Molly Shannon honored with star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: ‘Dreams do come true’

Will Ferrell and Connie Britton served as the event’s guest speakers.

Congratulations, Molly Shannon! The award-winning actress and comedian was honored with a star on the famed Los Angeles boulevard on Monday. 

As she accepted the honor, Shannon gave a heartfelt speech about her experience coming up in Hollywood — and the support she received from her late father, James Shannon. 

“I remember my dad told me, ‘You can always come home anytime. I’ll send you the money and the ticket,'” Shannon said. “I was so broke that I actually considered it … and then I had an epiphany. I thought, ‘At least I’m out here doing what I love. So many people I knew from high school had given up on their dreams.’ I thought, ‘At least I’m in L.A. trying. And that alone is a very meaningful life, and that is actually a good, brave thing.'”

Shannon added, “There is a lot of rejection in show business and many people will make you doubt yourself, until one day you get on Saturday Night Live and become a superstar. … Getting a star means so much to me. Dreams do come true.” 

Connie Britton and Will Ferrell served as the ceremony’s guest speakers. Britton and Shannon, who are longtime friends, worked together on a handful of projects, including Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Promising Young Woman and the first season of The White Lotus.

“Do you know who one of the best moms on the planet is? Molly fricken Shannon,” Britton said. “Molly, you have been such an inspiring mom … and I, as your friend, have always cherished your incredible wisdom as we raised our kids together.”

Britton went on to celebrate Shannon’s comedic influence on her 15-year-old son, Yoby, whom she adopted in 2011. 

“You showed him what funny is,” she said. “You did that for so many with the incredible characters that you played and continue to play, all of whom are so knowable, so accessible and full of human heart and soul. … With every character, you give us permission to love and forgive ourselves, as the greatest mothers do with their children.” 

Next up was Ferrell. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor collaborated with Shannon for the first time in 1995, when they were both cast members on Saturday Night Live. Ferrell recalled a time they performed on the late-night sketch comedy show, as well as a time he witnessed Shannon portray her now iconic character Mary Katherine Gallagher. 

“I had to run to do a quick change and as I was changing, I’m hearing Molly perform the character … and I’m feeling the stands shake with laughter to the point where I thought, ‘Oh my god, I haven’t heard laughter like this so far in the three shows we’ve done.’ And it hit me. It was such an emotional moment because I remember thinking, ‘Oh, we’re gonna be OK. That Molly saved us,'” Ferrell said. 

Ferrell praised Shannon’s portrayal of Gallagher and her inspiring performance.

“What was so great about Mary Katherine is that it was a trademark of what you do,” he said. “The character was funny, real. It was dark at moments. It was an outsider who dreamed, which I think is what you bring to so much of your work. It was a moment I’ll never forget. … I think Molly Shannon saved Saturday Night Live, I’ll say it.” 

Shannon has been showing off her comedic chops for decades. The Ohio native rose to fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001, during which she appeared in a slew of noteworthy films, including A Night at the Roxbury, Never Been Kissed, Wet Hot American Summer and Serendipity. 

She’s since appeared in films including Evan Almighty, the Hotel Transylvania series and People We Meet on Vacation, and television shows including Divorce, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker. In 2025, Shannon also won her first Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for Only Murders in the Building. 

Via: Yahoo