Keith Duffy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keith Duffy
Duffy in 2012
Born	Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy (1974-10-01) 1 October 1974 (age 50) Donaghmede, Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Singer, actor, drummer, television presenter
Spouse(s)	Lisa Smith ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Pop, rock
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Universal Warner Bros.

Keith Peter Thomas Francis Julian John Duffy, born on October 1, 1974, is a well-known Irish singer, actor, and TV presenter. He first became famous as a member of the popular Irish boy band Boyzone, which started in 1993. In Boyzone, he sang alongside Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch, and Stephen Gately.

After Boyzone took a break in 2000, Keith started acting in TV shows like Coronation Street and Fair City. He also hosted TV programs such as The Box and You're a Star. Keith is a strong supporter of autism awareness, especially since his daughter was diagnosed with autism when she was very young. He helps raise money and share information about autism.

Keith has also appeared on reality TV shows. He won the British show The Door in 2010. He also came in third place on the first series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2001 and on the second series of Splash! in 2014.

Early Life and Beginnings

Keith Duffy was born in Donaghmede, Dublin, Ireland, on October 1, 1974. His parents are Sean and Pat. He has two brothers, Derek and John. When he was a young child, he got pneumonia.

From ages 7 to 18, Keith loved playing sports. He played hurling and Gaelic football and even represented the Dublin under-16 hurling team for three years. When he was 16, he bought a drum kit and played in local bands. Before becoming a star, Keith studied architecture in college for a year.

Music and Acting Career

Joining Boyzone

Keith first heard about auditions for a new boy band called Boyzone. He didn't get an audition at first. However, the band's manager, Louis Walsh, saw Keith dancing in a nightclub in Dublin. Louis then invited him to audition, and Keith was chosen as one of the original members of Boyzone.

Duffy (right) performing with Boyzone in 2009

In Boyzone, Keith often sang backing vocals. Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately usually sang the main parts. In 1994, Keith and fellow band member Shane Lynch were in a serious car crash but thankfully were not badly hurt. Boyzone became very successful. By 2000, they had sold over 13 million records. All sixteen of their singles reached the top five in the UK Singles Chart. They were also the first Irish group to have four number-one songs in the UK charts.

Solo Adventures and Acting

After Boyzone took a break in 2000, Keith teamed up with Shane Lynch. They released a pop-rap song called "Girl You Know It's True" as "Keith 'N' Shane." It reached number 36 in the UK charts. Keith became even more famous after appearing on the first series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2001, where he finished third.

Duffy playing drums, 2009

Keith then started acting. He got a big role in the TV soap opera Coronation Street as the character Ciaran McCarthy. He was supposed to be on the show for only three weeks, but he ended up staying for three years, from 2002 to 2005. He left the show to spend more time with his family in Ireland. In 2005, Keith also performed on stage for the first time in a play called Dandelions in Dublin. He also played the main role in The Wizard of Oz in Weymouth, England.

Boyzone Returns and New Projects

In May 2008, Boyzone announced they would reunite for their "Back Again... No Matter What" Tour. Over 200,000 tickets sold in just three hours! The tour started in Belfast and ended in Carlisle. Keith also played the role of James "Ringo" Leyden in the Irish soap opera Fair City in 2008 and 2009.

Boyzone then went on their "Better" Tour. This was the last tour with Stephen Gately. Keith was one of the people who carried Stephen's coffin at his funeral in 2009. Keith later became a presenter for The Box on Irish TV channel TV3. He also appeared in the Irish comedy Mrs Brown. He later became a judge and then a presenter on the TV talent show You're a Star.

In 2010, Keith was cast in an Irish horror film called Loftus Hall. However, he had to leave the project because he had to return to Coronation Street. He reprised his role as Ciaran McCarthy in February 2010. In April 2010, Keith won the game show The Door, winning £25,000 for a charity called Ambitious about Autism. He continued his autism charity work by launching a mobile phone recycling campaign in Ireland.

After leaving Coronation Street again in January 2011, Keith rejoined Boyzone for their "Brother" Tour. They toured the UK and Ireland with 21 shows. After the tour, Keith completed a half Ironman Triathlon to raise money for Irish Autism Action. He briefly returned to Coronation Street in September 2011.

Boyzlife: A New Chapter

Since 2016, Keith has been part of a music duo called Boyzlife. He performs with Brian McFadden, who used to be in the boy band Westlife. Together, they combine hits from both Boyzone and Westlife.

In February 2020, Keith invited John Junior, a Mental Health Activist, to join him and Brian McFadden on stage during their Boyzlife tour. John Junior shared his mental health journey with the audience. Keith is friends with John Junior and supports his efforts to raise awareness about mental health. In January 2022, Boyzlife announced their second album, Old School.

Family and Autism Awareness

Keith Duffy married Lisa Smith on June 24, 1998, in Las Vegas. They got engaged just two days before! His Boyzone bandmate Ronan Keating was his best man. Keith and Lisa have two children: a son named Jordan Stephen Scott Duffy, born in 1996, and a daughter named Mia Duffy, born in 2000.

Supporting Autism Causes

After his daughter Mia was diagnosed with moderate autism when she was 22 months old, Keith became very active in raising awareness about the condition. He has supported many autism charities and campaigned for better help for autistic children in Ireland. In October 2014, he received a special award from the RCSI for his work.

Keith was also at the opening of 'Stepping Stones' in Kilcloon, Meath, in March 2012. This is a special school for children with autism. Keith said, "All we want to do is give our kids a chance in life." He was a patron for "Irish Autism Action" for ten years, raising over €8,000,000 for them. In 2015, he started his own charity, the Keith Duffy Foundation, to help autism charities across Ireland.

In 2022, Keith played in a celebrity golf tournament as part of the Legends Tour. He won the event and £25,000 (€29,500) for the charity ASIAM.ie, which helps children with autism.

TV Shows and Movies

Keith Duffy has appeared in many TV shows and movies. Here are some of them: