Kirby Heyborne
# Kirby Heyborne

Kirby Heyborne (born October 8, 1977) is an American actor, musician, singer, songwriter, narrator and comedian. He is known for his work in films centered around the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Heyborne has also worked extensively as an audiobook narrator, narrating more than 300 books. He has won two Odyssey Awards and an Audie Award for Middle Grade Title. In 2015, Booklist named him a Voice of Choice narrator.

## Early life and education

Heyborne graduated from Alta High School in 1995 where he was student body president. He is a member of the LDS Church and served as a missionary for the church in the Dominican Republic. He later graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Economics.

## Career

Heyborne is both an actor and a musician; he has released several CDs on which he sings and plays the guitar. But he did not become widely popular in the LDS Church community until his starring role in the film The R.M. (2003). His first appearance in a non-LDS film was as "Teddy" in The Three Stooges (2012).

He is also an accomplished narrator, and has provided voice work for many novels, short stories, and non-fiction titles.

Heyborne generated some controversy in the Latter-day Saint community in 2008 after deciding to appear in a Miller Lite beer commercial. Devout members of the LDS Church do not drink alcohol, and his appearance in a beer commercial was perceived as hypocritical. Heyborne stated that he would prefer to act only in roles aligned with his faith but was unable to predict which offers he might receive. He interpreted the Miller Lite opportunity as an answer to prayer, and a way to feed his family. He was later denied the chance to play at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University (BYU), where he had often played in the past, allegedly due to his involvement with the commercial. He also had appeared in a Best Buy commercial in late-summer 2013, promoting sales for Verizon phones for an upcoming back-to-school sale. This commercial aired during the CBS primetime lineup on August 26, 2013. In 2019, he began as host for a new show on BYUtv called "Making Good."

## Awards and honors

In 2015, Booklist named Heyborne a Voice of Choice narrator, noting that he has a "skill at voicing accents and dialects, perhaps enhanced by his musical knowledge and ear, comes up frequently in reviews."

### Awards

| Year | Title | Award | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2006 | Cloud Atlas (2004) by David Mitchell | Audie Award for Literary Fiction | Finalist |
| 2008 | Selections from Dreamsongs 1 by George R.R. Martin | Audie Award for Science Fiction | Finalist |
| 2011 | The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 |
| 2012 | Rotters by Daniel Kraus | Odyssey Award | Winner |
| 2013 | Heft by Liz Moore | Audie Award for Literary Fiction | Finalist |
| 2013 | L.A. Noir by John Buntin | Audie Award for History or Biography | Finalist |
| 2014 | The Invisible Heart by Russell D. Roberts | Audie Award for Business and Personal Development | Finalist |
| 2014 | Rumble by Ellen Hopkins | Listen-Up Award for Children’s/YA | Finalist |
| 2014 | Rumble by Ellen Hopkins | Listen-Up Award for Audiobook Narrator of the Year | Finalist |
| 2014 | Scowler (2013) by Daniel Kraus | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 |
| 2014 | Scowler (2013) by Daniel Kraus | Odyssey Award | Winner |
| 2015 | Skink—No Surrender (2014) by Carl Hiaasen | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 |
| 2016 | All the Bright Places (2014) by Jennifer Niven | Audie Award for Young Adult Title | Finalist |
| 2016 | Library of Souls (2014) by Ransom Riggs | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 |
| 2016 | Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 |
| 2017 | Traffick by Ellen Hopkins | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 |
| 2020 | Charlotte's Web (1952) by E. B. White | Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year | Finalist |
| 2020 | Charlotte's Web (1952) by E. B. White | Audie Award for Middle Grade Title | Winner |
| 2020 | Dig by A. S. King | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 |
| 2022 | The Couch Potato by Jory John | Audie Award for Young Listeners' Title | Finalist |

### "Best of" lists

| Year | Title | List |
| - | - | - |
| 2006 | The Young Man and the Sea (2004) by Rodman Philbrick | Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2008 | Genius by Jesse Kellerman | Booklist Editors' Choice: Media |
| 2010 | Cosmic (2010) by Frank Cottrell-Boyce | AudioFile Best of Children's |
| 2011 | Rotters by Daniel Kraus | Booklist Editors' Choice: Media |
| 2012 | The Beginner's Goodbye (2012) by Anne Tyler | AudioFile Best of Fiction |
| 2012 | Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2012 | Moon Over Manifest (2010) by Clare Vanderpool | Notable Children's Recordings |
| 2012 | Rotters by Daniel Kraus | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2012 | Stay Awake: Stories (2012) by Dan Chaon | AudioFile Best of Fiction |
| 2013 | Almost Perfect (2009) by Brian Katcher | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2013 | Ender's Game Alive by Orson Scott Card | AudioFile Best of Science Fiction |
| 2013 | Heft by Liz Moore | RUSA Listen List |
| 2013 | Scowler (2013) by Daniel Kraus | Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth |
| 2014 | Hollow City (2014) by Ransom Riggs | AudioFile Best of Young Adult |
| 2014 | Scowler (2013) by Daniel Kraus | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2014 | Scowler (2013) by Daniel Kraus | AudioFile Best of Young Adult |
| 2014 | Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin | Notable Children's Videos |
| 2015 | 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith | Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth |
| 2015 | All the Bright Places (2014) by Jennifer Niven | Publishers Weekly Best Children's/YA Audiobooks |
| 2015 | Goodbye Stranger (2015) by Rebecca Stead | AudioFile Best of Children's |
| 2015 | Hollow City (2014) by Ransom Riggs | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2015 | The Madman of Piney Woods | Notable Children's Recordings |
| 2015 | Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2012) by Jesse Andrews | AudioFile Best of Young Adult |
| 2015 | Noggin by John Corey Whaley | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2015 | Old Wolf (2015) by Avi | AudioFile Best of Children's |
| 2015 | Skink—No Surrender (2014) by Carl Hiaasen | Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth |
| 2016 | 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2016 | All the Bright Places (2014) by Ariadne Meyers | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2016 | Crown of Three by J.D. Rinehart | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2016 | Mister Monkey (2016) by Francine Prose | AudioFile Best of Fiction |
| 2017 | The Bright Hour (2017) by Nina Riggs | AudioFile Best of Memoir |
| 2017 | The Ethan I Was Before (2017) by Ali Standish | AudioFile Best of Children & Family Listening |
| 2017 | Lincoln in the Bardo (2017) by George Saunders | Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults |
| 2018 | The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken | Notable Children's Recordings |
| 2018 | Lincoln in the Bardo (2017) by George Saunders | RUSA Listen List |
| 2019 | Charlotte's Web (1952) by E. B. White | AudioFile Best of Children & Family Listening |
| 2020 | Charlotte’s Web (1952) by E.B. White | Notable Children's Recordings |
| 2020 | Roller Girl (2015) by Victoria Jamieson | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2020 | Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |
| 2022 | Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love by Jared Reck | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults |

## Works

### Filmography

* Social Suicide (2001) - Tuff Christopherson
* The Singles Ward (2002) - Dalen Martin
* The R.M. (2003) - Jared Phelps
* The Work and the Story (2003) - Ephraim Thomas
* Saints and Soldiers (2003) - Flight Sergeant Oberon Winley
* The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey (2003) - Sam
* The Best Two Years (2003) - Elder Hezekiah Calhoun
* Everwood (2003) - Mr. Perkins
* Hoops (2004) - Ethan
* Sons of Provo (2004) - Kirby Laybourne
* The Last Chapter (2004) - Jonathan
* Pirates of the Great Salt Lake (2006) - Kirk Redgrave/Nose Beard
* Lazy Muncie (2006) - Himself
* Free Ride (2006) - Dylan Hudney
* Take a Chance (2006) - Eugene Buddles
* Praise to the Man (2006) - Oliver Cowdery
* Together Again for the First Time (2008) - Roger Wolders
* The Singles 2nd Ward (2007) - Dalen Martin
* Scout Camp (2009) - Kerry
* Midway to Heaven (2011) - David
* The Three Stooges (2012) - Teddy
* Sorry (2013)
* The Client List (2013, TV series, season 1 episode 7)
* Extinct (2017, TV series) - voice of Red Drone

### Discography

* Inside - (2005)
* Braver Days ( May 2006)
* Merry White Tree in the Night (Oct 2006)
* The RM Soundtrack - "If You Could Hie to Kolob"
* Sons of Provo Soundtrack
* The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway - Narrator (2008)
* Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan - Narrator (2008)
* The Elm Tree - Released March 31, 2009
* The Long Walk by Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman - Narrator (2010)
* Fat Vampire by Adam Rex - Narrator (2010)
* Rotters by Daniel Kraus - Narrator (2011)
* Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King - Narrator (2012)
* Come to Zion, Vol. 1: The Winds and the Waves by Dean Hughes - Narrator (2012)
* Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Narrator (with Julia Whelan) (2012)
* Scowler by Daniel Kraus - Narrator (2013)
* Breathe by Abbi Glines - Narrator (2013)
* Taipei by Tao Lin - Narrator (2013)
* Come to Zion, Vol. 2: Through Cloud and Sunshine by Dean Hughes - Narrator (2013)
* Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (2013)
* Hollow City by Ransom Riggs - Narrator (2014)
* Rumble by Ellen Hopkins - Narrator (2014)
* The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2014)
* Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2014)
* A Generation Rising (Fire and Steel, Vol. 1) by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2014)
* Only the Brave: The Continuing Story of the San Juan Pioneers by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2014)
* Come to Zion, Vol. 3: Fresh Courage Take by Dean Hughes - Narrator (2014)
* Ashfall by Mike Mullin - Narrator (2015)
* All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - Narrator (2015)
* The Friends of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2015)
* Chasing Sunsets (Angels Walking, book 2) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2015)
* The Orphan Army: The Nightsiders, book 1 by Jonathan Maberry - Narrator (2015)
* The Storm Descends (Fire and Steel, Vol. 2) by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2015)
* Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs - Narrator (2015)
* Fires of Invention (Mysteries of Cove, Vol. 1) by Jeffrey Scott Savage - Narrator (2015)
* Youngblood by Matt Gallagher - Narrator (2016)
* To Soar with Eagles by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2016)
* Brush of Wings (Angels Walking, book 3) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2016)
* The Shadow Falls (Fire and Steel, Vol. 3) by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2016)
* Gears of Revolution (Mysteries of Cove, Vol. 2) by Jeffrey Scott Savage - Narrator (2016)
* A Baxter Family Christmas (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2016)
* Dragonwatch: A Fablehaven Adventure (Dragonwatch, Vol. 1) by Brandon Mull - Narrator (2017)
* The Proud Shall Stumble (Fire and Steel, Vol. 4) by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2017)
* Love Story (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2017)
* In This Moment (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2017)
* Embers of Destruction (Mysteries of Cove, Vol. 3) by Jeffrey Scott Savage - Narrator (2017)
* Out of the Smoke (Fire and Steel, Vol. 5) by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2018)
* ’’I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver, Vol. 1)’’ by Dan Wells - Narrator (2018)
* Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King (Dragonwatch, Vol. 2) by Brandon Mull - Narrator (2018)
* A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs - Narrator (2018)
* To the Moon and Back (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2018)
* When We Were Young (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2018)
* Two Weeks (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2019)
* Into the Flames (Fire and Steel, Vol. 6) by Gerald N. Lund - Narrator (2019)
* Muddy: Where Faith and Polygamy Collide (Muddy, Vol. 1) by Dean Hughes - Narrator (2019)
* Dragonwatch: Master of the Phantom Isle (Dragonwatch, Vol. 3) by Brandon Mull - Narrator (2019)
* River: Where Faith and Consecration Converge (Muddy, Vol. 2) by Dean Hughes - Narrator (2020)
* The Volunteer Effect by Jason Young and Jonathan Malm - Narrator (2020)
* Dragonwatch: Champion of the Titan Games (Dragonwatch, Vol. 4) by Brandon Mull - Narrator (2020)
* Someone Like You (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2020)
* Truly, Madly Deeply (The Baxters) by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2020)
* A Distant Shore by Karen Kingsbury - Narrator (with January LaVoy) (2021)
* Dragonwatch: Return of the Dragon Slayers (Dragonwatch, Vol. 5) by Brandon Mull - Narrator (2021)
