Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Kirby.
LA-based Actor and Writer Ken Kirby was born in Vancouver and grew up between Canada, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. A comedian at his core, Ken knew he wanted to entertain people for a living after 1100 people attended his one-man show at the Vancouver Comedy Festival in 2010. After formal training at the world famous UCB Theatre and The Groundlings, Ken entered the 2015 CBS’ Diversity Showcase and then signed with The Gersh Agency.
Ken is most recognized for his role as Lenjamin McButtons from the cult LGBTQ show The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, which was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award. His other acting credits include Freeform’s Famous in Love, Fox’s The Gifted, and an upcoming recurring role in ABC’s Grand Hotel in which he plays Byron, a savvy business tycoon with investments across the globe who is looking for a stake in the Miami real-estate business.
Ken can currently be seen in the recurring role of Ben in Freeform’s Good Trouble, the spinoff to the highly successful series The Fosters. Ben is a Harvard grad and judicial clerk to whom money and title are of the utmost importance, and he will do anything to be the judge’s favorite.
Has it been a smooth road? What have been some of the challenges?
Understanding the ups and downs of the industry and not letting the highs and lows be so high and so low. Appreciating the journey has been the biggest takeaway which is easier said than done, but awareness of where you’re at and bringing positivity to situations vs. leaning towards the negatives. Pilots will go, shows will come and go and auditions will be great and some won’t. It’s really in the ability to move forward and not pile so much pressure on booking this or that.
What else should our readers know about you, your goals, and what you are currently focused on?
A goal to to bring Asian American stories to the forefront in both TV and film through a comedic lens.
If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
I am always a fan of honing your craft and staying busy both in work and study. Improvements can always happen and it’s how you take these challenges and move forward. Nothing is going to come to you in this world, you have to go take it!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: mrkenkirby
- Twitter: mrkenkirby
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