If you grew up anywhere near the mountain west in the early 2000s, you knew the face. It was everywhere. Kirby Heyborne was the undisputed king of a very specific, very niche cinematic universe. He was the guy with the wide eyes and the earnest grin who seemed to anchor every single "Mormon movie" that hit theaters during that weirdly prolific boom of faith-based comedies.
But then, things got quiet. Or so it seemed.
Honestly, if you think Kirby Heyborne movies and tv shows started and ended with a missionary tag and a bicycle, you’ve missed about 90% of his actual career. While a lot of people were wondering where the "RM guy" went, Heyborne was busy becoming one of the most prolific voices in the entire entertainment industry. And I’m not talking about just acting.
The LDS Cinema Era: When Kirby Was Everywhere
Let's talk about the beginning because it’s impossible to ignore. In 2002, The Singles Ward basically created a blueprint for LDS (Latter-day Saint) pop culture. Kirby played Dalen Martin, and suddenly he was the "it" guy.
He didn't just stay in that lane, though. He hopped into The R.M. (2003) as Jared Phelps, a guy who returns from a mission only to find his life has completely imploded. It was funny, sure, but Kirby brought a genuine, slightly panicked vulnerability to it that resonated.
Then came the heavy hitter: Saints and Soldiers (2003).
✨ Don't miss: Why ASAP Rocky F kin Problems Still Runs the Club Over a Decade Later
This wasn't a "church movie." It was a gritty, low-budget WWII drama that punched way above its weight class. Kirby played Flight Sergeant Oberon Winley. It was a massive departure from his comedy roles and proved he could actually act—like, really act—without a punchline. He followed that up with The Best Two Years, which many still consider the gold standard of the missionary sub-genre.
A Quick Rundown of the Classic Filmography:
- The Singles Ward (2002): The movie that started the craze.
- The R.M. (2003): Kirby at his comedic peak.
- Saints and Soldiers (2003): The serious turn that surprised everyone.
- The Best Two Years (2004): Playing the greenie, Elder Calhoun.
- Sons of Provo (2004): A mockumentary where he played a boy-band hopeful.
- Pirates of the Great Salt Lake (2006): A weird, quixotic cult classic.
The Hollywood Jump and the Three Stooges
Moving to Los Angeles is a gamble for anyone. For a guy who was a superstar in a small religious niche, it was a total reset. Kirby started showing up in national commercials—you’ve likely seen him selling Volkswagens, Honda SUVs, or Target deals without even realizing it was him.
He landed a recurring role on the FOX sitcom Free Ride and showed up in Everwood. But the big "I made it" moment came in 2012.
The Farrelly Brothers cast him in The Three Stooges.
He played Teddy, the "grown-up" version of one of the orphans. He was sharing scenes with Sofia Vergara and Jane Lynch. It was a massive deal. It was the moment the guy from the scrapbooking store in Sons of Provo was officially a Hollywood actor.
🔗 Read more: Ashley My 600 Pound Life Now: What Really Happened to the Show’s Most Memorable Ashleys
Why You Probably Listen to Him Every Day
Here is the part most people get wrong about Kirby's career. They see a gap in his IMDB page and assume he's "retired" or just doing the occasional indie flick like the recent Faith of Angels (2024).
That couldn't be further from the truth.
Kirby Heyborne is one of the most successful audiobook narrators on the planet. We’re talking over 2,000 titles. He’s won Odyssey Awards. He’s been nominated for a Grammy. If you’ve listened to the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series, or Brandon Mull’s Dragonwatch, or even the massive LDS history series Saints, you’ve been listening to Kirby.
He basically traded the camera for a microphone, and honestly? It was a brilliant move. He’s voiced everything from gritty thrillers like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl to whimsical children's books like Charlotte’s Web. He’s not just "reading" these books; he’s performing them. He’s got this chameleon-like ability to swap accents and tones that you’d never expect if you only knew him as the goofy guy from The Singles Ward.
Making Good: The Return to the Screen
If you flip over to BYUtv these days, you’ll find Kirby hosting a show called Making Good. It’s been running for over six seasons now. It’s basically a service-based reality show where Kirby travels around and helps people.
💡 You might also like: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
It’s not scripted drama. It’s just Kirby being Kirby.
In one episode, he might be building bunk beds for kids with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and in the next, he’s helping out at a feral cat rescue in New York City. He writes an original song for every organization he visits. It’s wholesome, sure, but it’s also the most "authentic" he’s ever been on screen. He’s not playing a character anymore. He’s the host, the composer, and the guy getting his hands dirty.
The Realistic Evolution of a Career
People often ask why there aren't more Kirby Heyborne movies and tv shows in the mainstream blockbuster world. The reality is that the industry is tough. Kirby has been very vocal about the balance between faith, family, and fame. He’s served as a bishop in his church, he’s raising a family, and he’s found a way to make a very comfortable living doing what he loves without having to wait for a casting director to call.
He’s the rare actor who survived the "niche" label. He didn't get stuck in the past. He evolved. Whether he’s emceeing massive events like RootsTech or narrating the next YA bestseller, he stays busy.
How to Follow His Work Now
If you want to catch up with what he's doing in 2026, don't just check the theater listings.
- Check your Audible library. Search his name. You’ll find thousands of hours of content.
- Stream "Making Good" on the BYUtv app. It’s free and shows his most recent work.
- Look for "Faith of Angels." His recent return to the big screen shows he still has those dramatic chops he first displayed in Saints and Soldiers.
The biggest takeaway from Kirby’s career isn't just the movies he’s made. It’s the fact that he redefined what "success" looks like for a character actor. He found a way to stay relevant for over two decades by being willing to change his medium while keeping his personality exactly the same.
To see the full range of his work, start by listening to his narration of Scowler or Hollow City. It’ll completely change how you view the guy from those early 2000s comedies. From there, you can dive into the six-season run of Making Good to see how he’s using his platform for something bigger than just entertainment.