History of Jo Koy in Timeline
Jo Koy, born Joseph Glenn Herbert, is a prominent American stand-up comedian and actor. He gained significant recognition as a recurring panelist on Chelsea Lately. His comedic talent has led to the release of six comedy specials across Comedy Central and Netflix, showcasing his unique storytelling and observational humor, often drawing from his Filipino-American heritage. In 2024, Koy further elevated his profile by hosting the prestigious 81st Golden Globe Awards.
June 2, 1971: Jo Koy's Birth
On June 2, 1971, Joseph Glenn Herbert, known professionally as Jo Koy, was born. He is an American stand-up comedian and actor.
1989: Origin of Stage Name
In 1989, Jo Koy was thinking of a stage name with his cousin when his aunt called him to dinner shouting "Jo Ko, eat!" He misheard "Ko" as "Koy" and decided to use it as his stage name.
1994: Stand-up Career Start
In 1994, Jo Koy began his stand-up career at a coffee house in Las Vegas, eventually moving to open mic nights and regular gigs.
April 2003: Birth of Son, Joseph Jr.
In April 2003, Jo Koy's son, Joseph Jr., was born at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
2005: Performance on The Tonight Show
In 2005, Jo Koy performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
2009: First Philanthropic Event
In 2009, The Jo Koy Foundation hosted its first philanthropic event, "Hilarity for Charity," a stand-up comedy show to benefit The Children's Hospital of Orange County.
July 23, 2012: Podcast Launch
On July 23, 2012, Jo Koy started a podcast with Michael Yo called The Michael Yo and Jo Koy Show.
March 2017: Release of 'Live From Seattle'
In March 2017, Jo Koy released his third comedy special, 'Live From Seattle,' a Netflix Original, which led to a blossoming of his fanbase.
February 23, 2019: Aspen Laugh Festival Performance
On February 23, 2019, Jo Koy performed two shows at the Wheeler Opera House during the Aspen Laugh Festival.
September 2019: Plans for Next Netflix Special
In September 2019, plans were underway to record Jo Koy's next Netflix special, based on his 2020 Just Kidding world tour, at the Blaisdell Arena.
September 22, 2019: Stand Up Routine in Phoenix, Arizona
On September 22, 2019, during a stand-up routine in Phoenix, Arizona, Jo Koy shared the story of how he got his stage name.
2019: Comedy Career Length Mentioned
In 2019, Augustus Welby mentioned that Koy had been performing comedy for 30 years.
June 12, 2020: Release of 'In His Elements'
On June 12, 2020, Netflix released 'Jo Koy: In His Elements,' a comedy special featuring Filipino American comedians, DJs, and B-boys.
2020: Just Kidding World Tour
In 2020, Jo Koy's Just Kidding World Tour took him to the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
2021: Relationship with Chelsea Handler
In 2021, Jo Koy and Chelsea Handler began a relationship.
July 28, 2022: Rise for Comedy Festival
On July 28, 2022, Jo Koy and Dan Lin appeared at the Rise for Comedy festival, raising $75,000 for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).
2022: Most Influential Filipino-Americans
In 2022, Blogtalk with MJ Racadio named Jo Koy one of the "75 Most Influential Filipino-Americans".
2022: End of Relationship with Chelsea Handler
In 2022, Jo Koy and Chelsea Handler ended their relationship.
January 2023: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner
As of January 2023, Jo Koy was described as being a practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
December 21, 2023: Announcement as Golden Globe Host
On December 21, 2023, Jo Koy was announced as the host of the 81st Golden Globe Awards.
2023: Residence in Los Angeles
As of 2023, Jo Koy resided in Los Angeles, with his son living between his and his mother's homes nearby in the San Fernando Valley.
2023: Death of Stepfather
In 2023, Jo Koy's stepfather, retired Army Sergeant Fredrick Harrison, passed away. Koy eulogized him as a hero.
2024: Hosting the Golden Globe Awards
In 2024, Jo Koy hosted the 81st Golden Globe Awards.
