Who Is Jo Koy? Here's The Lowdown On The 2024 Golden Globes Host
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Jo Koy is hosting the 81st Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 7, which begs the question: Who is Jo Koy?
Koy, 52, is a popular stand-up comedian whose jokes are inspired by his real life. He often pulls inspiration from his family, especially his experience raising a millennial son and the intricacies of Filipino traditions — something that he told CBS Mornings he's excited to bring to the Globes audience. He added that ahead of the ceremony, he hadn't "slept or done anything social since the [hosting] announcement. I've been binge-watching the whole time, just non-stop. Watching everything, every category."
Before he was hunkering down preparing for his first major hosting gig, Koy filmed four Netflix stand-up specials and has two more in the works. In addition to his stand-up shows, Koy has performed on numerous late-night TV shows, most notably Chelsea Lately. He also hosted the now defunct podcast The Koy Pond With Jo Koy, in which he welcomed friends and comedians to discuss their insights into life. The last episode ran in November 2021.
So if you're watching the 2024 Golden Globes and want to know even more about the emcee, keep scrolling! Below, we're breaking down everything you need to know about the life and career of Golden Globes host Koy.
RECORD-SETTING STAND-UP
Whether or not you've heard of Koy before his Golden Globes gig, the comedian has a loyal following. In 2017, Koy broke the record for the most tickets sold by a single artist at Honolulu's Neal S. Blaisdell Hall with 23,000 tickets purchased and 11 sold-out shows. Honolulu was so impressed by the feat that the city declared Nov. 24 of that year "Jo Koy Day." Later, in 2018, he earned "Stand-Up Comedian of the Year" at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.
Before he was breaking records, Koy found success with Comedy Central, filming two full-length stand-up specials: Don't Make Him Angry (2009) and Lights Out (2012). (Watch a clip from Don't Make Him Angry below.) More recently, he's released four Netflix Original specials that are currently available to stream: Live From Seattle (2017), Comin' In Hot (2019), In His Elements (2020) and Live From the L.A. Forum (2022). He is set to release two more specials for the streamer, one of which was reportedly filmed in November 2023 and will debut sometime in 2024.
CHELSEA LATELY
Koy is perhaps best known for recurring as a panelist on Chelsea Handler's pop-culture commentary series Chelsea Lately. He appeared on 141 episodes of the E! late-night show between 2007-2014, and went on to date Handler in 2021. The pair split ahead of their one-year anniversary, with Handler announcing the break-up in an emotional Instagram post, saying Koy "blew my heart open with love and because of him, my life experience has changed forever. To be loved and adored by [him] has been one of the greatest gifts of my life." Handler credited Koy with renewing her "faith in men, in love, in being 100% who I am, and I've never been more optimistic for the future."
Throughout his career, Koy has appeared on numerous other late-night TV series including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, Lights Out with David Spade. He has also turned up on other unscripted programs, like @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, Beat Bobby Flay, The Breakfast Club, Celebrity Page TV, World's Funniest Fails and Sean In The Wild. He has appeared in several scripted series, as well, including episodes of Mr. Iglesias, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens and Family Tools.
ON THE BIG SCREEN
In 2022, Koy's career took its most notable jump from small screen to cinema. He starred as Joe Valencia, a struggling actor, comedian and single father, in the comedy Easter Sunday. (Watch trailer below.) The film, based on Koy's own life and stand-up, follows Joe and his Filipino-American family during their dysfunctional Easter Sunday gathering.
He most recently appeared in Haunted Mansion and voiced Coach Kimura in Leo, Adam Sandler's animated Netflix original film.
To see Koy's upcoming stand-up schedule, watch stand-up videos and shop his boutique — which includes Funko Pop! figurines, his memoir Mixed Plate, apparel and more — visit his website, JoKoy.com.