Shelley Kelly is a local cheesemonger from Ireland and Charlie Kelly's biological father.
Physical appearance[]
Shelley is a large man, with grey, curly hair. He isn't known to wear any specific outfit. He is visibly somewhere around his 60's, and before being revealed was believed to be Charlie's long-lost brother.
Character History[]
Early life[]
Shelley lives in the Irish countryside near Dublin and owns a well-known cheese/jellies store. Around 1975, he, like every other man in town, banged Charlie's mom while she was in the country, leading to her pregnancy with Charlie. He kept correspondence with his son through a penpalship, although exclusively in Irish Gaelic, which was a main factor in Charlie's illiteracy. Despite signing off every letter with his full name, Charlie never made a familial connection and believed Shelley to be a boy of his age contacted by his mother who just happened to share the same last name.
Season Fifteen[]
Shelley is first brought up while Charlie and Mac argue about their Irish heritage, when, to Mac's surprise, Charlie is able to read the family records at the library written in Gaelic, which Charlie refers to as the "magic gibberish language" his childhood pen pal taught him. Mac first thinks that he was talking about an imaginary friend, but when Charlie states that he is real, and that his full name is Shelley Kelly, Mac concludes that Shelley is likely a long lost brother of his, seeing as how Charlie's mom had a habit of sleeping with basically every man she meets.[15x5]
Eventually, they track him down to his store, "Shelley Kelly's Cheese & Jellies" and not recognizing the older man at the counter as Shelley, asks him if he knows a young man by the same name, mentioning that he was looking for his pen pal brother. Shelley realizes who he is talking to and explains to Charlie, in Gaelic, that his pen pal is actually his father. At a pub, Shelley apologizes for being absent during Charlie's childhood, but readily accepts him as his son and, much to Frank's chagrin, Charlie accepts Shelley as his father. The trio spent the night at Shelley's house, where Frank realizes that he is upset with Shelley proving to be more of a father to Charlie than he ever has. [15x6] Shelley takes Charlie on a tour around his ancestral home and tells him of the family history, traditions ,and superstitions, most prominently the Kelly burial ritual of being thrown off a cliff into the sea. He also notes that all Kelly women were subject to this while alive, as they are presumed witches and warns Charlie that if a Kelly man ever encounters a banshee, it means he is close to death. Upon their return, Frank attempts to sabotage their relationship by feeding Shelley "meatballs" made from feces, but Charlie exposes Frank by asking him to eat one, vomiting as he chews it. Disgusted by Frank, Charlie voices his intent to stay in Ireland and work at his father's shop as a cheesemonger before the pair storms off. Shelley and Charlie then hear Dee, screaming for help after escaping the bog, which terrifies Shelley as he mistakes it for banshee wailing. [15x7]
It is revealed in "The Gang Carries a Corpse up a Mountain" that Shelley died shortly after leaving Frank's place and asks the Gang to help him bring his body to the next cliffside. After many mishaps, Charlie blows up at Dee, as he thinks that her banshee screams caused Shelley's death, but it is revealed that he had died of fluid buildup in his lungs after being infected with COVID-19, which he likely caught at the castle through the unvaccinated Dennis. One by one, the Gang abandons Charlie as the terrain becomes more difficult and more arguments ensue. Charlie is left in the rain, crying over his father having once again left him, when the Gang returns in a giant American truck, having seen the errors of their ways. They then toss Shelley's corpse off the cliff, but as it wasn't high tide, the already battered body hits the steep rocks and when Dennis spots several kids near the seaside, the Gang sneaks off before they see a "Stand By Me" situation unfold.
Personality[]
Although Shelley seems happy to see Charlie, he isn't very outwardly affectionate towards him. He admits that he feels ashamed for not being there for Charlie when he was young and tries to make up by spending time with him and bringing Charlie closer to his recent Irish roots. He is well known in his area and seems close with the other locals (at least close enough to sing a whole improv song in a bar). He appears to share many of Charlie's quirks, such as a carefree demeanor, love for cheese, belief in mythical creatures (ghouls, banshees, and witches), and even performs "Charlie Work" at his shop, as seen when he bashes several rats behind the counter. It's implied that this is true for most men of the Kelly lineage. Shelley does seem to have a tighter grip on reality, appearing somewhat more mature and socially adjusted in comparison, in similar vein as Bruce Mathis to Dennis and Dee.