Shane Michael Gillis born December 11, 1987 is an American comedian, actor, and podcaster, best known for his Netflix comedy specials and his work on the series Tires. Gillis co-hosts Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast with fellow comedian Matt McCusker, which, as of 2025, is the most-subscribed podcast on Patreon. In 2019, he was named one of the “New Faces” at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal.
Shane Gillis Biography 2025
Gillis career gained widespread attention and some controversy in 2019 when he was briefly hired as a cast member for NBC’s Saturday Night Live, only to be dismissed five days later due to backlash over a 2018 podcast clip in which he used derogatory language, including Asian slurs. The incident sparked a broader conversation about context, intent, and the boundaries of comedy. Despite this setback, Gillis continued to build his career, releasing his first stand-up special, Shane Gillis: Live in Austin, on YouTube in 2021. He has also teamed up with filmmaker John McKeever on the online sketch series Gilly & Keeves. In September 2023, Gillis released his second Netflix special, Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs, and in 2025, he starred in the Netflix comedy series Tires, which he co-created with McKeever.
Shane Gillis Biography Details
| Birth name |
Shane Michael Gillis |
| Born |
December 11, 1987 (age 36)
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Medium |
Stand-up
|
| Education |
United States Military Academy
Elon University
West Chester University (BA) |
| Years active |
2012–present |
| Genres |
- Observational comedy
- black humor
- blue humor
- shock humor
- insult comedy
- political satire
|
| Subject(s) |
- Everyday life
- current events
- pop culture
- American politics
- race relations
- self-deprecation
- drinking culture
- sports
- developmental disabilities
|
| Website |
shanemgillis.com |
Shane Gillis Early Life
Gillis was born and raised in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Harrisburg. He comes from an Irish Catholic family. During his time at Trinity High School in Camp Hill, he played football as an offensive tackle and graduated in 2006. Gillis initially attended the United States Military Academy at West Point but dropped out early in his first year. He then transferred to Elon University, where he played football for a year before eventually graduating from West Chester University. After completing his degree, Gillis spent six months teaching English in Spain before pursuing a career in comedy.
Shane Gillis Bio
| Category |
Information |
| Full Name |
Shane Michael Gillis |
| Date of Birth |
December 11, 1987 |
| Birthplace |
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Age (2025) |
36 |
| Nationality |
American |
| Heritage |
Irish Catholic |
| Education |
West Chester University (BA), Elon University, United States Military Academy |
| Occupation |
Stand-up comedian, Actor, Podcaster |
| Years Active |
2012–present |
| Website |
shanemgillis.com |
Shane Gillis Comedy Career and Influence
| Category |
Information |
| Comedy Style |
Observational, Black humor, Blue humor, Shock humor, Insult comedy, Political satire |
| Major Influences |
Louis C.K., Norm Macdonald, Dave Chappelle, Patrice O’Neal, Bernie Mac, Bill Burr |
| Known For |
Netflix Specials, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, Tires |
| Notable Performances |
Just for Laughs New Faces (2019), Comedy Central Clusterfest (2019) |
| First Special |
Shane Gillis: Live in Austin (2021) |
| Second Special |
Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (2023) |
Shane Gillis Career Timeline
| Year |
Event |
| 2012 |
Begins performing stand-up comedy |
| 2015 |
Wins “Philly’s Phunniest” comedy competition |
| 2016 |
Starts Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast |
| 2019 |
Named a “New Face” at Just for Laughs |
| 2019 |
Fired from Saturday Night Live after podcast controversy |
| 2020 |
Co-creates Gilly and Keeves with John McKeever |
| 2021 |
Releases first comedy special on YouTube |
| 2023 |
Releases Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs on Netflix |
| 2025 |
Co-creates and stars in Tires on Netflix |
Shane Gillis Controversy and Public Response
| Incident |
Details |
| SNL Firing (2019) |
Fired from Saturday Night Live after controversial podcast clips surfaced, using ethnic slurs and offensive humor |
| Public Response |
Gillis apologized but maintained the clips were misunderstood, stating the jokes were taken out of context |
| Aftermath |
Gained a large following despite the controversy, citing his willingness to “push boundaries” in comedy |
| NBC’s Role |
Lorne Michaels later revealed the decision to fire Gillis was not his, but a directive from NBC executives |
Shane Gillis Podcasting and YouTube Career
| Category |
Information |
| Podcast |
Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast |
| Co-Host |
Matt McCusker |
| Subscribers (2025) |
Over 898,000 subscribers on Patreon |
| YouTube Channel |
Gilly and Keeves (Sketch series with John McKeever) |
| Popular Sketches |
“ISIS Toyota”, “Uncle Daycare”, “Trump Speed Dating” |
| Podcast Focus |
Comedy, Pop culture, Race relations, Everyday life |
Shane Gillis TV and Film Roles
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 2016 |
Delco Proper |
Voice |
Episode: “For the Troops” |
| 2020–2021 |
Gilly and Keeves |
Various roles |
Also writer; 12 episodes |
| 2023 |
Bupkis |
Gilly |
2 episodes, comedy series starring Pete Davidson |
| 2025 |
Saturday Night Live |
Host |
Episode: “Shane Gillis/21 Savage” |
| 2025 |
Tires |
Shane |
Co-creator and star of Netflix series |
| 2025 |
Easy’s Waltz |
Supporting Role |
Role written for Norm Macdonald |
Shane Gillis Comedy Specials and Achievements
| Title |
Release Year |
Platform |
Highlights |
| Shane Gillis: Live in Austin |
2021 |
YouTube |
First live comedy special; ranked #2 by The Laugh Button in 2021 |
| Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs |
2023 |
Netflix |
Second Netflix special, showcases Gillis’s signature humor |
Shane Gillis Early Life and Education
| Category |
Information |
| Birthplace |
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania |
| High School |
Trinity High School, Camp Hill, PA |
| College |
West Chester University (Graduated), Elon University, United States Military Academy |
| Early Interests |
Football, Stand-up comedy |
| Early Jobs |
Taught English in Spain for 6 months after graduation |
Career Milestones
| Year |
Event |
| 2015 |
Wins “Philly’s Phunniest” at Helium Comedy Club |
| 2019 |
Featured in Comedy Central’s “Up Next” showcase |
| 2021 |
Releases first comedy special, Live in Austin |
| 2023 |
Second comedy special, Beautiful Dogs, on Netflix |
| 2025 |
Premieres Tires on Netflix and co-hosts SNL after being fired in 2019 |
Collaboration and Partnerships
| Partner |
Project |
Role |
| Matt McCusker |
Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast |
Co-host |
| John McKeever |
Gilly and Keeves |
Co-creator and star |
| Pete Davidson |
Bupkis |
Appeared in 2 episodes |
| Netflix |
Tires |
Co-creator, writer, and star |
Controversial Moments
| Incident |
Reaction |
| 2019 SNL Firing |
Public apology, argues jokes were misunderstood, defends comedic intent |
| Podcast Slurs |
Defends humor as “pushing boundaries,” faces backlash over use of ethnic slurs |
| Social Media Response |
Offers apology on Twitter, claims his humor was mischaracterized |
Personal Life and Interests
| Category |
Information |
| Hobbies |
Watching Philadelphia sports teams, particularly the Eagles, Phillies, and 76ers |
| Favorite Sports |
Football, Baseball, Basketball |
| Cultural Interests |
Pop culture, social commentary, satire |
| Personal Philosophy |
“Comedy is about pushing boundaries” |
Television Series
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 2025 |
Tires |
Shane |
Co-creator and star of Netflix series, renewed for a second season |
| 2023 |
Bupkis |
Gilly |
Two episodes on comedy series starring Pete Davidson |
Future Projects and Developments
| Category |
Information |
| Upcoming Roles |
Easy’s Waltz (supporting role) |
| Future Comedy Specials |
Continuing to develop new material for Netflix and other platforms |
| New Ventures |
Developing more sketch series with John McKeever and exploring new creative partnerships |
Social Media and Popularity
| Platform |
Followers (2025) |
Content Focus |
| Twitter |
500k+ |
Personal updates, humor, commentary |
| Instagram |
250k+ |
Comedy clips, behind-the-scenes moments |
| Patreon |
898k+ |
Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast exclusive content |
Shane Gillis Audience Reception
| Reaction |
Details |
| Positive |
Strong fanbase, praised for unapologetic humor, ability to push boundaries |
| Negative |
Criticism for past offensive jokes, controversial public persona |
| Mixed |
Polarizing figure, some fans embrace his style, others find his humor problematic |
Shane Gillis Influences and Inspirations
| Comedian |
Influence on Gillis |
| Louis C.K. |
Dark humor, self-deprecation |
| Dave Chappelle |
Satirical commentary on race and society |
| Norm Macdonald |
Deadpan delivery, irreverent humor |
| Bill Burr |
Angry and observational humor, social critique |
Shane Gillis Net Worth
His net worth is alleged to be between $2 million and $4 million.
Shane Gillis Summary
Shane Gillis has evolved from a controversial comedian to a successful creator and performer. Despite a rocky start, his talent and commitment to his unique brand of humor have made him a prominent figure in the comedy world. With a growing list of projects, including Netflix specials and a successful series, Gillis’s career continues to flourish. He remains a highly talked-about figure in the entertainment industry, admired for his resilience and boundary-pushing approach to comedy.
