Molly Shannon shares her comedic rise and family’s tragedy during luncheon

“Saturday Night Live” alum Molly Shannon shared her laugh-out-loud humor as well as her deep, transformative pain with a rapt audience Wednesday during an Atlanta Women’s Foundation luncheon.

Many of her characters’ quirks were inspired by her father, she said. 

“… He was just silly,” Shannon said. “If we went to a candy store, he would say, “Let’s pretend like we’re blind!” And he would knock down boxes of candy. Everything was a game. If we went to a department store, he would undress the mannequins.”

Shannon’s appearance drew 1,600 guests to the Georgia World Congress Center and helped to raise more than $1.7 million for grants directed to nonprofits benefiting women and girls. 

Entertainer and auctioneer Dean Crownover called out for donations and circled the tables of the expansive room to round up tallies ranging from $100 to $10,000 and higher.

The message of Shannon’s personal story offers inspiration similar to the luncheon’s fundraising theme, which is to be a “catalyst for change.” The comedic actress experienced tragedy and resilience during childhood when her mother, sister and cousin died in a car accident.

“… We know her message will deeply resonate with our community of supporters dedicated to uplifting women and girls,” Kari B. Love, CEO of Atlanta Women’s Foundation, said in a statement before the event.

In conversation with Channel 2 Action News Anchor Karyn Greer, Shannon discussed the years-long grief she’s felt over the loss of her mother.

Shannon was four years old when she was involved in a major car accident. Her mother, her younger sister and her cousin died in the 1969 collision.

In adulthood, as Shannon began to flourish as a performer, and before landing on “Saturday Night Live,” she created her own stage show where such characters as Mary Kathrine Gallagher and Sally O’Malley originated.

Still, her big break in show business was not yet happening, she recalled.

Shannon said she stepped away from performing for about a year with the mindset that she should “stop trying so hard.”

She had her father, who Shannon describes as her biggest supporter, but she also longed for her mother even after being hired on “Saturday Night Live.”

“When I did eventually get “Saturday Night Live” and I was at the peak of performing and fame, and everybody knowing Mary Katherine and those characters, I got really depressed,” she said. “…I just want my mom to tell me I’m good.”

“I finally let myself cry about it, and I realized that fame doesn’t fix anything and that I can just enjoy being creative… I think I was so driven to pursue [my career] because I wanted that love from my mom,” Shannon added.

When Greer asked Shannon what she would say to her 11-year-old self, Shannon replied: “Speak kindly to yourself… I think we can be so harsh with the voices in our head and it can take real practice to turn a negative into a positive. I think speaking kindly to yourself is one of the most beautiful things you can do for yourself.”

“Even if you make a mistake, just tell yourself, “It’s okay. It will be better next time. This is not a good time for me.””