Jerrod Carmichael

Jerrod Carmichael’s recent HBO act “Rothaniel” has made a big splash, and his personality got lots of public attention. On the show, Jerrod came out as gay, so those, who were wondering, who Carmichael’s wife was, finally got an answer. He is not married, and he is gay. However, what is known about the family he comes from: his parents and siblings? Just grab your drink and be ready to read Jerrod Carmichael’s story!

Who are Jerrod Carmichael parents?

Joe Carmichael Sr (father)

Date of birth: December 20, 1957

Probably, you have noticed that the patriarch of the family on The Carmichael Show is named Joe after Jerrod’s real-life father. No need to prove, that Mr. Joe Carmichael, portrayed on the show by a talented actor David Alan Grier, is the image of an existing Jerrod’s dad.

In his HBO act “Rothaniel”, Jerrod tells, that his father gave him the first name, which the stand-up comedian hates. That name is Rothaniel, and it is a combination of his paternal and maternal grandfathers’ first names (Robert and Nathaniel). By the way, Jerrod hates his first name. Nobody calls him in that way.

Joe Franklin Carmichael Sr is a long-term North Carolina resident. His parents have never been married officially. His father had 28 kids, born with various women, and just 5 of them were with his legal wife. So, Jerrod’s dad is an outside marriage kid. That’s why the famous comedian doesn’t share his last name with his paternal grandfather Robert.

Joe supported his son’s idea to create a comedy show, based on their existing family. He contributed many lines for his screen prototype Joe Carmichael.

Jerrod’s father supported his son’s ambitions since his childhood. Joe Sr used to work as a truck driver, so he was not rich. But he found enough money to build a kind of clubhouse in the back part of their yard, which Jerrod and his friends rebuilt into a haunted house and took payment from the neighbors to visit it.

In “Rothaniel” Jerrod said, that his father accepted his coming out as gay easily, although he hoped his son to be at least bisexual and have affairs with women, too.

Jerrod’s father was unfaithful to his sons’ mother. He had an affair with a woman, named Bernita and had some outside marriage kids with her. One day Jerrod made his father to confess their mother about cheating. After his father’s confession about extramarital affairs, Jerrod decided to be honest with his family members too, and came out as gay.

Cynthia Carmichael (mother)

Date of birth: June 1, 1959

Jerrod used to say that the tough conversations of the characters on “The Carmichael Show” set were based on his constant inner dialogues with his mother. She has always been the main audience for him. And her listening and understanding have always been for him the most important.

Ms. Carmichael was portrayed by the Hollywood veteran actress Loretta Devine in the multi-camera sitcom “The Carmichael Show”. The screen Cynthia Carmichael was as old-fashioned and religious as the real one.

Cynthia used to earn her living as a secretary. She forgave her husband of many years, Joe Sr, for his extramarital affairs. That was the thing Jerrod couldn’t understand, as he was sure, his parents would divorce after that.

It was very hard for Cynthia to hear the news her son Jerrod was gay.

Jerrod Carmichael siblings

Joe Carmichael Jr (older brother)y

Date of birth: June 26, 1978

In his tell-all HBO special “Rothaniel” the comedian confessed that his older brother Joe gave him his middle name – Jerrod. Despite the 7-year age gap, Joe and Jerrod are closely-knitted and have a lot in common.

Joe Carmichael Jr used to tell in his interview with “New York magazine”, that his younger brother was always turning around with the camera and making videos on everything he could see, like football or basketball matches between the boys in the neighborhood. He liked taking interviews too. Nowadays, Joe promotes his brother’s projects on his Instagram page. He is very proud of Jerrod’s terrific achievements.

Jerrod’s older brother is married to Valencia Carmichael, one year younger. They are raising five kids. Unlike his father and grandfathers, Joe Jr doesn’t cheat on his wife.

Joe Jr is a Robert B. Glenn High School graduate. In 2019 he produced his brother’s “Home Videos”.

Other half-siblings

Jerrod has four half-siblings from his paternal side from his father’s mistress, named Bernita. But the comedian doesn’t know them properly and doesn’t stay in touch with them. Besides, he could have some other half-siblings from the paternal side as his dad had cheated on his mother regularly.

Bio

Rothaniel Jerrod Carmichael has profound experience in comedy. He portrayed Garf in the 2014 comedy film “Neighbors”. Garf was one of the visitors at the fraternity house, led by the main character Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron). Although the role was tiny, Jerrod’s play was so skillful, that he couldn’t have remained unnoticed. He reached the higher level of popularity after he had launched his sitcom “The Carmichael Show”, inspired by Jerrod’s real-life family. In 2022 Jerrod cemented his success with the release of his HBO special “Rothaniel”, where he came out as gay.

In 2023-24, Jerrod Carmichael remains one of the most famous standup comedians in the world. He hosted the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Besides, he has launched “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show”, which was released through HBO on March 10, 2024. The show is the kind of documentary focused on Jerrod’s family members and friends.