You’ve probably seen the name Gillis popping up in two completely different worlds lately. On one side, you have a guy making waves in the comedy scene, hosting Saturday Night Live and starring in Netflix hits. On the other, there’s a woman floating 400 miles above Earth, performing history-making spacewalks for SpaceX. Naturally, everyone is asking the same thing: Are Sarah Gillis and Shane Gillis related?
It's a fair question. Honestly, the internet loves a good "secret talented family" narrative. But the truth is actually a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no, especially since Shane Gillis does have a sister named Sarah.
Sarah Gillis and Shane Gillis: Clearing Up the Confusion
Let’s get the big one out of the way immediately. The Sarah Gillis who is a SpaceX astronaut and the Sarah Gillis who is Shane Gillis’s sister are two different people.
It’s a classic case of "same name, different life path." The Sarah Gillis you see in the news for the Polaris Dawn mission—the one who played the violin in orbit—is an aerospace engineer from Boulder, Colorado. Shane Gillis, meanwhile, is the pride of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
The confusion stems from the fact that Shane frequently mentions his family. He’s very close with his sisters, Kait and Sarah. If you're a fan of Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, you’ve heard the stories about his upbringing in a tight-knit Irish Catholic household. Because Shane’s star has risen so fast, and Sarah the astronaut became a household name around the same time, the two identities got tangled in the Google search blender.
Who is the "Astronaut" Sarah Gillis?
Sarah Levine "Cooper" Gillis is, quite frankly, a powerhouse. Born in Palo Alto but raised in Colorado, she didn't grow up dreaming of being a pilot. She was a classical violinist.
Her life flipped when she met Joe Tanner, a former NASA astronaut, who basically told her, "Hey, you're good at math, you should build spaceships." She ended up at the University of Colorado Boulder, interned at SpaceX in 2015, and never looked back.
By the time the Polaris Dawn mission rolled around in late 2024, she wasn't just an engineer; she was a mission specialist. She became the youngest person to ever perform a spacewalk. While Shane was busy selling out arenas and filming season two of Tires, Sarah was literally pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight.
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Shane’s Real Sister: Sarah Gillis of Pennsylvania
While the astronaut Sarah is busy with orbital mechanics, Shane's sister Sarah lives a much more private life in Pennsylvania. The Gillis family is well-known in the Harrisburg area, largely because they are a standard, loud, funny East Coast family.
Shane’s other sister, Kait, has actually been in the spotlight a bit more than their sister Sarah. Kait runs a coffee shop called Nour Coffee in Camp Hill, which employs individuals with Down syndrome. It’s a huge part of the "Gillis lore" among fans.
So, while there is a Sarah Gillis in Shane’s immediate family, she isn't the one wearing a SpaceX pressure suit. She’s the one who probably rolls her eyes at Shane’s jokes during Thanksgiving dinner.
Why Do People Think They’re Related?
It’s the "Small World" effect. In the age of social media, we crave connections. When two people with the same surname achieve "top tier" status in their respective fields at the same time, our brains try to bridge the gap.
- The Timing: The Polaris Dawn mission was a massive media event in late 2024 and throughout 2025. This coincided exactly with Shane Gillis becoming arguably the biggest stand-up comedian in the world.
- The Name: Sarah Gillis isn't exactly "Smith," but it’s common enough to cause this exact type of mix-up.
- The Mystery: Shane’s sister Sarah stays off the grid. When people search for "Shane Gillis sister Sarah," the first result is often the SpaceX astronaut.
What You Should Know About the Gillis Family Dynamic
If you want to understand why Shane Gillis is the way he is, you have to look at the family he actually belongs to. His dad, Phil, is a recurring character in his stand-up—the quintessential "dad" who watches Fox News and gets confused by technology.
Shane's comedy is deeply rooted in his Pennsylvania upbringing. It’s blue-collar, it’s unfiltered, and it’s surprisingly affectionate toward his roots. His sisters are a big part of that. They provide the grounding force that keeps a guy who just did a Super Bowl ad for Bud Light from getting too big for his boots.
Actionable Insights: How to Track the Real Gillis News
If you’re trying to keep up with either of these high-achievers without getting them confused, here is the best way to do it:
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- For Shane Gillis Updates: Stick to the source. Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast is where the real updates happen. If you want to see his scripted work, Tires on Netflix is the primary hub.
- For Sarah Gillis (Astronaut) Updates: Follow the Polaris Program official site or SpaceX’s mission logs. She is currently a senior advisor at NASA, so her work is more technical and public-sector focused now.
- Verification Tip: Always check the "From" field. If the article mentions Mechanicsburg or Trinity High School, it’s about Shane. If it mentions CU Boulder or "extravehicular activity," it’s the astronaut.
Basically, the world is big enough for two legendary Sarah Gillises—one who lives in the Gillis family group chat, and one who helped change the future of space exploration. Just don't expect the astronaut to show up on a podcast and talk about high school football.