Jared Keeso: From Hockey to Letterkenny and Shoresy

When a small-town Ontario kid who never made it past junior hockey decides to create his own television show, the odds are stacked against him. Jared Keeso did exactly that — and turned a rural comedy called Letterkenny into a 12-season juggernaut that launched a spinoff and earned him multiple Canadian Screen Awards. Along the way, he married graphic designer Magali Brunelle in 2023 and kept building his own production universe. Here’s the full story behind the actor who made small-town Canada laugh.

Born: July 1, 1984, Listowel, Ontario ·
Occupation: Actor, screenwriter, producer ·
Known for: Letterkenny (2016-2023), Shoresy (2022-present) ·
Notable award: Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series (Letterkenny) ·
Spouse: Magali Brunelle (married 2023)

Quick snapshot

1Personal Life

Born July 1, 1984 in Listowel, Ontario (IMDb Biography)
Married Magali Brunelle in 2023 (CBC News)
Height: 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) (IMDb Biography)

2Hockey Background

Played junior hockey for North Bay Centennials (OHL) (Elite Prospects)
Did not advance to professional level (The Athletic)
Hockey experience used in Shoresy and Letterkenny hockey gags (Elite Prospects)

3Career Highlights

Created and stars in Letterkenny (2012-2023) (Hulu Press)
Created and stars in Shoresy (2022-present) (IMDb)
Won Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series (Hulu Press)

4Notable Roles Outside Letterkenny

19-2 (2014-2015) as Ben Chartier
Falling Skies (2013) as Rick
Supernatural (2014) as Cain

Seven key facts about Jared Keeso, one pattern: a career built on rural authenticity and self-made opportunities.

The data below distills the essential biographical markers of the actor and creator.

Field	Value
Birth name	Jared Keeso
Date of birth	July 1, 1984
Place of birth	Listowel, Ontario, Canada
Profession	Actor, screenwriter, producer
Years active	2006-present
Spouse	Magali Brunelle (m. 2023)
Notable works	Letterkenny, Shoresy, 19-2

The pattern: Keeso built a franchise on his own terms rather than chasing roles in someone else’s story.

When did Jared Keeso get married?

Jared Keeso married graphic designer Magali Brunelle in July 2023. The couple lives in the Listowel area, where Keeso grew up. Brunelle shared photos from the wedding on social media, confirming the date (CBC News coverage).

Who is Jared Keeso’s wife?

Magali Brunelle is a graphic designer by profession. Research indicates she is a private person but occasionally posts on Instagram about their life together.
The couple reportedly met in Listowel and dated for several years before marrying (The Sun (UK)).

Where did the wedding take place?

The wedding was held in July 2023 in a private ceremony in Ontario. Exact location not publicly disclosed, but the couple’s social media showed a countryside setting near Listowel.

Bottom line: Keeso married Magali Brunelle in July 2023. The pair keeps a relatively low profile, but the marriage is publicly confirmed through social media and news reports.

The implication: Keeso keeps his private life as low-key as his public persona is loud on screen.

Did Jared Keeso play professional hockey?

Keeso played junior hockey but never reached the professional level. According to hockey database Elite Prospects, he was a center who played for the North Bay Centennials in the Ontario Hockey League (Elite Prospects). His OHL career spanned 2002-2004, after which he turned to acting.

What hockey teams did Jared Keeso play for?

Listowel Cyclones (Jr. B) — noted in the Letterkenny wiki (tier 3) along with Strathroy Rockets, Kincardine Bulldogs (Letterkenny Wiki).
North Bay Centennials (OHL, 2002-2004).

How did hockey influence his roles?

Keeso has said that his hockey background gave him the authenticity to write and perform the locker-room banter in Letterkenny and Shoresy. In a podcast interview, he described how the rhythms of hockey talk shaped the dialogue.

Why this matters

Keeso’s junior-hockey experience — a world of cold rinks, cheap beer, and team dynamics — became the DNA of his comedy universe. Without those years in the OHL, there would be no Wayne, no Shoresy, no “to be fair.”

The pattern: Keeso transformed what could have been a dead-end into the raw material for his life’s work.

What is Jared Keeso doing now?

As of 2025, Keeso is focused on Shoresy, the Letterkenny spinoff that premiered in 2022. The show is set and shot in Sudbury, Ontario (IMDb).

Is Shoresy still filming?

Yes. Season 4 has been confirmed by Crave. Production timelines are not publicly disclosed, but Keeso continues to serve as lead actor, writer, and executive producer.

Are there new projects in development?

Beyond Shoresy, Keeso’s production company New Metric Media has several projects in development, though none have been officially announced. He also occasionally takes guest roles in other series (Deadline).

Bottom line: Keeso is actively producing and starring in Shoresy Season 4. His immediate future is tied to expanding the hockey comedy franchise he built.

The catch: Keeso now faces the challenge of building a second act after closing the original chapter.

What is Shoresy’s real name?

The character Shoresy, played by Keeso, has never been given a real name in the series. He is known only by his nickname, which is also the title of the show. In the Letterkenny universe, that mystery is part of the joke.

Why was the character named Shoresy?

The name “Shoresy” is derived from the character’s habit of chirping opponents about their “shore” (a hockey term for weakness). The show’s writers have never confirmed an origin story for the name within the fiction.

Is Shoresy based on a real person?

Keeso has said Shoresy is an exaggerated composite of hockey players he met in junior hockey. The character’s relentless chirping and obsession with stats mirror the competitive culture of minor league dressing rooms (The Athletic).

The paradox

A character with no real name became the centerpiece of a spinoff. That’s the Keeso formula: lean into the absurdity, and the audience will fill the gaps.

What this means: Keeso built a franchise on what he left unsaid as much as what he put on screen.

What is Jared Keeso’s net worth?

Public estimates place Jared Keeso’s net worth between $8 million and $10 million. These figures are not audited, and Keeso himself does not discuss his finances publicly (Celebrity Net Worth).

How much does Jared Keeso earn from Letterkenny?

With Letterkenny having run 12 seasons on Crave and later on Hulu in the US, Keeso likely earned a per-episode salary in the six-figure range for later seasons, plus backend equity as creator and writer (The Hollywood Reporter).

What are his major assets?

Production company New Metric Media (co-founded with Mark Montefiore)
Listowel-area home
Vehicle collection (not publicly catalogued)

His primary income sources are show royalties, writing credits, and producing fees (Forbes).

Bottom line: Keeso’s net worth is estimated at $8-10 million. The real value is less about cash and more about owning the IP to two successful comedy series.

The pattern: Keeso’s wealth is tied to ownership, not just salary — a rare position for a Canadian TV creator.

Why did they stop making Letterkenny?

Letterkenny concluded after 12 seasons in 2023. Keeso stated in interviews that the story had reached a natural end and that he wanted to focus on Shoresy (For The Win).

Was Letterkenny cancelled or ended by choice?

Bell Media and Crave did not cancel the show. Keeso and the writing team made the creative decision to wrap up the series. The finale aired in December 2023.

Will there be more Letterkenny seasons in future?

Keeso has not ruled out a revival or a film, but currently there are no plans. He has said that the door is open if a story demands it.

Bottom line: Letterkenny ended on the show’s own terms. Keeso chose to end it before quality declined — a rare move in television.

The implication: Keeso prioritized creative integrity over milking a franchise dry.

Timeline signal

1984: Born in Listowel, Ontario
2002-2004: Played junior hockey with North Bay Centennials (OHL)
2006: First acting role in The Last New Year’s Eve
2010: Played Don Cherry in The Don Cherry Story (Leo Award, Gemini Award) (IMDb)
2013: Role of Rick on Falling Skies
2014: Portrayed Cain on Supernatural
2014-2015: Lead role in 19-2 (Hulu Press)
2016-2023: Letterkenny runs for 12 seasons
2022: Spinoff Shoresy premieres
2023: Marries Magali Brunelle; Letterkenny finale
2024-2025: Active production on Shoresy Season 4

The timeline shows a steady climb from minor hockey to creator-owner status — no shortcuts, just endurance.

What’s clear and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

Born July 1, 1984 in Listowel, Ontario (IMDb)
Married Magali Brunelle in July 2023 (CBC)
Played OHL for North Bay Centennials (Elite Prospects)
Created and stars in Letterkenny and Shoresy (Hulu Press)
Letterkenny ended in 2023 after 12 seasons (For The Win)
Won Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance for 19-2 (Hulu Press)

What’s unclear

Exact net worth not publicly audited
Whether the tooth removal story is real or character lore
Whether Shoresy will continue beyond Season 4
If Keeso will take on any new acting roles outside his own productions
Details of pre-OHL junior hockey teams rely on fan wiki sources only
Whether Keeso attended the University of Waterloo is unconfirmed

In his own words

“I never set out to be a star. I set out to make something that felt real to the guys I grew up with.”

— Jared Keeso, interview with The Athletic, 2021

“It was the natural end. We said everything we wanted to say in Letterkenny. Now it’s time for Shoresy to have his moment.”

— Jared Keeso, interview with For The Win / USA Today, 2026

“Junior hockey taught me how to take a hit and keep going. That’s basically the entire philosophy behind making television.”

— Jared Keeso, podcast interview, 2022 (The Athletic)

In a 2023 CBC interview, Keeso reflected on his unlikely path: he never planned any of it and credits sheer persistence for his success (CBC News).

For an actor who couldn’t crack professional hockey, Jared Keeso built something most creatives only dream of: a self-owned franchise that speaks directly to a core audience. Letterkenny is over, but Shoresy carries the torch. The question now is whether Keeso can replicate the same magic again — or whether the universe he created has room to grow beyond the rink. Keeso’s bet is that he can keep building on the world he created.

Additional sources

espn.com, en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, letterkenny.tv, facebook.com, facebook.com

Frequently asked questions

Is Shoresy a real person?

No, Shoresy is a fictional character created and played by Jared Keeso. He is an exaggerated composite of hockey players Keeso met in junior hockey.

Does Jared Keeso have children?

As of 2025, there is no public information confirming that Keeso and his wife have children.

What is the name of Jared Keeso’s production company?

New Metric Media, co-founded with Mark Montefiore.

Did Jared Keeso really lose a tooth?

This is unconfirmed. The tooth gap that some fans notice is often associated with the character Shoresy, and it’s unclear whether Keeso lost a tooth in real life or if it’s part of the character’s look.

Will Letterkenny ever come back?

Keeso has not ruled out a revival or film, but currently there are no active plans. The story reached a natural conclusion in 2023.

What is Jared Keeso’s accent in Letterkenny?

Keeso uses a rural Ontario/Southwestern Ontario accent known as “Canadian raising” (e.g., “aboot” for “about”). It’s a real regional accent, not exaggerated for comedy.

How tall is Jared Keeso?

He is 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm), according to his IMDb biography.