Oh My God ... Kelly!

By Broadside Staff Writer Kyle Ridley
Photo by Amy V. Cooper

Becoming an Internet sensation and performing across the country dressed in drag was never the plan for actor-turned-comedian Liam Sullivan. Currently the opening act on Margaret Cho’s “Beautiful” tour, Sullivan will play three shows at the Warner Theatre in D.C. on April 10 and 11.

“I just wanted to work as an actor,” Sullivan said, more widely known as Kelly, the foul-mouthed, fashion-obsessed character in his “Shoes” video. “I only fell into comedy because I had an ability to play different characters that are kind of on the fringe, that are wacky and strange.”

In the year since his famous “Shoes” video, scoring over 14 million views since its debut on YouTube, Sullivan, 34, has won a People’s Choice Award, built an internet video empire and gained a cult-like following with his website.

“‘Whirlwind’ is a good word for it. I didn’t expect anything,” Sullivan said of his rapid rise in popularity. “I’m just kind of flabbergasted by it. Not the fame part but just that so many people have responded has been a real high.”

A simple walk down the streets of Los Angeles was the spark that ignited the Sullivan “Shoes” sensation. While staring at the ground and watching his feet stamp in his field of vision, Sullivan began repeating the word “shoes” to the beat of his steps.

Sullivan already had the idea for his Kelly character developed and used “Shoes” to jumpstart her career as a recording artist. Using Garage Band software and basic video equipment, he recorded the song and made a video that he planned to show at live performances and submit to film festivals.

“YouTube was an afterthought,” said the Norfolk, Mass. native, who attributes Internet sites such as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook for his widespread success.

“It’s amazing and it really can launch you. It jumpstarted my whole career,” he said. “There’s no real gatekeepers anymore. If you want to put yourself out there, it’s really easy to do now and you can do it without approval.”

Sullivan writes, produces, directs, edits and stars in all of his videos, three of which are on YouTube’s top 20 favorite comedy videos of all time. He has sold more than 250,000 singles from his “Shoes” comedy album on iTunes and has had more than 60 million hits on his website.

Although Sullivan’s stardom may seem like an overnight rise to the top, he has been working in the entertainment industry for more than a decade and recalled playing “Shakespeare in the Park” in Boston when he was 21.

“From that to here is a big jump, but it took a while,” he said.

This is Sullivan’s second tour with Cho. Last year, he performed in her off-Broadway “Sensuous Woman” variety show.
Cho, whose husband was a costume designer on the “Shoes” video, was one of the first to blog about the video and Sullivan considers her comments to have kicked off the clip’s popularity.

“I just fell in love with that video and that character,” Cho said. “I really admire him and love his filmmaking. He’s just amazing.”

Sullivan, a self-proclaimed homebody, is still adjusting to the city-to-city treks of life on the road.

“I have to get used to it,” Sullivan said. “It’s tough to be in hotels and living out of suitcases, but the show is the payoff.”

Sullivan has guest starred on television series such as "Alias," "Gilmore Girls" and "

He has two notebooks full of video ideas and tries to write every day in order to further develop characters, including those who appear in his current live show.