John Mulaney Shares How He and Olivia Munn Navigated “Scary Moments” of Her Cancer Journey
John Mulaney on His âWild and Joyfulâ Relationship With Olivia Munn & Their Two Kids! (Exclusive)
As John Mulaney and Olivia Munn now know, laughter is the best medicine.
Since the comedian and the Newsroom alum first started dating in 2021, theyâve had a whirlwind several years together, including getting married, having two childrenâson Malcolm, 3, and daughter MĂ©i, 2 monthsâand Olivia battling breast cancer. And through it all, their bond has only grown stronger.Â
“We found ourselves in a pretty wild and a pretty joyful situation,” John exclusively told E! News correspondent Will Marfuggi at GQ’s Men of the Year party Nov. 14. “So we’ve had a really eventful, amazing couple years with a lot of you know, dealing with Olivia’s cancer and a lot of tight and scary moments sometimes.”
“But we were talking the other day that, like in the past couple years, we’ve laughed so much through everything,” he continued. “So I don’t mean to sound corny or overly saccharine, but it’s just been really…we’ve been so tight and had a lot of fun, despite everything.” (For more with John, tune into E! News Monday, Nov. 18 at 11 p.m.)
The 42-year-old also recalled the moment that he and Olivia found out that he was going to be honored as one of GQ’s Men of the Year for 2024.
“She was so psyched,” he shared. “We were both thrilled. Yeah, she’s always in my corner, and she was so excited. We were in a driveway together, making sure our son didn’t run into a parking lot when I got the news. It was very cool.”
Chelsea Lauren/for InStyle
The couple hasn’t been shy about detailing the unusual early stages of their relationship, with Olivia recently saying that their status as a couple “wasnât anything close to âdating'” when she first got pregnant.
“I barely knew him,” she told GQ. “It wasnât necessarily âWeâre going to be married and live togetherâ or any of that, but it was âI will be involved in some way.â”
Olivia, 44, and John officially became a couple six months into her pregnancy while they were living on opposite coastsâshe was in LA, he was in New Yorkâwhich came as the Everybody’s In LA star was still finding his footing after a months-long stay in rehab for addiction.
“It was like watching a man in a tsunami,â the actress explained. âI was watching someone newly sober, at the edge of a cliff, and I didnât know him well enough to help him.”
“In my head, Iâm thinking, ‘I donât know really whatâs happening with this guy. It feels pretty shaky,’â she continued. âBut then I would see him at the Troubadour and be like, âMan, heâs on fire. Heâs just that phenomenal.'”
Keep reading for more about John and Olivia’s romance.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Sept. 1, 2013: First Meeting
Olivia and John met at mutual friend Seth Meyers’ wedding to Alexi Ashe in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
Getty Images
Wanna Hang?
In a January 2015 HuffPost Live interview, which took place more than six months after she began dating Aaron Rodgers, Olivia recalled being at a wedding with John and his then-fiancĂ©e, Anna Marie Tendler, saying, “and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, do you and your fiancĂše want to go have dinner or something and go hang out?” (John and Anna wed in 2014.)
Olivia also said she kept approaching him at the wedding, adding, “I was just so obsessed with hanging out with and talking with him.”
The actress said she later sent John an email but that he did not reply. “I might’ve got the wrong emailâprobably,” she told HuffPost Live. “That’s what I tell myself.”
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
September 2020: John Enters Rehab
“I went to rehab in September [2020],” John said on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Sept. 7, 2021. “I got out in October.”
John had told Esquire in 2019 that he gave up cocaine and alcohol in 2005 and had remained sober ever since.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
October 2020: John Moves Out
John revealed on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Sept. 7, 2021 that in October 2020, he’d moved out of the home he shared with wife Anna.
Getty Images
October – December 2020: Relapse, Intervention and More Rehab
On the Sept. 7, 2021 episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, John says that in November 2020, “I relapse on drugs” and “then I continued using drugs.” He recalls how Seth Meyers “and some other friends staged an intervention.”
In December 2020, John checks into rehab again for cocaine addiction. Many celebs, including Olivia, share supportive messages to the comedian on social media.
The actress tweeted, “Sending SO MUCH love and support to John Mulaney. You got this,” adding a heart and lightning bolt emoji.
Matt Baron/Shutterstock
February 2021: John’s Rehab Stay Ends
John completed 60 days in rehab and moved into a sober living facility for another month and a half. The comic also returned to standup comedy.
Getty Images
May 2021: John Mulaney and Wife Announce Split
John and wife Anna Marie Tendler announced that they had broken up after six years of marriage.
“I am heartbroken that John has decided to end our marriage,” she said through her spokesperson to Page Six. “I wish him support and success as he continues his recovery.”
The comedian’s rep said in a statement, “John will not have any further comment as he continues to focus on his recovery and getting back to work.”
Two months later, John filed for divorce.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images/Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE
May 2021: A New Romance
Soon after John and wife Anna Marie Tendler announced their breakup, E! News confirmed that he and Olivia had begun seeing each other.
“In the spring I went to Los Angeles and met and started to date a wonderful woman named Olivia, Olivia Munn,” John said on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Sept. 7, 2021. “She got to date me right out of recovery, which is what they call a reverse catch.”
He added, “It is a very, very lucky thing to have met this woman. It’s been a challenging time. I got into this relationship that’s been really beautiful with someone incredible who has like, dealt with the non-coked up Bambi version of me and that’s been very incredible and she’s kind of held my hand through that hell.”
Michael Simon/Shutterstock
June 2021: Lunch Date
Olivia and John were photographed together for the first time, having lunch outdoors on Saturday afternoon at Rick’s Drive In & Out, a hamburger eatery in Los Angeles.
The Image Direct / BACKGRID
September 2021: Is That a…?
On Sept. 4, 2021, Olivia was photographed wearing a baggy sweatshirt while walking in a parking garage in Los Angeles, fueling pregnancy rumors.
Getty Images
September 2021: Pregnancy Confirmed
On the Sept. 7, 2021 episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, John confirmed Olivia’s pregnancy. “We are having a baby, together,” he said. “I’m going to be a dad. We’re both really, really happy.”
JosiahW / BACKGRID
Sepember 2021: Stepping Out as a Couple
The two are spotted in NYC three days after John confirmed his relationship with Olivia and her pregnancy. Olivia sported a “Noelle Jumpsuit” from HATCH.Â
oliviamunn / Instagram
November 2021: It’s a Boy!
Olivia reportedly gave birth on Nov. 24. She and John shared the first photo of their son on Christmas Eve.
“Meet Malcolm Hiá»p Mulaney,” the comedian wrote. “He has his whole life ahead of him. He hasn’t even tried seltzer yet. I’m very in love with him and his whole deal. Happy Holidays.”
January 2022: Family Fun Day
Olivia shared this photo of herself with John, baby Malcolm and friends Henry Golding, his wife Liv Lo and their daughter Lyla.
Backgrid
February 2022: SNL After-Party
The two celebrate with the Saturday Night Live cast after John’s fifth time hosting the show, during which he was officially inducted into the Five-Timer’s Club.”
