Kerry King
Biography
Kerry King is an American musician who took up the guitar at thirteen and went on to co-found Slayer with Jeff Hanneman in 1981, serving as the band's co-lead guitarist and a principal songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he and Tom Araya were the two members who stayed with Slayer across its career, from 1981 to 2019 and again from 2024. His guest work as a player included guitar solos on the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill, and with Slayer he won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance, in 2007 and 2008. When the band broke up he started a solo career, releasing the album From Hell I Rise in May 2024. On screen he appeared in Brooklyn's Finest (2009) and in Studio 666 (2022) as Krug.
62years old
Turns 63 on June 3in 205 days
- Born Los Angeles
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Kerry Ray King (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 13 years2009 to 2022
Every film, newest first
- 2022Studio 666IMDb rating 5.6
- 2018Bloodlines: The Art and Life of Vincent CastigliaIMDb rating 8.0
- 2010The Big Four: Live in SofiaIMDb rating 8.6
- 2009Iron Maiden: Flight 666IMDb rating 8.3
Genres
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A role that slipped away
King was invited by Dave Mustaine to join Megadeth in 1984 and played several shows with the band, but he did not join full-time because of his commitment to Slayer.
Getting ready for a role
King played the guitar solo on the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep till Brooklyn" after producer Rick Rubin called him in while working on Slayer's Reign in Blood.
Own stunts
King refused to be knocked offstage by a gorilla in the music video for "No Sleep till Brooklyn" and instead knocked the gorilla offstage himself.
Beyond film
King contributed guitar to the entrance theme of professional wrestler Damian Priest in January 2025. That April 20, he played the song live at WrestleMania 41.
Kerry King movies on Netflix
Worked with
Kerry King shares two films with Lars Ulrich, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Lars Ulrich's page
Will Forte's page
Jimmi Simpson's page
Margaret Cho's page
Jeff Garlin's page
John Carpenter's page
All films by BJ McDonnell
All films by Sam Dunn
Scot McFadyenDirector, 1 film, 2009
All films by Scot McFadyen
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.