Charlie Kirk’s Parents: What to Know About the Late Conservative Activist’s Mom and Dad

Charlie Kirk’s parents stayed out of the public eye before their son’s death.

Kirk, a conservative political activist, became widely known after founding Turning Point USA. The group’s mission is “to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government,” according to its website. In recent years, Kirk traveled to colleges across the country on the American Comeback Tour.

On Sept. 10, while answering a question about gun violence at Utah Valley University, Kirk was fatally shot during one of his campus events. President Donald Trump confirmed his death on Truth Social shortly after.

That same day, a Turning Point USA spokesperson released a statement through PEOPLE, asking supporters to “keep his family and loved ones in your prayers.”

The suspect, Tyler Robinson, was later arrested after a manhunt.

Eleven days later, on Sept. 21, Kirk’s funeral was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Friends, family, and supporters gathered to honor his life.

They raised him in Illinois

Kirk was born on Oct. 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, a suburb of Chicago, according to NBC News. He grew up mainly in Prospect Heights.

He attended Wheeling High School, where he joined activities like the Eagle Scout Association, the marching band, and several sports, including football and basketball, per his LinkedIn.

After his death, Arlington Heights mayor Jim Tinaglia released a statement noting that Kirk had “deep ties to our community.”

His mother was a counselor and his father an architect

According to NBC News, Kirk’s mother worked as a mental health counselor. His father was an architect, and his firm designed Trump Tower in New York City.

While Kirk’s career brought him into politics and the public spotlight, his parents chose to live more privately.

They raised him in a moderate household

Though Kirk became a well-known conservative figure, he was raised in a politically moderate home, according to The Guardian.

As a teenager, Kirk listened to conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, per NBC News. He soon became active in politics, even organizing a protest at school over rising cafeteria food prices.

According to CNN, Kirk dropped out of Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, to pursue activism full-time. He went on to start The Charlie Kirk Show podcast, write several books, and expand Turning Point USA. He also became a close ally of Trump, delivering a speech at the January 2025 inauguration.

They are grandparents

Kirk and his wife, Erika, welcomed their first child on Aug. 23, 2022. Their second child, a son, was born in May 2024.

Kirk’s parents, now grandparents, have not spoken publicly about this part of their lives, continuing to keep their privacy.