There are fewer things more exhilarating in life than stand-up comedy, and that’s why Jo Koy is such a likable figure. He’s one comedian who never fails to make his audience laugh, and he’s been inspiring laughs for decades. More specifically, his career kicked off in 1994 in a small comedy club in Las Vegas.
Since then, he’s gone from selling tickets door to door all the way to completely selling out seats at his events. If that doesn’t make him interesting, nothing else does. With that in mind, here are a few interesting facts about Jo Koy.
1. His Real Name Is Not Jo Koy
This probably doesn’t come as a surprise since lots of celebs have stage names. The comedian’s legal name is Joseph Glenn Herbert. However, the name Jo Koy didn’t just come out of nowhere. His aunt once called him for dinner, and he mistook what she said for “Jo Koy”. Apparently, he liked the name and wanted to keep using it, so it stuck.
2. He’s Proud of His Filipino Culture
When he announced recently that he was hosting his own Netflix special, he also revealed that it would celebrate his heritage. Although he didn’t grow up in the Philippines, he hasn’t let that separate him from his heritage. He’s loud and proud.
3. He Moved Around A Lot Growing Up
Because of his father’s Air Force career, Koy’s family moved frequently throughout his childhood. He spent time in various parts of Washington and Las Vegas. At some point, they moved to Vegas permanently to be close to his ailing grandmother.
4. He Didn’t Finish College
Although Jo Koy went to college, he didn’t quite finish. He was accepted into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but quickly realized that it wasn’t the right place for him. He knew that his passion lay in making people laugh. Altogether, that isn’t something people study in college.
5. His Mother Is His Comedic Inspiration
A lot of celebrities boast of having that one family member who inspired them to reach for the stars. In this case, that person was Jo Koy’s mother. He credits her for most of his comedic prowess. Sure, she didn’t literally make him funny.
But she certainly encouraged him to express his comedic gifts as much as possible. She was the type of mom who wanted her son to pursue the things that brought him joy, so he did. He was able to participate in talent shows and similar activities growing up.
In addition to that, he credits her for pushing him to chase his dreams. In fact, she’s a frequent part of his comedy bits. Boy, does he have tons of funny, yet tasteful, stories to tell about her.
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