Meet Ken Kirby, who plays Dr John Shen in HBO Max medical drama The Pitt
The Canadian actor – who grew up between Vancouver, Hong Kong and Shanghai – has TV credits including Dynasty, The Gifted and Good Trouble
It has been less than a week since the second season of HBO Max’s hit medical drama The Pitt concluded, and fans are already looking forward to the show’s return.
The Pitt season three is slated for release in January 2027. Until then, here’s what to know about the actor who plays Dr Shen.
His background
Born in Vancouver to a Chinese mother and a British father, Ken Kirby grew up between Canada, Hong Kong and Shanghai. He is now based in Los Angeles and is engaged to golfer Gabriella Then.
He got his start in comedy
Describing his upbringing to Character magazine, Kirby remarked wryly, “Traditional Asian parents never really chill out.” Feeling the pressure at home to pursue a “safer career”, he studied business at college.
In 2010, his one-man show at the Vancouver Comedy Festival drew an audience of more than 1,000. “The truth is, I went around town selling the show and hustling to sell tickets, and people showed up!” he told Character.
He later joined the improv and sketch comedy troupes Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings, and got into acting.
He’s a multihyphenate
Kirby is best known for appearing in shows like Good Trouble, Dynasty and The Gifted. However, his career isn’t limited to acting. He wrote and produced the 2016 TV short Made in China, and co-wrote the 2025 film Abduct. He also served as an associate producer on the 2021 short Good News.
Regarding his versatile creative pursuits, Kirby told Character, “If there is a tree, you just want to work every branch possible. You have to grow as many branches as you can. Before you know it, you are on top of the tree.”
