The Tragic and Inspiring Lives of Kathy Griffin Siblings

Kathy Griffin is a famous comedian and actress who has won Emmy and Grammy awards for her hilarious and provocative stand-up specials and reality show.

But behind her success and fame lies a tragic story of her family, especially her siblings. But do you know anything about her siblings?

A picture of Kathy Griffin | Photo courtesy: Instagram
Kathy Griffin’s siblings have played a significant role in her life and career | Photo courtesy: Instagram

Here is everything you need to know about Kathy Griffin’s siblings and how they influenced her life and career.

Kathy Griffin Siblings

Kathy Griffin has four siblings: Kenny, Joyce, Gary, and John. They have all influenced her life and career in different ways, but they have also faced many challenges and tragedies.

Here is a brief overview of Kathy Griffin’s siblings and their stories:

Kenny Griffin: The Abusive Brother

Kenny Griffin was the eldest of Kathy’s four siblings. He was born in the 1940s and suffered from drug addiction and mental illness.

He was also violent and abusive towards his family, especially Kathy, who revealed that he was a pedophile and sexually molested her when she was a child.

Kenny spent some time in prison and later moved to Wisconsin, where he died in 2001 from unknown causes. Kathy said that she felt relieved when he died and that she never forgave him for what he did to her.

She also said that his abuse had a lasting impact on her self-esteem and body image.

Joyce Griffin: The Funny Sister

Joyce Griffin was Kathy’s older sister who shared her sense of humor and wit. She was born in 1946 and worked as a public school teacher for about 30 years.

She was also a fan of Kathy’s comedy and often appeared on her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

Joyce was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2016 and underwent chemotherapy. Kathy shaved her head to show solidarity with her sister and posted a photo of them together on social media.

A tweet on Kathy when she shaved her head bald for the sake of her sister Joyce | Photo courtesy: Twitter
Kathy shaved her head to show solidarity with her sister | Photo courtesy: Twitter

Sadly, Joyce passed away in 2017, two weeks before her 71st birthday. Kathy paid tribute to her sister on Twitter, calling her “my best friend” and “my hero”.

Gary Griffin: The Gay Brother

Gary Griffin was Kathy’s older brother who was gay and HIV-positive. He was born in the 1950s and worked as an IT specialist.

He was also supportive of Kathy’s career and LGBTQ activism.

He appeared on several episodes of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, where he talked about his health issues and his relationship with his partner Randy.

Gary died in 2014 at the age of 63 from stage-four esophageal cancer.

A picture of Kathy's brother, Gary | Photo courtesy: Instagram
Kathy’s brother, Gary | Photo courtesy: Instagram

Kathy announced his death on Instagram, saying that he was “a hilarious, kind, sweet, and gentle man”. She also said that she was proud of him for being open about his sexuality and his HIV status.

John Griffin: The Quiet Brother

John Griffin was Kathy’s older brother who was the most private and quiet of the siblings.

He was born in the late 1950s and worked as a carpenter. He rarely appeared on Kathy’s show or social media, but she said that he was always supportive of her.

John is still alive and lives in Los Angeles. He is married and has two children.

Kathy occasionally posts photos of him on her Instagram, calling him “my sweet brother” and “my rock”.

Conclusion

Kathy Griffin’s siblings have played a significant role in her life and career. They have inspired her comedy, supported her activism, and shared her joys and sorrows.

They have also faced many challenges and tragedies, such as abuse, addiction, illness, and death.

Kathy Griffin has honored their memory and legacy by speaking out about their stories and raising awareness about the issues they faced.

She has also shown her love and gratitude for them by staying close to her surviving brother John and his family. Kathy Griffin’s siblings are not only her relatives, but also her friends, heroes, and role models.

If you enjoyed this article and want to learn more about other celebrities, don’t forget to check out our website for more interesting and informative content.

You can also check out these other articles on our blog:

Leave a Comment