Quick Facts
Born:
1967-01-08
Birthplace:
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Credits:
20 Total Roles
R. Kelly
Acting
The MovieWise Take
Refining cinematic analysis...
Biography
Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American former singer, songwriter, record producer, and convicted sex offender. Known professionally as R. Kelly, he is credited with prolific commercial success in R&B, hip hop, and pop music recordings, earning nicknames such as 'the King of R&B', 'the King of Pop-Soul', and 'the Pied Piper of R&B'. In 2025, Billboard ranked him 9th on their list of the 'Best R&B Artists of All Time'.
In 2023, Kelly was convicted of multiple charges of child sexual abuse—three of thirteen charges of production of child pornography and three charges of enticing a child, effectively ending his career. As of 2025, he is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina.
In 2023, Kelly was convicted of multiple charges of child sexual abuse—three of thirteen charges of production of child pornography and three charges of enticing a child, effectively ending his career. As of 2025, he is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina.
Known For
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Musical Guest
Surviving R. Kelly
Self (archive footage)
Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-12
Sylvester / Narrator
Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 13-22
Narrator / Sylvester / Pimp Lucious / Reverend Mosley James Evans / Randolph
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 23-33
Narrator / Sylvester / Pimp Lucius / Dr William T. Perry / Reverend Mosley James Evans / Beeno / Interviewer
Full Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2019 | The Gayle King Interview with R. Kelly MOVIE | Himself |
| 2019 | Surviving R. Kelly TV | Self (archive footage) |
| 2018 | R Kelly: Sex, Girls and Videotapes MOVIE | Himself (archive Footage) |
| 2012 | Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 23-33 MOVIE | Narrator / Sylvester / Pimp Lucius / Dr William T. Perry / Reverend Mosley James Evans / Beeno / Interviewer |
| 2011 | The One8 Project: Hands Across the World MOVIE | Himself |
| 2007 | Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-22 MOVIE | Sylvester / Narrator / Pimp Lucious / Reverend Mosley James Evans / Randolph |
| 2007 | Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 13-22 MOVIE | Narrator / Sylvester / Pimp Lucious / Reverend Mosley James Evans / Randolph |
| 2007 | R. Kelly: Live - The Light It Up Tour MOVIE | CANTOR |
| 2005 | Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 1-12 MOVIE | Sylvester / Narrator |