Shane Gillis is an American comedian, actor and writer whose career has expanded from the Philadelphia stand-up scene into television, podcasting and Netflix. He is the co-creator and star of the comedy series Tires, hosts Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast with Matt McCusker, and has released two widely viewed stand-up specials.
Gillis first gained a following through live comedy and podcasting before becoming nationally known after Saturday Night Live announced him as a cast member in 2019. He was removed from the cast before appearing on the program after earlier podcast remarks drew criticism. Rather than ending his career, the episode was followed by a period of independent work that helped Gillis build a large audience on his own terms.
His later return to Saturday Night Live as a host marked a significant change in his relationship with the show. As of September 2026, NBC has announced that Gillis will host SNL for a third time on October 10, 2026, with Rosalía as musical guest.
| Biography Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shane Michael Gillis |
| Date of Birth | December 11, 1987 |
| Age | 38 years old (as of September 2026) |
| Birthplace | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Comedian, Actor, Writer, Podcaster |
| Education | West Chester University |
| Years Active | 2012–present |
| Known For | Tires, Beautiful Dogs, Live in Austin, Gilly & Keeves, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast |
| Comedy Debut | Began performing stand-up in 2012 |
| Major Award/Achievement | Winner of Helium Comedy Club’s Philly’s Phunniest in 2016 |
| Notable TV | Tires, Bupkis, Saturday Night Live |
| Stand-Up Specials | Live in Austin (2021), Beautiful Dogs (2023) |
| Podcast | Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast |
| Net Worth | Not reliably verified |
| Marital Status | Not reliably established from authoritative public sources |
| Known For | His stand-up comedy, podcasting, acting and Netflix projects |
Early Life & Background
Shane Michael Gillis was born on December 11, 1987, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the area and developed an interest in football before eventually pursuing comedy. Biography.com reports that he briefly attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and later attended Elon University before graduating from West Chester University with a degree in history.
Before comedy became his full-time career, Gillis worked as a car salesman and English teacher. He began performing stand-up around 2012, initially building his reputation through the Pennsylvania comedy circuit.
His early years in Philadelphia were particularly important to his development. He performed regularly in the region and eventually became part of a group of comedians whose collaborations would continue throughout his career.
Education
Gillis attended several colleges before completing his undergraduate education at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, where he earned a history degree. His earlier education included a brief period at West Point and time at Elon University.
Comedy Career
Gillis began performing stand-up professionally in 2012 and gradually established himself in Philadelphia. His progress accelerated in the middle of the decade. In 2014, he was named Baltimore’s New Comedian of the Year, and in 2016 he won Helium Comedy Club’s Philly’s Phunniest competition. Helium Comedy Club identifies Gillis as its 2016 winner and notes his work in the Philadelphia comedy scene.
In 2016, Gillis and fellow Philadelphia comedian Matt McCusker launched Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast. The weekly show became a major part of Gillis’ career and helped him develop an audience beyond the traditional stand-up circuit.
Gillis also appeared on comedy programs and podcasts including The Bonfire, The Bennington Show and the Anthony Cumia Show. In 2019, he performed at Comedy Central’s Clusterfest and was selected as a New Face at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal.
Saturday Night Live Controversy
In September 2019, Gillis was announced as one of the new cast members of Saturday Night Live. He never appeared as an official cast member, however.
Shortly after his casting was announced, recordings of earlier podcast conversations surfaced containing offensive remarks, including the use of a racial slur and derogatory language. Following the resulting criticism, SNL creator Lorne Michaels and the program decided to remove Gillis from the cast. Gillis subsequently continued his career outside the show.
The controversy became an important chapter in Gillis’ public career, but it did not prevent him from developing a substantial audience through stand-up, podcasting and independently produced comedy.
Gilly & Keeves
In 2020, Gillis and fellow comedian John McKeever launched Gilly & Keeves, a sketch-comedy series. The project gave Gillis another outlet for his comedy and allowed him to work outside the traditional television system.
The sketches eventually led to a feature-length special in 2022. Gillis’ official biography describes Gilly & Keeves as one of his major creative projects during this period.
Stand-Up Specials
Gillis released his first major stand-up special, Shane Gillis: Live in Austin, in 2021. The self-funded special became a significant online success, with his official biography reporting more than 40 million views.
His next special, Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs, was released by Netflix in 2023. According to Gillis’ official site, the special reached Netflix’s Top 10 in five countries and spent two weeks in the U.S. Top 10.
The specials helped establish Gillis as a major stand-up performer independently of his brief SNL experience.
Tires
One of Gillis’ most important television projects is Tires, a workplace comedy set at a family-owned auto shop. Gillis co-created the series with John McKeever and Steve Gerben and stars in it alongside Gerben, Chris O’Connor and others. Netflix currently lists three seasons of the series.
The show began as an independently produced project before Netflix acquired it. Its success turned Tires into a major part of Gillis’ transition from stand-up comedian to television creator and actor.
Gillis’ official biography says the second season debuted in Netflix’s Top Ten in 2025. Netflix’s current listing identifies Gillis as one of the show’s stars and creators.
Return to Saturday Night Live
Gillis’ relationship with Saturday Night Live changed several years after his 2019 dismissal. He returned to the program as host on February 24, 2024, with 21 Savage as musical guest.
He later hosted the show again, and NBC has announced another appearance for October 10, 2026. The upcoming episode will make his third hosting appearance and will feature Rosalía as musical guest.
His return is one of the more notable developments in his career because it brought him back to the program that had removed him from its cast years earlier.
Personal Life
Gillis has generally kept much of his private life separate from his professional career. Publicly available reporting focuses primarily on his comedy, television work, podcasting and performances.
He is closely associated professionally with fellow comedians including Matt McCusker, John McKeever and Steve Gerben. McCusker and Gillis have worked together since the launch of Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast in 2016, while McKeever has collaborated with Gillis on Gilly & Keeves and Tires.
Claims about Gillis’ private relationships or other personal matters should be treated cautiously unless supported by reliable sources.
Net Worth
A reliable, independently verified figure for Shane Gillis’ current net worth is not publicly established. Estimates appearing on celebrity-finance websites vary considerably and generally do not provide enough evidence to support a precise figure.
For that reason, a specific net-worth amount is not included here.
Interesting Facts About Shane Gillis
- Shane Gillis began performing stand-up comedy professionally around 2012.
- He won Helium Comedy Club’s Philly’s Phunniest competition in 2016.
- Gillis launched Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast with Matt McCusker in 2016.
- His 2021 special Live in Austin was self-funded and became a major online success.
- His 2023 Netflix special Beautiful Dogs reached Netflix’s Top 10 in several countries.
- Gillis co-created and stars in Netflix’s Tires, which currently has three seasons listed by Netflix.
- He returned to Saturday Night Live as a host in 2024 after being removed from its cast in 2019.
- NBC has announced Gillis as an SNL host for October 10, 2026, his third time hosting the program.
FAQs
Who is Shane Gillis?
Shane Gillis is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer known for his stand-up specials, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, Gilly & Keeves, Netflix’s Tires and his appearances as a host of Saturday Night Live.
How old is Shane Gillis?
Shane Gillis was born on December 11, 1987. He is 38 years old as of September 2026.
Where is Shane Gillis from?
Gillis is from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. His comedy career also developed extensively in the Philadelphia area.
What is Shane Gillis known for?
He is particularly known for stand-up comedy, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, the sketch series Gilly & Keeves, Netflix’s Tires, and his appearances as host of Saturday Night Live.
Why was Shane Gillis removed from Saturday Night Live?
Gillis was removed from the SNL cast in 2019 after earlier podcast recordings containing offensive remarks, including a racial slur and derogatory language, resurfaced following the announcement of his casting. He never appeared as a cast member.
What is Tires about?
Tires is a workplace comedy set at a family auto shop. The story follows manager Will as he tries to improve the business while dealing with his troublemaking cousin. Gillis is a co-creator and star of the series.
Is Shane Gillis returning to Saturday Night Live?
Yes. NBC announced in September 2026 that Gillis will host Saturday Night Live on October 10, 2026, with Rosalía as musical guest. It will be his third time hosting the show.
Conclusion
Shane Gillis has built his career through a combination of stand-up, podcasting, sketch comedy and television. His early Philadelphia comedy work led to Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, while projects such as Gilly & Keeves, Live in Austin, Beautiful Dogs and Tires helped him establish a substantial audience outside traditional network television.
His brief and controversial association with Saturday Night Live became an early turning point, but his subsequent work allowed him to develop as a performer and creator on his own terms. His later return to SNL as a host, including the third hosting appearance announced for October 2026, reflects how significantly his career has developed since 2019.
Don’t miss out — discover more stories only on Meet Celebrity.
