SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KGTV) -- When asked if his success is surreal, comedian Jo Koy said: "I earned it."
Jo Koy, whose real name is Joseph Herbert, knew he wanted to be a comedian since the age of 11. He has been in the comedy scene since the late 1980s and said he "kept grinding." That hard work paid off as Koy is now getting ready to film his third Netflix special and performs to sold-out audiences across the country.
Family has been a central theme in his routine, often talking about raising his teenage son and growing up with his Filipino mom. His son, now 16, is getting involved in helping dad refine his show.
"He's an associate producer on [the Netflix special] 'Comin' in Hot.' He came up with my last joke... he's the one that told me to wear what I was wearing. That outfit, he picked it out," Koy said.
Koy tells 10News his mom loves the attention, "My mom always wants more!" Koy said.
When asked if there was enough diversity and inclusion in comedy, the half-Filipino artist he feels like the doors are now, "open and there's a lot more opportunity, but we still have a long way to go."
He's not going to get much time to check out the sights in San Diego. He's focusing on work and putting on great shows at the Civic Theater this week.
"I stay working, man! I'll stop working when I die! I'm always going to do stand-up," Koy said. "This is my passion. I'll be 80 and I'll be on stage... this is what I was born to do."
(Click on the video above to watch the full interview with 10News.)
Koy will be performing at the San Diego Civic Theatre from Sept. 25 through Sept. 29. At last check, there were limited single tickets left.
To learn more about Jo Koy, visit his website: https://jokoy.com/.
