Mo Gaffney Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Son, Movies & TV Shows

Maureen E. Gaffney, professionally known as Mo Gaffney, stands out as an American actress, comedian, writer, and activist renowned for her sharp-witted collaborations with Kathy Najimy in the Off-Broadway hits The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives and The Kathy & Mo Show: The Dark Side, both Obie Award winners that later became HBO specials.

Over three decades, she has built a diverse career with memorable roles in films like Happy, Texas and Drop Dead Gorgeous, recurring appearances on Absolutely Fabulous as the brash Bo, and guest spots on shows including That ’70s Show and Friends.

Profile

• Full Name: Maureen E. Gaffney
• Stage Name: Mo Gaffney
• Born: 5 November, 1958
• Age: 66 years old
• Birthplace: San Diego, California, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Comedian, Writer, Activist
• Height: 1.73m
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Unknown
• Children: Jake Gaffney
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $500,000

Early Life and Education

Maureen E. Gaffney was born on November 5, 1958, in San Diego, California, to parents whose names are not publicly known.

Details about any siblings are also unknown.

Raised in a coastal Southern California environment that sparked her early interest in performance, she attended Clairemont High School, where she graduated before pursuing opportunities in comedy and theater in Los Angeles.

No further higher education details have been shared publicly.

Her ethnicity is Caucasian, and her religious beliefs are unknown.

Career

Mo Gaffney launched her career in the vibrant Los Angeles improv scene, joining the renowned comedy troupe The Groundlings in the early 1980s, where she honed her skills in sketch comedy and met lifelong collaborator Kathy Najimy.

Their partnership blossomed into the Off-Broadway sensation The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives in 1989, a feminist comedy revue that earned an Obie Award and led to an HBO special the following year, drawing praise for its bold humor on women’s lives.

This breakthrough opened doors to television, with early guest spots on shows like Roseanne and her debut film role as Jackie Flannery in State of Grace (1990), marking her transition from stage to screen with a gritty dramatic edge.

Gaffney’s profile rose through her recurring role as the snobbish American expat Bo Johnson on the BBC’s Absolutely Fabulous starting in 1992, appearing across multiple seasons and the 2016 film adaptation, which showcased her impeccable comic timing alongside Jennifer Saunders.

She hosted her own talk shows, Women Aloud! on Comedy Central in 1992 and the syndicated The Mo Show in 1993, blending celebrity interviews with her signature irreverence.

Key film roles followed, including the scheming Annette in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) and the quirky Josephine in Happy, Texas (1999), while television kept her busy with arcs like therapist Sheila Kleinman on Mad About You (1995–1999) and recurring as Joanne Stupak on That ’70s Show (1999–2002), solidifying her as a go-to for layered, humorous supporting characters.

Mo Gaffney sustains her presence across mediums with voice work, theater revivals, and selective projects that align with her values, such as her activist role in officiating same-sex marriages.

Recent credits include Rita on The Mick (2017), a guest turn on House of Lies (2012–2016), and films like Dog Days (2018) and Desperados (2020), where her portrayals continue to mix wit with warmth.

Her influence endures through mentorship in comedy circles and advocacy that amplifies marginalized voices, leaving a mark on both entertainment and social change.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Unknown
• Twitter Handle: @mogaffney

Personal Life

Mo Gaffney keeps much of her private world shielded from the spotlight, with no confirmed details on a spouse or current romantic partners, though sources describe her as single and focused on independence.

She is a devoted mother to her son, Jake Gaffney, and their bond often surfaces in her reflections on balancing career demands with family.

Filmography

• State of Grace (1990)
• Other People’s Money (1991)
• Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
• Happy, Texas (1999)
• Bogus (1996)
• Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016)
• Dog Days (2018)
• Desperados (2020)
• Three Days with Dad (2016)
• Head Over Spurs in Love (2010)

Net Worth

Mo Gaffney had an estimated net worth of $500,000.

Her earnings flow mainly from acting gigs in film and television, royalties from HBO specials tied to The Kathy & Mo Show, and hosting stints on shows like Women Aloud!, with supplementary income from writing credits and occasional theater work.