Daniel A. Jost Comes from a Wealthy Family – Facts about Colin Jost’s Dad

A father to two successful comedians, Daniel A. Jost also has a few jokes up his sleeve. Married to a retired medical officer for nearly 50 years, Daniel has led an admirable career of his own. He is a two-time graduate, a businessman, and a philanthropist who knows how to have a good time.

Daniel A. Jost, alongside his wife, Dr. Kerry Kelly, once looked forward to ruining their eldest son’s wedding – with a little humor. The couple married in the mid-1970s while they both pursued their postgraduate degrees and eventually expanded their family with two children.

Daniel was raised by a businessman, and although he ventured into teaching, the father of two accrued knowledge about the business world. He used that knowledge in his philanthropic endeavors and guided his eldest son, Colin Jost, as he sought to invest in the very ferry the comedian rode to school as a boy.

Daniel A. Jost poses at the 2nd Annual Laughs On The Links Celebrity Golf, Tennis & Bocce Outing at Richmond Country Club on October 2, 2017, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Daniel’s sons, brothers Colin and Casey Jost, joined the entertainment industry and rose to stardom. They both hold many titles as well-known comedians, writers, actors, and directors. They are also husbands to actresses, but only Colin is known to be the only one to have given his parents a grandchild.

Daniel maintains a loving bond with his children. Colin has even mentioned him in a few interviews; the comedian once hilariously recounted a story when he and his dad attended quite an eventful football game between the Giants and the Bears.

Colin Jost and his father, Daniel A. Jost, pose at the 2nd Annual Laughs On The Links Celebrity Golf, Tennis & Bocce Outing at Richmond Country Club on October 2, 2017, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Daniel A. Jost Comes from a Wealthy Family

Daniel was born to Mr. and Mrs. John A. Jost, who lived in Lavalette, New Jersey. He attended Pingry School in Hillside and later graduated from Brown University. Daniel then pursued a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He taught at Staten Island Technical School and later retired from that profession at some point in his life. Daniel then became the Vice Chairperson of the Staten Island Museum Board of Trustees, who helped raise funds for community support alongside his well-reputed wife.

(L-R) Dr. Kerry Kelly, Colin Jost and Daniel A. Jost pose at the 3rd annual New York Police and Fire widows’ & children’s benefit fund kick off to summer benefit at Empire Hotel Rooftop on May 19, 2015, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

The Strong Relationship between Daniel and His Wife

Daniel and Dr. Kelly were engaged in October 1974, as announced in the New York Times that year. The outlet reported that they would marry in June 1975. As such, this year marked their 47th wedding anniversary, and it seems they’ve kept their spark strong and bright.

The couple has joint pursuits in philanthropy, as they actively participate in Staten Island Museum events. Before joining the Staten Island Museum initiatives, Daniel and Dr. Kelly were Roman Catholics who actively fundraised for the former Jesuit retreat center, Mount Manresa.

After Mount Manresa was sold in 2013, the core members of the former retreat refocused their efforts on community support to re-establishing the Staten Island Museum guild, which had been dormant for some time.

Daniel A. Jost is pictured at the 2nd Annual Laughs On The Links Celebrity Golf, Tennis & Bocce Outing at Richmond Country Club on October 2, 2017, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

In 2016, Daniel and Dr. Kelly enjoyed a cabaret fundraiser evening, the first one hosted by the said guild at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield. The couple was said to have shown off their dance moves, moving to music performed by the musical group Memories.

Daniel and Dr. Kelly also attended Staten Island Museum’s 140th Anniversary Gala earlier this year, which honored Dr. Kelly and Dr. Ginny Montello at the Richmond County Country Club. The event was held to raise funds for the museum’s youth program, with over 250 contributors, including the formerly Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon.

(L-R) Daniel A. Jost, Colin Jost and Kerry Kelly pose at Answer the Call’s 5th Annual Red & Blue Soiree at The Bowery Hotel on May 23, 2017 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Dr. Kelly attended Notre Dame Academy and later enrolled at Vassar College, where she graduated Cum Laude. She received her medical degree from Brown University Medical School and also spent a semester at Princeton University as a special student.

She followed in her father’s footsteps and became a Medical Officer at the New York City Fire Department. Thirteen years later, Dr. Kelly ascended to Chief Medical Officer, serving in that position for 24 years before retiring in 2018.

Today, she oversees a family medicine practice on Staten Island with Northwell Health. She is also involved in the World Trade Health Center Program, where she assists active and retired members of the FDNY (First Responders) who suffered dire medical issues following 9/11.

Casey Jost, Colin Jost and their father, Daniel A. Jost, pose at the 2nd Annual Laughs On The Links Celebrity Golf, Tennis & Bocce Outing at Richmond Country Club on October 2, 2017, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Dr. Kelly’s sons, Colin and Casey, are both married. Her eldest, Colin, wed the “Black Widow” star, Scarlett Johansson – mom to Rose Dorothy Dauriac – in 2020. Dr. Kelly and Daniel looked forward to a planned interruption where Michael Che would have “ruined” the ceremony by causing a “huge mess.”

However, much to their disappointment, Michael never went through with his sketch. He explained that the normalcy and sweetness of the proceedings would’ve caused some unwanted guilt. He recalled Daniel and Dr. Kelly’s reactions as he humorously narrated:

“And then after the wedding, I saw Colin’s parents, and they said, ‘Hey, why didn’t you ruin the wedding? I thought you were gonna ruin the wedding, you said you were going to ruin the wedding.’ Like, you wanted me to? They were like, ‘Yeah, we were looking forward to it!'”

Colin Jost’s Father Is Always There for Him

Daniel ensured his son made decisions that would best serve him in the future when Colin sought to purchase the Staten Island Ferry. The SNL cast member rode the Ferry every school morning when he attended Regis High School.

Daniel encouraged Colin to “do his homework” before making the investment. In April this year, the pair proudly rode the ferry for the first time with Colin as its owner. Daniel, a big fan of the New York Giants, also enjoys football games with his sons.

At one particular match with the New York Giants playing against the Chicago Bears, Daniel, Colin, and his younger brother Casey sat in front of a few Bears fans who happened to be doing cocaine right then and there. Colin first noticed the faint white mist that hovered above his head, but Daniel remained oblivious.

(L-R) Daniel A. Jost, Colin Jost and Kerry Kelly pose at the 4th annual New York Police and Fire Widows & Children’s Benefit Kick off to Summer Benefit Fund at The Bowery Hotel on May 24, 2016, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

The three have attended many other events together, including the 2nd Annual Laughs On The Links Celebrity Golf, Tennis & Bocce Outing in 2017. Daniel and his wife had accompanied Colin to Answer the Call’s 5th Annual Red & Blue Soiree in May of that year.

The couple was also present at the 4th annual New York Police and Fire Widows & Children’s Benefit Kick-off to Summer Benefit Fund in May 2016 alongside Colin. The event took place at the Bowery Hotel on May 24.

Daniel A. Jost Is a Father of Men with a Good Sense of Humor

His youngest, Casey Jost, is a proud New York native born on June 17, 1985. Casey is the writer and producer of the famous comedy show “Impractical Jokers,” and the host of its spin-off series “Inside Jokes.” He is also a trained actor and musician and has been married to Lisa Kleinman for the last eight years.