Quotes by Kathy Griffin

I was raised right. I talk about people behind their...
“ I was raised right. I talk about people behind their backs. It's called manners. “
-Kathy Griffin-

I was raised right. I talk about people behind their backs. It's called manners.

Introducing Kathy Griffin

Kathy Griffin, born Kathleen Mary Griffin on November 4, 1960, in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, is an American comedian, actress, and author known for her sharp wit and unfiltered commentary. Raised in a first-generation Irish-American family, she was the youngest of five siblings—Kenny, Joyce, Gary, and John—to parents Mary Margaret "Maggie" Griffin and John Patrick Griffin. From an early age, Griffin displayed a need to express herself, often visiting neighbors to share family stories, which she later described as her first "live shows." Her childhood was marked by challenges, including a binge eating disorder that developed after her siblings moved out, a condition she has openly discussed managing into adulthood. Additionally, her eldest brother Kenny, a drug addict with a violent streak, created a troubling dynamic in her early life, including disturbing incidents she later revealed in her writing. These formative experiences shaped her resilience and fueled her comedic perspective.
Griffin’s path to authorship was preceded by a robust career in entertainment. After moving to Los Angeles in 1978, she studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and joined the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings. Her early television appearances included minor roles, such as an extra in a Chicago White Sox commercial and guest spots on Seinfeld, before landing a supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan (1996–2000). She gained widespread recognition with her Bravo reality series Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005–2010), which earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality Program. Known for her "D-list" persona, Griffin built a reputation through stand-up comedy, releasing multiple specials on HBO, Comedy Central, and Bravo, and setting a Guinness World Record for the most televised comedy specials by any comedian. Her controversial humor, often targeting celebrities, religion, and politics, solidified her as a polarizing yet influential figure in comedy.