Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir Leno (/ˈlɛnoʊ/; born April 28, 1950)[1] is an American television host, writer and comedian. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's The Tonight Show from 1992 until 2009 when Conan O'Brien took over as host. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ET, also on NBC. When O'Brien turned down NBC's offer to have Leno host a half hour monologue show before The Tonight Show to boost ratings amid reported viewership diminishing, it led to the 2010 Tonight Show conflict which resulted in Leno returning to hosting the show on March 1, 2010.[2] He hosted his last episode of his second tenure on February 6, 2014. That year, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.[3] From 2014 to 2022, he hosted Jay Leno's Garage, and from 2021 to 2023, hosted the revival of You Bet Your Life.
"Leno" redirects here. For other uses, see Leno (disambiguation).Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir Leno
April 28, 1950
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Stand-up, television, film
1976–present
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- (host, 1992–2009, 2010–2014)
- The Jay Leno Show
- (host, 2009–2010)
- Jay Leno's Garage (host, 2014–2022)
- You Bet Your Life
- (host, 2021–2023)
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Leno writes a regular column in Popular Mechanics showcasing his car collection and giving automotive advice. He also writes occasional "Motormouth" articles for The Sunday Times.
Early life
Leno was born April 28, 1950, in New Rochelle, New York. His homemaker mother, Catherine (née Muir; 1911–1993), was born in Greenock, Scotland, and came to the United States at age 11. His father, Angelo (1910–1994), was an insurance salesman born in New York to immigrants from Flumeri, Campania, Italy. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and graduated from Andover High School.[4] He obtained a bachelor's degree in speech therapy from Emerson College in Boston, where he started a comedy club in 1973.[5] His older brother, Patrick (May 12, 1940 – October 6, 2002),[6] was a Vietnam War veteran who became an attorney.
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Career
Early career
Leno made his first appearance on The Tonight Show on March 2, 1977, performing a comedy routine.[7][8] During the 1970s, he had minor roles in several television series and films, first in the 1976 episode "J.J. in Trouble" of Good Times, and the same year in the pilot of Holmes & Yo-Yo. After an uncredited appearance in the 1977 film Fun with Dick and Jane, he played more prominent roles in 1978 in American Hot Wax and Silver Bears. His other film and television appearances from that period include Almost Heaven (1978), "Going Nowhere" (1979) on One Day at a Time, Americathon (1979), Polyester (1981), "The Wild One" (1981) on Alice, and both "Feminine Mistake" (1979) and "Do the Carmine" (1983) on Laverne & Shirley. His only starring film role was the 1989 direct-to-video Collision Course, with Pat Morita. He also appeared numerous times on Late Night with David Letterman.
He also appeared on three weeks of the short-lived NBC game show Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 1983 and 1984.
Influences
Leno's comedic influences include Johnny Carson, Robert Klein, Alan King, David Brenner, Mort Sahl, George Carlin,[84] Don Rickles,[85] Bob Newhart,[86] and Rodney Dangerfield.[87]
Dennis Miller and Jerry Seinfeld have credited Leno as their inspiration.[88]
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