You’ve seen him roast every celebrity under the sun at the Oscars. You’ve probably watched his YouTube clips of kids crying over fake eaten Halloween candy at 2:00 AM. But when the late-night host starts talking about his "hometown," things get a little confusing for the average viewer. Is he a gritty New Yorker or a neon-soaked Vegas local?
Honestly, the answer is both. If you’re looking for the quick answer to where was Jimmy Kimmel born, he entered the world in Brooklyn, New York, on November 13, 1967. But that’s only half the story. To really get why he has that specific mix of East Coast sarcasm and desert-bred prankster energy, you have to look at the nine years he spent in New York and the sudden "culture shock" move that landed him in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
The Early Years in Brooklyn: Mill Basin Roots
Jimmy Kimmel—or James Christian Kimmel, if you’re being formal—was born to Joan and James John Kimmel. His neighborhood wasn't the trendy, $5-latte Brooklyn you see on Instagram today. He grew up in Mill Basin, a residential, somewhat secluded part of the borough known for its waterfront views and very traditional vibe.
His family was deeply Catholic. In fact, young Jimmy was an altar boy. You can still see flashes of that upbringing when he talks about his family on the show; his mother, Joan, famously makes appearances or sends in snacks for the crew. His father worked as an executive at IBM (and later American Express), so it was a solid, middle-class upbringing.
But the New York chapter ended abruptly. In 1976, when Jimmy was just nine years old, the Kimmel family packed up and moved to Las Vegas.
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From Pizza to Poker: Growing Up in Las Vegas
Imagine being a kid from Brooklyn and suddenly landing in 1970s Las Vegas. It was a totally different world. Jimmy has often described this transition as "weird" because, to him, Vegas was just a normal town where people lived, went to church, and played Little League.
"I didn't know it was a weird thing to grow up in Las Vegas until I moved," Kimmel told People in an interview. "I would tell people that I grew up in Las Vegas and they couldn't believe it."
While other kids were seeing cows or cornfields, Jimmy was seeing Liberace at the local grocery store. He once recalled seeing the legendary piano man wearing a hairnet while buying meat at the Mayfair market. That’s the kind of childhood that shapes a comedy career.
He attended Ed W. Clark High School in Vegas, where he wasn't exactly the class clown yet—he was more of a meticulous student. He actually got straight As. But the "Vegas" in him was coming out through radio. While he was still a junior in high school, he started a Sunday night interview show on KUNV, the University of Nevada's student-run station.
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Why the Birthplace Debate Matters
People often argue about whether he’s a New Yorker or a Nevadan. If you ask Jimmy, he’s fiercely loyal to his Vegas roots. He even opened Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club on the Las Vegas Strip. He’s the guy who brings the Super Bowl or Formula One hype back to the desert.
However, his "New York-ness" is what gives him that bite. That Mill Basin, Brooklyn energy is where the sarcasm comes from. It's the reason he can stand on a stage at the Academy Awards and tell a room full of millionaires exactly what he thinks of them without blinking.
- Born: Brooklyn, NY (Mill Basin)
- Moved: Las Vegas, NV (Age 9)
- Education: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Arizona State University (ASU)
The Ancestry Factor: Italian and German Heritage
If you want to go even deeper into the "where was he from" rabbit hole, you have to look at his family tree. In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Kimmel discovered that his Italian ancestors (on his mother's side) came to New York with almost nothing. His great-grandfather, Vincenzo, lost family members in a massive earthquake in Italy before immigrating.
In June 2025, Kimmel actually celebrated receiving his official Italian citizenship through his grandmother’s lineage. So, while he was born in Brooklyn and raised in Vegas, he’s technically a dual citizen now.
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What This Means for You
Understanding Jimmy Kimmel's background helps explain his longevity in late-night. He isn't a "Hollywood" product. He’s a guy who grew up in the suburbs of New York and the suburbs of a gambling mecca. He’s seen both the grit and the glitz.
If you’re trying to trace his path for your own career or just settling a trivia bet, remember the "9-year rule." New York for the first nine, Vegas for the rest.
Your Next Steps:
If you're a fan of his style, check out the episodes of Finding Your Roots featuring his family history. It gives a massive amount of context to the "Aunt Chippy" and "Cousin Sal" characters you see on his show. Also, if you ever find yourself in Vegas, head to the LINQ Promenade to see his comedy club—it’s basically a shrine to the city he calls his true home.