PERSON: Joseph Glenn Herbert Sr. (Jo Koy)

Comedian

Joseph Glenn Herbert Sr. (born June 2, 1971), known professionally as Jo Koy, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was a frequent panelist on E!’s late night show Chelsea Lately. He has since had a number of Comedy Central and Netflix specials.

Jo Koy was born to a white father who was in the United States Air Force stationed in the Philippines when he married Koy’s Filipina mother. His family moved from Spanaway, Washington, to Tacoma, Washington, and then to Las Vegas soon after he finished high school in Tacoma. He originally attended Spanaway Lake High School and then moved to Foss High School in Tacoma. They moved to Las Vegas to be near his ailing grandmother. Jo Koy enrolled in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas but dropped out to pursue stand-up comedy.

Jo Koy’s stage name comes from a nickname his family gave him growing up. It was revealed during his stand-up routine in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 22, 2019, that back in 1989, he was talking to his cousin about making a stage name when his aunt called him to come to dinner, shouting “Jo Ko, eat!” (Ko means “my” in Tagalog, so Jo Ko means “my Jo”). He misheard it and thought she said “Koy,” decided it was a good name, and has used it ever since.

Jo Koy credits his mother for his comedic and acting talents. He frequently tells stories about her in his comedy shows. She encouraged him to participate in school talent shows and to hold impromptu performances for his family and friends. This led to performances at a Las Vegas coffee house and inspired a move to Los Angeles.

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