Biography

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American former singer, songwriter, record producer, and convicted sex offender. Known professionally as R. Kelly, he is credited with prolific commercial success in R&B, hip hop, and pop music recordings, earning nicknames such as 'the King of R&B', 'the King of Pop-Soul', and 'the Pied Piper of R&B'. In 2025, Billboard ranked him 9th on their list of the 'Best R&B Artists of All Time'. In 2023, Kelly was convicted of multiple charges of child sexual abuse—three of thirteen charges of production of child pornography and three charges of enticing a child, effectively ending his career. As of 2025, he is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina.

Photos

Filmography

View Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

1975Series
7.0
View Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

1993Series
6.4
View Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003Series
5.4
View MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

1984Series
7.8
View American Music Awards
American Music Awards

American Music Awards

1974Series
8.2
View Surviving R. Kelly
Surviving R. Kelly

Surviving R. Kelly

2019Series
7.1
View Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards

Teen Choice Awards

1999Series
9.1
View Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 13-22
Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 13-22

Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 13-22

2007Film
6.4
View R. Kelly: The R. in R&B - The Video Collection
R. Kelly: The R. in R&B - The Video Collection

R. Kelly: The R. in R&B - The Video Collection

2003Film
9.1
View Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-22
Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-22

Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-22

2007Film
8.0
View Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1
Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1

Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1

2002Film
5.0
View Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-12
Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-12

Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-12

2005Film
6.8