Rickey Smiley is this super funny American comedian, actor, and radio host. You probably know him best for those sidesplitting prank phone calls, especially when he’s rocking the character “Bernice Jenkins.”
And yeah, he’s the main man on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” broadcasting all over the country. But this guy is not just sticking to radio – he has been in the spotlight with movies and TV shows, too.
So, Rickey kicked off his career back in the 80s as well as in the 90s, doing stand-up comedy. And let me tell you, he struck gold with those prank phone calls. He started dropping them on his comedy albums and then took the craziness to his very own radio show.
Now, let us fast forward to 2000. He kicks off the “Rickey Smiley Morning Show” on a local Atlanta station, and what do you know? It blows up nationwide!
Now, Rickey Smiley is absolutely owning it – a big shot on the radio, cracking people up with his comedy and making moves in acting. He’s stacking up awards for all the awesome stuff he’s pulling off. This guy’s the real deal!
Who is Rickey Smiley?
Rickey Smiley is a jack-of-all-trades in the entertainment world – an American stand-up comedian, television host, actor, and radio personality. But most folks know him for his legendary prank phone calls that have everyone in stitches.
Rickey came into the world on August 10, 1968, in Birmingham, Alabama. Rickey is currently 53 years old. Life threw him a curveball when he lost his dad, and his grandparents stepped in to raise him. His mom goes by the name Carolina Smiley Lester, and he’s got a sister named Karon.
When it came to schooling, Rickey hit up Woodlawn High School and graduated from there. He even did a stint at Tuskegee University for a bit.
And if that’s not enough, he’s the guy you wake up to or drive home with, hosting the nationally syndicated ‘Rickey Smiley Morning Show’ based out of Atlanta. This guy’s been making us laugh and keeping us entertained for years!
Rickey Smiley’s Career
Rickey Smiley’s journey kicked off when he stepped up to the mic at an amateur comedy night in The Comedy Club. From there, he hit the road, touring with jazz singer Will Downing, comedian George Wallace, gospel singer Dottie Peoples, and musician Najee. And that’s just the beginning.
He took the stage as the host of Black Entertainment Television’s ComicView, and then in 2000, he locked in a five-year deal with Home Box Office (HBO). The following year, he was the face of the BET variety series The Way We Do It.
And you know what’s cool? Smiley didn’t just stick to TV – he popped up in All About the Benjamins alongside Ice Cube and Mike Epps. Then, he played Santa in Friday After Next in 2002 and rocked the character Ducktape in Sweet Hideaway in 2003.
In 2004, he took over the airwaves as the morning show host for Dallas’ KBFB-FM/97.9. That same year, he snagged BET’s Platinum Mic Viewer’s Choice Award, wrote an episode for his own one-hour standup special on BET’s ComicView, and dropped knowledge in the documentary Super Secret Movie Rules: Sports Underdogs.
And if that’s not enough, in 2005, Smiley got the gig in the Diamond Life reality TV series. Talk about a guy on the move!
Rickey Smiley’s Wife: Does He Have Kids?
Rickey Smiley’s not sporting a wedding ring – he’s riding the solo train in the marriage department. But here’s the scoop – he’s been keeping the flame alive in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend.
It’s all love, but they haven’t taken the plunge into marriage territory just yet. So, no Mrs. Smiley for now – he’s doing his own thing, keeping it real with his lady by his side.
Rickey Smiley’s got a big heart for kids, and he’s got a whopping 10 of them – four biological and six adopted. Yep, you heard it right, he’s a dad to a whole crew. But here’s the kicker – he’s flying solo on the relationship front. The dude’s not into the whole marriage scene, and he’s rocking the single life.
Rickey didn’t even know he had any biological kids until he hit the age of six. Talk about a surprise! Despite not tying the knot, he’s all about raising those kids. The thing is, losing his own dad when he was just a kid himself fueled this passion for looking out for and helping children.
Now, when it comes to siblings, Rickey’s usually seen as the only child. Life threw some challenges his way early on when he lost his dad at six, but his grandparents stepped in and raised him.
Even though he’s the only one by blood, he’ll tell you growing up was a blast. With that deep Southern community vibe and a bunch of family around, he had a lot of fun despite the tough times.
Who is Brenda Morris?
Brenda Morris, Brandon Smiley’s mom, got hitched to comedian Rickey Smiley when she was just a teenager. The two lovebirds ended up having four kids together – Brandon Smiley, who’s 32, D’Essence, 25, Aaryn, 21, and Malik Smiley, also 21. That’s one big, happy family!
Now, Brenda was married to the Morning Show podcast king for a solid 12 years. Later on, she walked down the aisle again, tying the knot with her hubby Tarius.
According to Rickey, they had a rock-solid connection during those dozen years. He made it clear in an interview that Brenda never strayed; there was no cheating business whatsoever. Pierre Edwards, the host, chimed in, calling him a different kind of guy.
Brenda, now 50, and Tarius celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary in April last year. They’ve got a daughter named Taylor Green. Oh, and Brenda’s doing her thing as an assistant producer on her stepdad’s radio gig – the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. Talk about keeping it all in the family!
How Long Were Brenda and Rickey Smiley Married?
So, check it out: Brenda and Rickey Smiley held it down for 12 years in the marriage game. Rickey spilled that tea in an interview on the Panic Room podcast with Pierre Edwards. Pierre’s like, “I did nine,” and Rickey’s all, “Never cheated, nothing.” Pierre gives him props and calls him a different kinda guy.
Fast forward to 2022, Brenda’s on round two with her man, Tarius. These two lovebirds hit 24 years of marriage in April 2022. That’s some serious ride-or-die stuff right there.
Oh, and they got a daughter, Taylor Green, who did her thing as an assistant producer at the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. She graduated from The University of Georgia in 2022. Life moves on, and folks keep rolling with the punches!
What Caused the Passing of Rickey Smiley’s Son, Brandon Smiley?
Man, Rickey Smiley isn’t spillin’ the beans on what happened to his son, Brandon. He’s keepin’ that stuff close to the chest. When he talked about it, he was saying how he’s feeling the same kind of pain his grandparents felt when they lost his dad. It’s heavy stuff, you know?
He didn’t go into details; he just asked for prayers and support for his family during this tough time. Sometimes, you have respect people’s privacy, especially when they’re dealing with something so personal. If you want to know more, checking out the latest news or what Rickey says directly is the way to go.
