Marc Maron
Born 1963 · Age 62
American stand-up comedian, podcaster, writer, actor and musician; host of WTF with Marc Maron; star/creator of IFC series Maron; actor in film and TV; prominent voice actor.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey
Marc David Maron is born to Toby Blum and Barry Ralph Maron.
Family moves from Wayne, NJ to Alaska
Family moved when his father joined the U.S. Air Force for two years for his medical residency.
Family relocates to Albuquerque, New Mexico
After father's residency the family moved to Albuquerque where his father started a medical practice; Maron lived there from 3rd grade through high school.
Graduates Highland High School (approx.)
Maron graduated Highland High School in Albuquerque (exact year not specified; estimated based on birth year).
Graduates Boston University (B.A. English Literature)
Maron earnes a B.A. in English literature from Boston University.
Begins professional career at The Comedy Store (LA)
Started professional comedy career at The Comedy Store; became an associate of Sam Kinison.
First stand-up performance
Maron first performed stand-up comedy (began his professional career this year).
Moves to New York alt-comedy scene
Maron relocated to New York City and integrated into the new alternative comedy community.
Hosts Short Attention Span Theater (Comedy Central)
Replaced Jon Stewart as host of Short Attention Span Theater; ran 1993–1994.
Multiple appearances on Conan and national late-night TV
Began frequent appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and other late-night shows in the 1990s (contributed to becoming one of Conan's most frequent stand-up guests).
HBO/Comedy Central half-hour specials
Recorded half-hour specials for HBO and Comedy Central Presents (1990s era credits).
Auditioned for Saturday Night Live (unsuccessful)
Auditioned during the 1995 SNL cast overhaul; attributes failure to being high during a meeting with Lorne Michaels.
Marriage to Kimberly Reiss (1997) and later divorce
Maron married Kimberly Reiss (1997) and divorced in 2001; used in his comedic material.
Appears in mockumentary 'Who's the Caboose?'
Featured in the 1997 mockumentary starring Sarah Silverman and Sam Seder.
Comedy special: Comedy Central Presents (1998 credit)
Appeared on Comedy Central Presents (late 1990s special appearances; credited 1998 and 2007 seasons).
Film role in Los Enchiladas! and others
Appeared in independent films in late 1990s (Los Enchiladas!, etc.).
Became sober (sobriety date)
Maron has been sober from alcohol and drugs since August 9, 1999.
Off-Broadway one-man show 'Jerusalem Syndrome'
Jerusalem Syndrome had an extended off-Broadway run in 2000; it later became a book.
Small film role in Almost Famous
Credited as 'angry promoter' in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (role later used in podcast intro).
Book: The Jerusalem Syndrome published
Released book The Jerusalem Syndrome: My Life as a Reluctant Messiah (based on his one-man show).
Hosts US version of Never Mind the Buzzcocks (VH1)
Hosted the short-lived 2002 American version of the British game show on VH1.
Comedy album 'Not Sold Out' credited
Early comedy album credit (Stand Up! Records catalog lists Not Sold Out - 2002 release).
Joins Air America Radio – co-host Morning Sedition
Co-hosted Morning Sedition (weekday early-morning show) starting with Air America's launch-related programming.
Marriage to Mishna Wolff (date recorded)
Maron married Mishna Wolff in 2004 (divorced 2007); marriage figured in his material and later one-man shows.
Air America contract non-renewal announced
On Nov 28, 2005 it was announced Maron's contract with Air America would not be renewed; last Morning Sedition broadcast was Dec 16, 2005.
Comedy album 'Tickets Still Available' released
Released Tickets Still Available (Stand Up! Records).
Begins 'The Marc Maron Show' on KTLK (LA)
Started a nighttime radio program on KTLK 1150AM in Los Angeles (10pm–midnight PST); show ended July 14, 2006.
Begins weekly video webcast with Sam Seder (Sept 2007)
Started a weekly hour-long video webcast with Sam Seder (later expanded into daily content).
Expands webcast to 'Maron v. Seder'
The Sam Seder collaboration expanded into a daily show produced by Air America Media (Maron v. Seder).
Tours 'Stand Uppity' with Eugene Mirman & Andy Kindler
Participated in the May 2008 comedy tour Stand Uppity.
Comedy album 'Final Engagement' released
Final Engagement released on Stand Up! Records (2009).
Breakroom Live debuts (with Sam Seder) on Air America
The webcast became Breakroom Live with Maron & Seder in January 2009 (webcast weekdays).
Workshops one-man show 'Scorching the Earth'
Begins workshopping another one-man show (Scorching the Earth) which he said 'bookends' his relationship with Mishna Wolff.
Moves back to Los Angeles (late 2009)
After many years in New York (Astoria, Queens), Maron moved back to Los Angeles in late 2009.
Air America cancels Breakroom Live
Breakroom Live was canceled July 15, 2009; hosts cited financial reasons.
Launches WTF with Marc Maron podcast
Begins the twice-weekly podcast WTF from his garage in Highland Park, Los Angeles; first guest Jeff Ross.
Louis C.K. WTF episode gains major acclaim
2010 appearance by Louis C.K. on WTF was later rated the No. 1 podcast episode of all time by Slate.
Robin Williams interview (WTF) — culturally significant
April 2010 interview with Robin Williams in which Williams discussed suicidal ideation; the episode was later preserved by the Library of Congress (selected in 2022).
Comedy album 'This Has to Be Funny' released
Released comedy album This Has to Be Funny (Comedy Central Records).
Todd Glass reveals he's gay on WTF
2012 interview in which comedian Todd Glass publicly revealed he was gay.
Comedy special audio 'Thinky Pain' album
Thinky Pain released as an audio album (2013).
Plays guitar solo on Yacht's 'Party at the NSA'
Contributed a guitar solo to the protest/charity single 'Party at the NSA' (proceeds to EFF).
IFC premieres 'Maron' TV series
Maron (autobiographical comedy series created by and starring Marc Maron) premiered May 3, 2013 on IFC.
Netflix special 'Marc Maron: Thinky Pain' released
Released his first hour-long special through Netflix (Thinky Pain).
Book 'Attempting Normal' published
Published memoir Attempting Normal (Spiegel & Grau, 2014).
Breakup with Jessica Sanchez announced (podcast)
On Oct 14, 2013 episode of his podcast, Maron announced he had broken up with fiancée Jessica Sanchez; subsequently had a five-month relationship with Moon Zappa.
Interviews President Barack Obama on WTF
In 2015 President Barack Obama visited Maron's garage studio for a widely-covered WTF interview.
Appears on 'Girls' and 'Harvey Beaks'
Two-episode arc on Girls (season four) and voice of Randl on Harvey Beaks (2015–2016).
Special 'More Later' released (Epix)
Released another comedy special, More Later, through Epix in December 2015.
Voice role as Magnus Hammersmith (Metalocalypse)
Provided voice to Magnus Hammersmith in three episodes of Metalocalypse (2012 credits recorded and aired across early 2010s).
IFC series 'Maron' ends after four seasons
Maron appeared in all 51 episodes (2013–2016); show ended in 2016.
Co-stars in Netflix series GLOW (start)
Joined GLOW as Sam Sylvia; co-starred 2017–2019 (28 episodes total).
WTF becomes influential podcast; growth milestone
By 2013–2017 the WTF podcast influenced long-form interview podcasts; downloads and audience rose sharply (by 2013 ~2.5–3M downloads/month per Britannica; later hundreds of millions overall).
Book 'Waiting for the Punch' published
Published Waiting for the Punch: Words to Live by from the WTF Podcast (co-written with Brendan McDonald).
Screen Actors Guild and critics awards nominations for GLOW
Nominated (2018) for ensemble and supporting actor awards for GLOW (multiple nominations including Gold Derby, Broadcast Film Critics and SAG nominations).
Comedy album 'Too Real' released
Too Real released on 800 Pound Gorilla Records.
Wins Best Actor at Gijón International Film Festival
Awarded Best Actor (Gijón) for Sword of Trust (2019).
Stars in 'Sword of Trust' and appears in 'Joker'
Starred in Sword of Trust (Lynn Shelton) and had a supporting role in Joker (2019).
Begins relationship with Lynn Shelton (late 2019)
Relationship with director Lynn Shelton began in late 2019 (met earlier; guest on his podcast).
Cat LaFonda dies
LaFonda (one of his cats) died in December 2019; Maron briefly changed his podcast sign-off accordingly.
Appears in Stardust and Spenser Confidential; 'End Times Fun' special
Acting roles in Stardust (as Ron Oberman) and Spenser Confidential; released comedy special End Times Fun (2020).
Partner Lynn Shelton dies (2020)
Lynn Shelton unexpectedly died in 2020; Maron and Shelton had been together until her death.
Cat Monkey dies (Aug 2020)
His cat 'Monkey' died in August 2020; Maron references deceased cats on his podcast sign-off.
Appears as Jerry Wexler in Respect (2021)
Portrayed record executive Jerry Wexler in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (2021).
Receives inaugural Governors Award by the Podcast Academy (The Ambies)
Maron and producer Brendan McDonald received the first-ever Governors Award by the Podcast Academy for Excellence in Audio for WTF (announced April 2021).
Robin Williams WTF episode added to US National Recording Registry
The April 2010 Robin Williams WTF episode was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation (2022) as culturally/historically significant.
Voice of Mr. Snake in DreamWorks' The Bad Guys
Provided voice of Mr. Snake in The Bad Guys (2022); also voiced Lex Luthor in DC League of Super-Pets (2022).
Special 'From Bleak to Dark' named NY Magazine's No.1 Best Comedy Special
Maron's 2023 special From Bleak to Dark was named New York magazine's No.1 Best Comedy Special of 2023.
Good Grief Award (Our House Grief Support Center)
Received the Good Grief Award for portraying grief with honesty and dignity (2023).
Writers Guild Awards nomination (Comedy/Variety Specials)
From Bleak to Dark received a Writers Guild Awards nomination (2024).
Comedy album 'From Bleak to Dark' released
From Bleak to Dark released as an album (Craft Recordings, 2024).
Announced to star and produce 'In Memoriam'
In 2024 it was announced Maron will star in and produce the comedy film In Memoriam alongside multiple notable actors.
Resides in Glendale, Los Angeles with two cats
Reported residence in Glendale, Los Angeles with cats Buster and Sammy.
Voice role in 'The Bad Guys 2' (upcoming)
Set to reprise voice of Mr. Snake in The Bad Guys 2 (2025 release).
WTF with Marc Maron to end in fall 2025 (announced)
June 2025 announcement that the WTF podcast will end in fall 2025 after a 16-year run.
Key Achievement Ages
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