Kelly was born in Dover, New Jersey.[1] After attending New York City art schools, Kelly commenced his career as an art director in the cosmetics field before becoming a makeup artist and hair stylist in Manhattan's fashion/advertising industry, working behind the camera for fashion magazines, catalogs, television commercials and infomercials.[2]
In 1999 Kelly began directing, producing and writing screenplays for horror movies, entering the independent horror scene with his award-winning debut film I'll Bury You Tomorrow (2002).[2] In 2006, Kelly founded SouthPaw Pictures, a film production company based in Paterson, New Jersey. His other directing credits include Gallery of Fear (2013), The Blood Shed (2007) and Tales of Poe (2013).[1] He performed in drag in these and other films, such as Vindication (2006), Satan Hates You (2010) and Razor Days (2012).[3]
