Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Pardue attended Dunwoody High School, where he played defensive back for the football team. Pardue was co-captain of Dunwoody's 1993 Georgia Class AAAA state football championship team.[2] He also played center field for Dunwoody's baseball team.[3] The name "Kip" comes from the initials of his full name. Pardue earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Yale University, where he played football.[4]
On October 31, 2018, the Hermosa Beach Police Department announced it was investigating a report of sexual misconduct filed by actress and intimacy coordinator Sarah Scott, who alleged she was "sexually violated while at work" in May by Pardue, her former costar.[7] On July 7, 2019, SAG-AFTRA, a labor union, fined him $6,000 for sexually harassing Scott.[8]