Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds
One has spent more than two decades behind a late night desk, cracking jokes about the news and the people in it. The other went from a Canadian teen soap to one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, with a football club and a few business wins along the way. Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds have different jobs, but they’ve shared plenty of laughs on the same stage.
Reynolds has been a frequent guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and in July 2024 he even guest hosted the show with Hugh Jackman. That makes Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds a natural pair to compare.
This profile covers their ages, education, career timelines, business ventures, their shared TV moments, and what each is doing in 2026.
Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds at a Glance
| Jimmy Kimmel | Ryan Reynolds | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Christian Kimmel | Ryan Rodney Reynolds |
| Born | November 13, 1967 | October 23, 1976 |
| Age (October 2026) | 58 | 50 |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York, USA | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Education | UNLV and Arizona State University (no degree) | Kitsilano Secondary School; briefly Kwantlen Polytechnic |
| Known for | Jimmy Kimmel Live, hosting the Oscars | Deadpool, Wrexham AFC, Mint Mobile |
| Spouse | Molly McNearney (married 2013) | Blake Lively (married 2012) |
| Children | Four | Four |
Early Life and Education
Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds both grew up in big, busy families and were drawn to making people laugh early on.
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel was born in Brooklyn in 1967. When he was 9, his family moved to Las Vegas, where he grew up. He loved radio and late night TV, especially David Letterman.
He studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and then Arizona State University, but left without a degree to work in radio. He spent years as a radio personality in Seattle, Tampa, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds was born in Vancouver in 1976, the youngest of four boys. His father was a food wholesaler and former boxer, and his mother was a retail saleswoman.
He graduated from Kitsilano Secondary School in 1994. He briefly took classes at Kwantlen Polytechnic University before dropping out to focus on acting. He started young, landing the teen soap Hillside, known in the US as Fifteen, in the early 1990s.
Career Timeline
Jimmy Kimmel’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Begins a long run in radio |
| 1997 | Co-hosts Comedy Central’s Win Ben Stein’s Money |
| 1999 | Co-creates and co-hosts The Man Show |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live debuts on ABC in January |
| 2012 | Hosts the White House Correspondents’ Dinner |
| 2017 | Hosts the Oscars for the first time |
| 2018 | Hosts the Oscars again |
| 2023 | Hosts the Oscars a third time |
| 2024 | Hosts the Oscars a fourth time |
| 2025 | ABC suspends the show for six days in September, then brings it back; signs an extension through May 2027 |
| 2026 | ABC denies a report that the show will end in 2027 |
Ryan Reynolds’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Stars in the Canadian teen soap Hillside |
| 1998 | Begins the sitcom Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place |
| 2002 | Breakout film role in Van Wilder |
| 2009 | The Proposal with Sandra Bullock |
| 2011 | Green Lantern, a box office letdown |
| 2016 | Deadpool becomes a huge hit |
| 2018 | Deadpool 2; buys a stake in Aviation Gin |
| 2019 | Buys a stake in Mint Mobile |
| 2020 | Aviation Gin sold to Diageo |
| 2021 | Buys Wrexham AFC with Rob McElhenney; Free Guy |
| 2023 | T-Mobile agrees to buy Mint Mobile |
| 2024 | Deadpool & Wolverine earns over $1.3 billion; guest hosts Kimmel’s show |
| 2025 | Wrexham reaches the Championship after a third straight promotion |
| 2026 | Says another Deadpool film will come “eventually” |
Their Shared Moments on TV
Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds have a long history on late night TV.
Frequent guest. Reynolds has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live many times to promote films like Deadpool, Free Guy, and The Adam Project. His dry humor fits the show’s style.
Guest hosting in 2024. On July 24, 2024, Reynolds and Hugh Jackman guest hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live. They did it during the press tour for Deadpool & Wolverine, which opened that weekend. Fans loved how the two stars interviewed and teased each other.
The Mint Mobile joke. Kimmel’s longtime sidekick Guillermo has joked about replacing Reynolds as the face of Mint Mobile ads. It’s a playful bit that connects the two worlds.
Two Very Different Paths
Kimmel built his career on talk. He moved from radio to cable comedy and then to network late night. For more than 20 years, he has hosted his own show. He has also become known for heartfelt monologues, including when he spoke about his son Billy’s heart surgery and health care in 2017.
Reynolds built his career on charm and hustle. He spent years in romantic comedies and action roles before Deadpool turned him into a superstar. He then became a smart marketer and businessman. His company Maximum Effort makes clever, fast ads, and his investments have paid off in a big way.
| Trait | Jimmy Kimmel | Ryan Reynolds |
|---|---|---|
| Main stage | Late night TV | Movies |
| Comedy style | Pranks, monologues, celebrity bits | Sarcastic, self mocking humor |
| Business side | TV production | Gin, phone service, football, ads |
| Big hosting gig | The Oscars, four times | Guest host of Kimmel’s show |
| Signature project | Jimmy Kimmel Live | Deadpool |
Business and Money
Jimmy Kimmel earns a large salary from ABC. He also produces TV through his company, Kimmelot. His net worth is often estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, though exact figures aren’t public.
Ryan Reynolds has turned smart bets into a fortune. He sold Aviation Gin to Diageo in a deal worth up to $610 million in 2020. T-Mobile agreed to buy Mint Mobile in 2023 in a deal worth up to $1.35 billion. He also co-owns Wrexham AFC, the Welsh club featured in the documentary series Welcome to Wrexham.
Personal Lives
Jimmy Kimmel has two adult children, Katie and Kevin, from his first marriage. He married writer and producer Molly McNearney in 2013. They have two children, Jane and Billy.
Ryan Reynolds was married to Scarlett Johansson from 2008 to 2011. He married Blake Lively in 2012 after they met on Green Lantern. They have four children.
Where Are They Now in 2026?
Jimmy Kimmel is still hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live. After a short suspension in September 2025, he signed a one year extension that keeps him at ABC through May 2027. In September 2026, a report said the show would end after this season, but ABC called the report inaccurate. He is 58.
Ryan Reynolds turned 50 on October 23, 2026. In July 2026, he told fans at Fanatics Fest that another Deadpool film will happen “eventually.” Wrexham AFC is now competing in England’s Championship after three straight promotions.
Fun Facts
- Jimmy Kimmel got his first big TV break as the sidekick on Win Ben Stein’s Money, where he won an Emmy with Ben Stein.
- Ryan Reynolds was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010.
- Kimmel is famous for his long running fake feud with Matt Damon, which often ends with Damon getting bumped from the show.
- Reynolds and Hugh Jackman kept up a playful public rivalry for years before teaming up in Deadpool & Wolverine.
- Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” segment, where celebrities read nasty posts about themselves, became one of late night’s most popular bits.
Lessons From Their Careers
Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds both show that humor can be a serious business tool. Kimmel turned a radio career into one of TV’s longest running talk shows. Reynolds used his comedic voice to sell gin, phone plans, and a Welsh football club. Both also survived setbacks. Kimmel weathered a suspension and network pressure in 2025. Reynolds bounced back from the Green Lantern flop to create one of Marvel’s most beloved characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds friends? They have a friendly working relationship. Reynolds appears on Kimmel’s show often and guest hosted it in 2024.
How old is Ryan Reynolds? He was born on October 23, 1976, so he turned 50 in October 2026.
How old is Jimmy Kimmel? He was born on November 13, 1967, so he is 58 and turns 59 in November 2026.
What’s Next
Kimmel’s future is the big question in late night. His current deal runs through May 2027, and he has joked for years about stepping away. Whatever he decides, his show has already outlasted most of its rivals. Reynolds, meanwhile, is writing new projects and keeps growing his business portfolio. Fans also expect more seasons of Welcome to Wrexham as the club chases a spot in the Premier League.
Why People Compare Them
Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds both use humor as their main tool, but in different ways. Kimmel makes the news funny night after night. Reynolds makes movies and ads funny and sells products along the way. Their shared moments on Jimmy Kimmel Live show how well their styles mix.
Key Takeaways
- Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Reynolds are linked through years of talk show appearances, including Reynolds’s July 2024 guest hosting stint with Hugh Jackman.
- Jimmy Kimmel was born November 13, 1967, in Brooklyn, and is 58. He studied at UNLV and Arizona State but left to work in radio.
- Ryan Reynolds was born October 23, 1976, in Vancouver, and just turned 50. He graduated from Kitsilano Secondary School.
- Kimmel has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live since 2003 and has hosted the Oscars four times.
- Reynolds is best known for Deadpool and has big business wins with Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, and Wrexham AFC.
- In 2026, Kimmel’s ABC contract runs through May 2027, while Reynolds says another Deadpool film will come eventually.
