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Meet Ken Kirby, who plays Dr John Shen in HBO Max medical drama The Pitt

STORYIshani Sarkar
Ken Kirby plays Dr John Shen in The Pitt. Photos: @mrkenkirby/Instagram
Ken Kirby plays Dr John Shen in The Pitt. Photos: @mrkenkirby/Instagram
TV shows and streaming video

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.

Noah Wyle, who executive produces the Emmy-winning show and stars in it as Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, revealed in an interview with People that the upcoming instalment may see medical staff at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s emergency room clocking in in late autumn. As Wyle explained, it’s important to “give a little bit of difference of season because that sometimes gives you more variety of cases”.
As for fans demanding a spin-off focused on the night shift run by Dr Jack Abbot (Shawn Hatosy) – alongside Drs Parker Ellis (Ayesha Harris), Crus Henderson (Luke Tennie) and John Shen (Ken Kirby) – Wyle told Deadline, “Anything is possible, but it’s not probable.”
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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

Ken Kirby shared this childhood photo of himself on Instagram. Photo: @mrkenkirby/Instagram
Ken Kirby shared this childhood photo of himself on Instagram. Photo: @mrkenkirby/Instagram

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

Ken Kirby and partner Gabriella Then at the season two premiere of The Pitt, in January. Photo: @mrkenkirby/Instagram
Ken Kirby and partner Gabriella Then at the season two premiere of The Pitt, in January. Photo: @mrkenkirby/Instagram

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.

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