Education
Jo Koy"s Filipino-American family moved from Spanaway, Washington to Tacoma, Washington and then to Las Vegas soon after he finished high school in Tacoma, Washington. He attended Spanaway Lake High School originally and then moved to Foss High School in Tacoma.
Career
He is currently touring the college circuit as a featured comedian and performs in clubs across the country. He is often a panelist on East!"s late night show. Jo has gained a large following of fans lately from his semi-regular appearances on The Adam Carolla Show, where he does numerous impressions from Procurator-Fiscal Chang"s greeter to angry black cabbie.
Announced on The Woody Show that he drives a Tesla named Poppycock.
Jo Koy is of Filipino and European-American descent. Jo Koy enrolled in University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but dropped out to do stand-up comedy.
Jo Koy"s stage name comes from a nickname his family gave him growing up. Jo Koy began his stand-up career in 1994 at a comedy club in Las Vegas.
Soon he moved from open mic night to a regular spot on the show Catch a Rising Star at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Grand Hotel and Casino.
After performing at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Grand Las Vegas, Jo Koy rented the Huntridge Theater and went door to door to sell tickets to his comedy shows. A talent coordinator from Los Angeles spotted Jo Koy and landed him his first television appearance on Black Entertainment Television"s Comic View. Jo Koy has been on two seasons of Comic View.
Jo Koy is also a regular guest at Chelsea Handler’s roundtable discussion on "East!’s ".
But perhaps one of Jo Koy’s biggest claims to fame was his appearance on the "" in 2005 where he was one of a select few to ever receive a standing ovation on the show. Jo Koy has also appeared on Carlos Mencia’s “Punisher Tour” performing stand-up comedy in front of fans filling 10,000-seat arenas across the country.
On August 4, 2009, The Jo Koy Foundation hosted its first huge philanthropic event in "Hilarity Foreign Charity" a stand-up comedy show featuring Jo Koy, along with special surprise comedic guests. The show took place at The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, located in the heart of Citywalk, Universal City, California. Proceeds from the ticket sales were donated to The Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
In June 2011, Jo Koy used a pejorative term for gay men during a performance in Chicago.
Jo Koy later issued an apology for his use of an "incredibly foul" word. He started a podcast together with comedian and television host Michael Yo on July 23, 2012 called The Michael Yo and Jo Koy Show. Digital Video Disc Jo Koy: Lights Out at night.