Paul Dinello Biography: Wife, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Comedy Shows & Movies

Paul E. Dinello is an American comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer widely recognized for his inventive and darkly comedic contributions to television and film.

He is best known for co-creating the cult classic Strangers with Candy and the sketch series Exit 57, alongside Stephen Colbert and Amy Sedaris.

Dinello also earned acclaim as a key writer and supervising producer on The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, earning multiple Emmy Awards.

His more recent work includes co-creating At Home with Amy Sedaris, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and influential figure in American comedy.

Profile

• Full Name: Paul E. Dinello
• Stage Name: Paul Dinello
• Born: November 28, 1962
• Age: 62 years old
• Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Comedian, Actor, Writer, Director, Producer
• Height: 1.75 m
• Parents: Frank Anthony Dinello, Ann Lee Dinello (née Zeiler)
• Siblings: David Dinello, Lori Dinello, Linda Dinello, Donna Dinello
• Spouse: Danielle St. Laurent (m. 2011)
• Children: Giancarlo and Luca
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $6 million

Early Life and Education

Paul E. Dinello was born on November 28, 1962, in Oak Park, Illinois. He is the fourth of five children born to Frank Anthony Dinello—head of DePaul University’s Mental Health Clinic—and Ann Lee Dinello.

His siblings are David, Lori, Linda, and Donna. Dinello grew up in a middle-class Midwestern environment and attended Oak Park River Forest High School, where he was creatively mischievous by his own admission.

He graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Communications and English, supplementing his studies with film classes. He is of White ethnicity, and his religion is not publicly known.

Career

Paul E. Dinello began his professional path in improvisational comedy shortly after college. He studied at The Players Workshop, Improv Institute, and Annoyance Theatre in Chicago before joining The Second City Touring Company in the late 1980s—a move that would prove pivotal.

It was there he met Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert, with whom he frequently collaborated. Through Second City, he sharpened the comedic instincts and stage presence that would define his career.

Paul E. Dinello’s early television breakthroughs came with Exit 57 (1995–1996), a sketch series co-created with Sedaris and Colbert. Though it ran for just twelve episodes, it garnered critical acclaim and CableACE nominations.

This was followed by Strangers with Candy (1999–2000), where he co-wrote and portrayed the inept art teacher Geoffrey Jellineck—solidifying his status in cult comedy.

Paul E. Dinello expanded into writing and producing for major talk shows, joining The Colbert Report (2005–2014) as writer and supervising producer. He won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards during this period.

In 2017, he co-created At Home with Amy Sedaris, which ran for three seasons on truTV. He continued his collaboration with Colbert on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as supervising producer and writer, earning nominations and awards, including a 2021 Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special.

Social Media

Instagram Handle: @scimmia32

Personal Life

Paul Dinello married photographer Danielle St. Laurent in 2011; their longtime friend Stephen Colbert officiated the ceremony. The couple has two sons together, Giancarlo and Luca, and comedian Amy Sedaris serves as their godmother.

Dinello maintains a private family life in contrast to his public persona.

Net Worth

Paul E. Dinello’s estimated net worth is approximately $6 million USD. His financial standing is primarily rooted in his multifaceted career—spanning acting, writing, producing, and directing—across television and film, including lucrative roles on major talk shows and his own critically acclaimed series.