ending, and it says a lot about the family Kimmel has built since.
