Kelly, a devoted Oregonian and Portland Trail Blazer enthusiast, spent approximately half of his early life in Washington, D.C. He attended Oberlin College, situated in the charming Ohio town where there wasn't an abundance of activities to engage in. Fortunately, he met dancer Carolyn Hall, and they managed to keep each other entertained, leading to a long-term partnership. In fact, they eventually tied the knot, and now reside together in Brooklyn, New York.
Carolyn, a talented dancer, won a prestigious NY Dance & Performance ("Bessie") Award for her remarkable body of work. She continues to dance while pursuing a career in Historical Marine Ecology and teaching workshops on communicating science.
Kelly has had an illustrious acting career, with performances on stage across the country and in New York, earning a Drama Desk Award for his role in Signature Theatre's revival of "The Wayside Motor Inn." He received positive reviews for his portrayal of Octavius Caesar in the Broadway revival of "Julius Caesar," opposite Academy Award winner Denzel Washington. Kelly is a former member of the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival acting company.
Kelly's father, Les, is a former U.S. Representative, while his mother, Sue, worked at the Wilderness Society and The National Abortion Rights Action League. Before that, she and her sister, Ann, co-owned and operated their family's restaurant in Tumalo, Oregon, where Kelly had his first job washing dishes. It's likely that his interest in performing was inherited from his parents, with his mother being a singer and his father a politician. His sister, Stacy, is a social worker, and the two siblings appeared in plays together during their early years before Stacy pursued other interests.
