How Old Is Michelle Buteau? The Surprising Timeline of the Survival of the Thickest Star

Ever watch someone on screen and just feel like you've known them your entire life? That’s the Michelle Buteau effect. She walks onto a stage or a Netflix set with this "cool aunt who knows where the bodies are buried" energy, making it easy to forget she’s actually a seasoned pro who has been grinding in the industry for over two decades.

If you’re wondering how old is Michelle Buteau, the short answer is she’s currently 48 years old. She was born on July 24, 1977.

But honestly, age is kinda the least interesting thing about her. While most of Hollywood treats anyone over 35 like they’ve expired, Buteau is currently having what can only be described as a total "main character" moment. From her history-making stand-up specials to her hit series Survival of the Thickest, she is proof that the best chapters of your life don't have to happen in your twenties.

The Jersey Girl Roots

Michelle didn't just wake up one day and decide to be the funniest person on Netflix. She’s a Jersey girl through and through, born in Hamilton Township. Her background is this beautiful mix of Haitian and Jamaican heritage, which she talks about a lot in her comedy. You can hear that Caribbean influence in the way she handles a heckler—with a mix of warmth and "don't you dare."

She actually started out wanting to be a journalist. She went to Florida International University for television production and even worked at WNBC in New York.

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Then 9/11 happened.

Like a lot of New Yorkers at the time, that trauma shifted her perspective. She realized life was too short to be miserable in a newsroom. She hit the stand-up circuit in 2001, which, if you’re doing the math, means she spent nearly 20 years building a career before the rest of the world caught on to her brilliance.

How Old Is Michelle Buteau in "Survival of the Thickest"?

In her semi-autobiographical show Survival of the Thickest, Michelle plays Mavis Beaumont, a stylist navigating life and love in her late 30s and early 40s. It’s one of the few shows that actually portrays that age range without making it feel like a crisis.

The show is actually based on her book of essays by the same name.

• Season 1: Dropped in July 2023 when Michelle was 45.
• Season 2: Released on March 27, 2025.
• Season 3: Currently in production and set to be the final chapter in 2026.

By the time the series wraps up, Michelle will be 49. It’s a refreshing timeline. We’re used to seeing "coming of age" stories about teenagers, but Buteau is giving us a "coming of age" story for grown-ups. Mavis is messy, she’s vibrant, and she’s figuring it out—just like the rest of us.

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Making History at Radio City

If you need more proof that 40-something is the new "just getting started," look at her 2024 special A Buteau-ful Mind.

Michelle taped that special at Radio City Music Hall in June 2024. This made her the first woman to ever tape a Netflix comedy special at that iconic venue. Think about that for a second. With all the legendary comics out there, it was a 46-year-old mom of twins from Jersey who broke that glass ceiling.

A Timeline of the Buteau-Verse

People often get confused about how long she’s been around because she’s everywhere now. Here is how her career actually unfolded, showing that "overnight success" usually takes about 20 years.

1. 2001: Starts stand-up in New York City post-9/11.
2. 2006: Makes her acting debut in The Story of Juan Bago.
3. 2019: Becomes a household name (finally!) with roles in Always Be My Maybe and Tales of the City.
4. 2020: Launches The Circle on Netflix and wins a Critics Choice Award for her special Welcome to Buteaupia.
5. 2023: Survival of the Thickest debuts, turning her into a creator/executive producer.
6. 2025/2026: Continues her "Surviving and Thriving" world tour, selling out theaters across North America.

Marriage, Twins, and the Modern Hustle

Outside of the spotlight, Michelle's life is just as busy. She’s been married to Gijs van der Most, a Dutch photographer, since 2010. They actually run a vintage furniture store in Brooklyn called Van der Most Modern.

Their road to parenthood wasn't exactly a straight line. Michelle has been very open about her struggles with infertility and her decision to use a surrogate. Her twins, Hazel and Otis, were born in early 2019.

She often jokes about being an "older" mom, but honestly, it seems to give her a groundedness that younger stars lack. She isn't chasing trends; she's just being Michelle.

Why We Care About the Number

Why are people so obsessed with asking "how old is Michelle Buteau" anyway? Probably because she doesn't fit the mold. We’re taught to believe that after 40, women in entertainment should just play the "judgmental mother" or "frumpy neighbor."

Buteau isn't doing that. She’s wearing the bright colors. She’s talking about her sex life. She’s hosting reality shows and leading scripted comedies.

She represents a shift in how we view success. You don't have to have it all figured out by 25. You can start a new career at 40. You can become a superstar at 45.

What’s Next for Michelle?

Currently, Michelle is on her "Surviving and Thriving" tour. If you’re lucky enough to grab tickets for her 2026 dates—like her shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York or The Chicago Theatre—you’ll see a woman at the absolute top of her game.

She’s also wrapping up the third season of Survival of the Thickest. While fans are sad it’s ending, Michelle has hinted that she’s ready for the next evolution of her career. Whether that’s more movies (she was great in Babes alongside Ilana Glazer) or more history-making specials, she’s not slowing down.

Summary of Key Facts

If you just need the quick hits for a trivia night or a heated debate with your friends:

• Michelle Buteau was born on July 24, 1977.
• As of early 2026, she is 48 years old.
• She is a mother of twins, Hazel and Otis.
• She is the first woman to tape a Netflix special at Radio City Music Hall.
• Her height is 5'7".

Your Next Steps for the Buteau-Verse:

• Watch: Catch up on Survival of the Thickest Season 2 on Netflix before the final season drops later this year.
• Listen: Find old episodes of her podcast Adulting with Jordan Carlos for some of the best chemistry in the podcast world.
• Live: If she’s coming to your city on the "Surviving and Thriving" tour, buy the tickets. Her crowd work is legendary and arguably better than her scripted material.