- Does not drink alcoholic beverages.
- Recounted her guest appearance on the Seinfeld (1989) episode The Doll (1996), during a stand-up performance on Kathy Griffin (1996), where she ridiculed star Jerry Seinfeld for being rude to her. Seinfeld was so amused by this that he wrote her a humorous letter congratulating her for it (reprinted in her memoir, "Official Book Club Selection"), added the clip as well as a clip of her being interviewed about the incident by Conan O'Brien to a video shown to audiences at Seinfeld (1989) tapings and had Griffin return for a second episode, The Cartoon (1998), for a story line inspired by the incident in which Griffin's character becomes a comedian who makes a career out of bashing Jerry. The two have remained friendly in the years since.
- She has a strict no-apology policy with her comedy and routinely refuses to offer apologies when requested by her employers. Her only two exceptions were to (barely) apologize to US Rep. James Clyburn after referring to him as a "queen" in an interview with Roll Call. As documented on her reality series, she phoned Clyburn's office with an apology but said to only relay it if her comment "came up". The second time was after inciting a major backlash following a photo shoot by Tyler Shields depicting her holding a bloodied decapitated faux head of US President Donald Trump. After posting it on her social media she was routinely hounded with anger and controversy and had to promptly delete it. A few months later she rescinded the apology stating, "Stop acting like my little picture is more important than talking about the actual atrocities that the president of the United States is committing".
- Auditioned for the role of Phoebe Buffay on Friends (1994), which went to Lisa Kudrow.
- Holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of televised stand-up specials by a comedian for any network.
- On January 26, 2014, her album, Calm Down Gurrl, won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 56th Grammy Awards. She is only the third woman to have won the award, the others being Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg.
- Suddenly Susan (1996) co-star Brooke Shields was Kathy's Maid of Honor at her wedding, which was held atop Hollywood's 360-Degrees Restaurant.
- In May of 2005 she had a second surgery for an epithelial ingrowth in her right eye, a rare condition that threatens her eyesight.
- Won a "Do Something" Award for a comedian who makes an impact in the world of social change. Her achievements include having a pap smear poolside at a hotel in Westwood, CA, as part of her "Smear Campaign" to raise awareness for cervical cancer; and for speaking out against the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy.
- In 2011 she became the first comedian to have four televised specials in a year.
- Incited a major controversy after posing for a photo spread shot by Tyler Shields holding a bloodied head of US President Donald Trump. The incident caused Griffin to issue her second-ever apology (which she rescinded a few months later), and led to CNN firing her from its New Year's Eve telecast, as well as losing all of her endorsement deals and most of her US tour dates being cancelled. Griffin also states she was investigated by the Secret Service and Department of Justice, and placed on the no-fly list for months. Griffin did express regret on the concept of a beheading joke when her friend Rosie O'Donnell solemnly asked her how the mother of a young American who had been captured in Syria and beheaded by the terrorist ISIS group would feel after seeing it.
- She was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2021. She had to have half of her left lung removed and was declared cancer free four months later. Her vocal chords were damaged during a surgery, making her voice sound noticeably higher-pitched.
- Her mentor is the late Joan Rivers.
- (January 1, 2020) Married her on-off boyfriend of 8 years Randy Bick at her home in a ceremony officiated by Lily Tomlin just after midnight, hours after announcing their engagement. Griffin and Bick started dating in 2011 after meeting at a food and wine festival. The couple briefly went their separate ways in November 2018 and reconciled in April 2019. Griffin wore the same dress for the wedding she wore 8 years ago for her first date with Bick in September 2011.
- Divorced Matt Moline in 2006. She alleged that he had stolen $72,000 from her by taking her ATM card and withdrawing money without her knowledge.
- Received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame on March 7, 2009.
- Notorious for making fun of other celebrities.
- Studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles.
- Was a member of The Groundlings.
- Was offered the role of Aunt Hilda on Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996), but was already committed to Suddenly Susan (1996) and had to turn it down.
- Ranked #21 on the TV Guide Network special, Funniest Women on TV (2011).
- In July 2016 she sold her Hollywood Hills home where she filmed Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005) and purchased a $10.5-million mansion in Bel Air next door to Kim Kardashian and Ye.
- On September 23, 2000, she became engaged to computer technician Matt Moline in Punta Mita, Mexico. They were married February 18, 2001.
- Has a net worth of $32 million (2018).
- Has highly praised Joan Rivers for her stardom in acting and stand-up comedy.
- As of 2009, a member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- Considered as a possible replacement co-host on The View (1997).
- Her parents are John Griffin and Maggie Griffin.
- Attended Triton Junior College in River Grove, IL, for one semester.
- Drives a light blue 2004 Mercedes CLK320.
- Ex-sister-in-law of Rebecca Moline.
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