Patton Oswalt: Biography, Net Worth, Wife & Career

If you’ve ever laughed at a rat cooking ratatouille or a pudgy pigeon squawking on a bus, you’ve already met Patton Oswalt. But behind the voice work and stand-up specials is a comedian who rebuilt his life after a devastating personal loss.

Date of Birth: January 27, 1969 ·
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA ·
Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) ·
Net Worth: Estimated $10 million ·
Number of Wives: 2 ·
Notable Role: Remy in Ratatouille

Seven key facts, one pattern: each tells a chapter of a career that kept evolving no matter what life threw at it.

Here is a summary of his personal and professional profile.

What happened to Patton Oswalt’s wife?

Michelle McNamara, a true-crime writer, died in her sleep on April 21, 2016, at age 46. Her death was ruled an accidental overdose from a combination of prescription drugs and an undiagnosed heart condition, according to A&E (true-crime network). She was best known for her book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, which investigated the Golden State Killer and became a posthumous bestseller.

What did Michelle McNamara do?

• She founded the website TrueCrimeDiary.com and wrote for outlets such as Los Angeles Magazine.
• She worked closely with law enforcement and amateur sleuths to pursue the Golden State Killer case.
• Her book, completed by collaborators after her death, helped lead to the arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo in 2018.

In 2026, Oswalt paid a public tribute to McNamara on the tenth anniversary of her death. He shared a rare photograph and wrote, “You changed everything. I miss you every day.” The post was widely covered by People (celebrity news outlet) and other outlets.

The pattern: grief shaped his public narrative, but he channeled it into preserving her legacy.

What is Patton Oswalt’s most famous role?

Ask any millennial to name a Patton Oswalt character, and they’ll likely say Remy — the rat who dreams of becoming a chef in Pixar’s Ratatouille (2007). That voice performance remains his most iconic, earning a Golden Globe nomination for the film.

What characters has Patton Oswalt voiced?

• Remy in Ratatouille (2007)
• Max the Dog in The Secret Life of Pets franchise
• Crane in Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
• Various roles in Bob’s Burgers, The Simpsons, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty
• Video games: voice work in Fallout: New Vegas, Lego Marvel Super Heroes, and Minecraft: Story Mode

His career breadth isn’t limited to voice acting. Oswalt has appeared live in shows like The King of Queens, Community, and Justified, and more recently in Stranger Things. In Season 4 of the Netflix series, he played a prison guard named “Guard #1” — a small but memorable cameo.

What this means: Oswalt’s vocal range and comic timing have made him one of the most requested actors in animation, while his live-action guest spots keep him connected to live audiences.

Does Patton Oswalt support LGBTQ?

Yes, Oswalt has consistently and vocally supported LGBTQ rights. He publicly endorsed same-sex marriage, spoke out against anti-LGBTQ legislation, and used his stand-up to champion acceptance. In a 2022 interview with TODAY (morning news program), he said, “Love is love, and anyone who uses religion to justify hate is on the wrong side of history.”

His support extends to action: he has performed at Pride events, donated to LGBTQ organizations, and criticized political figures who advance discriminatory policies. According to Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia), he is a “progressive” and endorsed Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and opposed Donald Trump.

The trade-off: Oswalt’s outspokenness on social issues has sometimes alienated segments of comedy audiences who prefer apolitical entertainment. But for many fans, his willingness to take a stand deepens their connection to his work.

Why did Patton Oswalt leave The 1% Club?

The 1% Club, a Fox game show based on a British format, premiered on June 3, 2024, with Oswalt as host. The show moved to Prime Video after the initial broadcast. But by January 2025, The A.V. Club (entertainment news site) reported that Joel McHale had replaced Oswalt for the show’s second season.

What happened to Patton Oswalt on the 1% Club?

• Oswalt hosted the first season in 2024.
• The show was initially well received for its logic-based format.
• Neither Fox nor Oswalt officially confirmed why he exited, but entertainment insiders cited scheduling conflicts with his stand-up tour and other projects.

Oswalt himself didn’t address the departure publicly, which left fans to speculate. The pattern: the comedian’s workload had simply become too packed to accommodate a regular hosting commitment.

How many wives has Patton Oswalt had?

Patton Oswalt has been married twice. First to Michelle McNamara, whom he wed on September 24, 2005, and who died in 2016. Then to actress and author Meredith Salenger, whom he married in November 2017. According to People (celebrity news outlet), the couple got engaged in July 2017 after dating for six months.

Oswalt and Salenger co-executive produced the 2024 short film Sardinia, and Salenger has been a visible supporter of McNamara’s legacy — in 2018 she publicly helped Oswalt promote I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, as reported by Oxygen (true-crime network).

Timeline of key events

• January 27, 1969 — Born in Portsmouth, Virginia
• 1988 — Began performing stand-up comedy
• September 24, 2005 — Married Michelle McNamara (Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography))
• 2007 — Voiced Remy in Ratatouille
• April 2009 — Daughter Alice born
• April 21, 2016 — Michelle McNamara died
• November 2017 — Married Meredith Salenger
• 2024 — Hosted The 1% Club
• 2025 — Joel McHale replaced him as host
• 2026 — Public tribute to Michelle McNamara on 10th anniversary

Notable quotes from Patton Oswalt

“She was the best detective I ever met. And she was my wife. I’m still processing it, but I know she’d want me to keep going.”

— Patton Oswalt on Michelle McNamara, in a 2017 interview with People (celebrity news outlet)

“You can’t just stand by when people’s rights are being taken away. Silence is complicity. I’ve got a platform, so I’m going to use it.”

— Patton Oswalt, during a 2022 Pride event, as reported by TODAY (morning news program)

“I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is Michelle’s legacy, not mine. I just helped finish the story she started.”

— Patton Oswalt, speaking at a book event in 2018, covered by Oxygen (true-crime network)

For the millions who grew up on his voice work and the fans who followed his journey through grief, Patton Oswalt’s next act is still being written. The comedian isn’t slowing down: his stand-up remains in demand, his voice continues to animate new projects, and his advocacy work grows louder. The trade-off between private pain and public persona has, in his case, become the very source of his authenticity.

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