Jen Kirkman

Jen Kirkman, born Jennifer Ann Kirkman on August 28, 1974, in Needham, Massachusetts, is an American stand-up comedian, screenwriter, podcaster, author, and actress. She pursued her acting education at Emerson College in Boston. Kirkman’s career gained significant traction with her regular appearances dating back to 2008 as a round-table panelist on E!’s “Chelsea Lately,” where she appeared for 70 episodes until 2014. She also wrote for the show from 2008 to 2014, contributing to 70 episodes.

Her work in comedy extends to multiple critically acclaimed stand-up specials. In 2015, she released “I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)” on Netflix, which The Atlantic recognized as one of the best specials of the year. This was followed by her second Netflix comedy special, “Just Keep Livin’?,” in 2017. Beyond stand-up, Kirkman is a New York Times Bestselling author. Her debut book, “I Can Barely Take Care of Myself (Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids),” became an instant bestseller upon its release in 2013. Its follow-up, “I Know What I’m Doing and Other Lies I Tell Myself,” was published in 2016 and received praise from Kirkus Reviews.

Kirkman’s writing and producing credits include notable television series. She served as a writer/producer for Amazon Prime’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” from 2017 to 2023, where she also worked as a story editor and consultant for a total of 16 episodes. Her involvement with the show contributed to its success, including an Emmy nomination for her work. She also held roles as a consulting producer for “The Kids in the Hall” reboot in 2022 and as a writer for episodes of “Perfect Couples” (2011), “Phineas and Ferb” (2009–2012), and the TV movie “‘Tis the Season to be Merry” (2021). Her acting appearances include roles in “Home Again” (2017) and “Modern Family” (2019).