SNL STAR MOLLY SHANNON: A REAL EVEL KNIEVEL (EMBARGOED TIL 6

SNL STAR MOLLY SHANNON: A REAL EVEL KNIEVEL (EMBARGOED TIL 6 P.M., EDT, APR. 29)

NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- Comic Molly Shannon is best known for acting like a pratfalling Catholic schoolgirl on "Saturday Night Live" -- but it looks like that's not too far from the truth. "Parade" magazine reports that when Shannon was in Catholic school, she was a real Evel Knievel who pulled all sorts of death-defying stunts just to get laughs from her classmates -- such as repeatedly diving out of her classroom's 5-foot-high window. In fact, one time 12-year-old Molly and her friend stowed away on a flight from their home in Ohio to New York City by telling the stewardess they had to board the plane to say goodbye to her sister. Although she got in trouble for the repeated highjinks, Shannon doesn't regret it because the stunts have helped her with her outrageous comic act.

CONTACT: Catherine Hemlepp (Parade magazine); NYC; (718) 858-9175