Jay Leno Biography (1950-)

Full name, James Douglas Muir Leno; born April 28, 1950, in New Rochelle, NY(some sources cite Short Hills, NJ); son of Angelo (in insurance business) and Cathryn (a homemaker) Leno; married Mavis Nicholson (a writer), 1980. Addresses: Office: c/o NBC Enterprises, 3500 Olive Dr., 15th Floor, Burbank, CA 91510-7885.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Comedian, television host, actor
Birth Details
April 28, 1950
New Rochelle, New York, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. Show, CBS, 1977
  • "Permanent" guest host, The Tonight Show (also known as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson), NBC, 1987-92
  • Host, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 1992-, broadcast monthly on the Internet as Virtual Jay, 1999-
  • Pilots
  • JAG, CBS, 1995
  • Veronica's Closet, NBC, 1997
  • Miniseries
  • The Talk Show Story, 2000
  • Episodic
  • Joey Mitchell, "Feminine Mistake," Laverne and Shirley, ABC, 1979
  • Patient, "J. J. in Trouble," Good Times, CBS, 1981
  • Bones, "The Wild One," Alice, CBS, 1981
  • Bobby Bitts, "Do the Carmine," Laverne and Shirley, ABC, 1983
  • Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1986
  • Himself, "Performance Artist," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1993
  • The Sinbad Show, Fox, 1993
  • Voice of Don, "Oops," Frasier, NBC, 1993
  • Himself, "Will's up a Dirt Road," The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,NBC, 1994
  • Dennis Miller Live, 1994
  • Himself, "The One with Mrs. Bing," Friends, NBC, 1995
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NBC, 1995
  • Voice, "The Frog Prince," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, HBO, 1995
  • Jay, "Brother, Can You Spare a Hot Rod?," Home Improvement,ABC, 1995
  • Himself, "Just My Dog," Mad about You, NBC, 1995
  • Himself, "Sniper: Part 1," Homicide: Life on the Street, NBC, 1996
  • The Rodman World Tour, MTV, 1996
  • Himself, "The Team Player," Wings, NBC, 1996
  • Himself, "The Shower Head," Seinfeld, NBC, 1996
  • Himself, "Go Girlz," Ellen, ABC, 1996
  • Himself, "The Taxman Cometh," The Nanny, CBS, 1996
  • Himself, "Dick Jokes," 3rd Rock from the Sun, 1996
  • Himself, "Talk Show," Baywatch, syndicated, 1997
  • Himself, "Secretary's Day," Just Shoot Me, NBC, 1997
  • Himself, "Caroline and the Bad Trip," Caroline in the City, NBC, 1997
  • Himself, "The Cameo Show," Muppets Tonight!, 1997
  • Himself, "The Best of Muppets Tonight!," Muppets Tonight!, 1997
  • Home Improvement, ABC, 1998
  • The Entertainment Business, Bravo, 1998
  • Voice, "The Last Temptation of Krusty," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1998
  • Voice of Kitty, "Cliffhanger," South Park (animated), Comedy Central, 1998
  • Voice, "City on the Edge of Forever," South Park (animated), Comedy Central, 1998
  • "Diamonds Are a Val's Best Friend," V.I.P., syndicated, 1998
  • Voice of Lucky, "Blind Faith," Providence, NBC, 1999
  • "Valma and Louise," V.I.P., syndicated, 1999
  • Himself, "20 Hours in L.A.," The West Wing, NBC, 2000
  • "Ep. 332," Passions, ABC, 2000
  • "Drew Live II," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 2000
  • Appeared in "1998," an episode of WCW Monday Nitro; also appearedin episodes of Friday Night Videos, NBC; Late Night with David Letterman, NBC; The Merv Griffin Show, syndicated; The Mike DouglasShow, syndicated; Television Parts, NBC; and TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes, NBC.
  • Specials
  • Private Braverman, Snafu, 1976
  • Playboy's Playmate Party, 1977
  • Danny, Almost Heaven, 1978
  • The Real Trivial Pursuit, 1985
  • Disneyland's Summer Vacation Party, 1986
  • Jay Leno and the American Dream, Showtime, 1986
  • The Jay Leno Show, NBC, 1986
  • Our Planet Tonight, NBC, 1987
  • Host, Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour, NBC, 1987
  • The Television Academy Hall of Fame, 1987
  • Late Night with David Letterman Fifth Anniversary Show, NBC, 1987
  • Happy Birthday Bob--50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC, NBC, 1988
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 26th Anniversary Special,NBC, 1988
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 27th Anniversary Special,NBC, 1989
  • The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1989
  • Comic Relief V, HBO, 1992
  • Donahue: The 25th Anniversary, NBC, 1992
  • Hats Off to Minnie Pearl: America Honors Minnie Pearl, The Nashville Network, 1992
  • Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993
  • Count on Me, PBS, 1993
  • A Gala for the President at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 1993
  • Harley-Davidson's 90th Birthday Blast, Showtime, 1993
  • What Is This Thing Called Love?, ABC, 1993
  • It's Just a Ride, Comedy Central, 1994
  • A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman, NBC, 1995
  • Kelsey Grammer Salutes Jack Benny, NBC, 1995
  • NBC's New Year's Eve with "Friday Night," NBC, 1995
  • The Show Formerly Known as The Martin Short Show, NBC, 1995
  • Very Personal with Naomi Judd, The Family Channel, 1996
  • Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast, HBO, 1997
  • Steve Allen's 75th Birthday Celebration, PBS, 1997
  • Who Makes You Laugh? 2, ABC, 1997
  • Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?, Comedy Central, 1998
  • Harley Mania, E! Entertainment Television, 1998
  • Tony Bennett: An All-Star Tribute--Live by Request, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
  • Ed McMahon: America's Sidekick, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
  • 25 Years of No. 1 Hits: Arista Records' Anniversary Celebration, 2000
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 38th Annual Emmy Awards, 1986
  • The 39th Annual Emmy Awards, 1987
  • The Television Academy Hall of Fame, 1987
  • Host, The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, 1990
  • The 11th Annual ACE Awards, 1990
  • The Television Academy Hall of Fame, 1990
  • Presenter, The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards, 1992
  • Presenter, The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1993
  • Presenter, The 20th Annual People's Choice Awards, 1994
  • The 29th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1994
  • Presenter, The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1994
  • Presenter, The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1995
  • Presenter, The 30th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1995
  • The 22nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, 1995
  • Presenter, The 1996 Emmy Awards, 1996
  • Presenter, The 31st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1996
  • The 1996 NCLR Bravo Awards, 1996
  • Presenter, The 28th NAACP Image Awards, 1997
  • Presenter, The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1997
  • Presenter, The 32nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1997
  • Presenter, The 29th NAACP Image Awards, 1998
  • Presenter, The 50th Emmy Awards, 1998
  • The 25th Daytime Emmy Awards, 1998
  • Presenter, The 30th NAACP Image Awards, 1999
  • Presenter, The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1999
  • The 5th Annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, 1999
  • Presenter, The 31st NAACP Image Awards, 2000
  • 2000 MTV Movie Awards, MTV, 2000
  • Presenter, The 2nd Annual TV Guide Awards, 2000
  • The Stars Come Out: The GLAAD Awards, 2000
  • Television Producer
  • Specials
  • Jay Leno and the American Dream, Showtime, 1986
  • Film Appearances
  • Narrator, The Hideous Sun Demon (also known as Blood on His Lips and The Sun Demon), 1959, released, 1983
  • Fun with Dick and Jane, Columbia, 1977
  • Albert Fiore, Silver Bears, Columbia, 1977
  • Michael ("Mookie"), American Hot Wax, Paramount, 1978
  • Larry Miller, Americathon, United Artists, 1979
  • Narrator, What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon, 1983
  • Doctor Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce, 1985
  • Detective Tony Costas, Collision Course, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group/Interscope Communications, 1988
  • Himself, Dave, Warner Bros., 1993
  • Himself, Wayne's World 2, Paramount, 1993
  • Voice of Vorb, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story, Amblin Entertainment, 1993
  • Himself, Major League II, Warner Bros., 1994
  • Bedrock's most wanted host, The Flintstones, Universal, 1994
  • Himself, The Birdcage (also known as Birds of a Feather), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1996
  • Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's, 1996
  • Himself, Meet Wally Sparks, Trimark, 1997
  • Himself, Contact, Warner Bros., 1997
  • Himself, In and Out, Paramount, 1997
  • Himself, Mad City, Warner Bros., 1997
  • Himself, Wag the Dog, New Line Cinema, 1997
  • Himself, Edtv (also known as Ed TV), Universal, 1999
  • Himself, The House of COC, 1999
  • Himself, Space Cowboys, Warner Bros., 2000
  • RECORDINGS
  • Videos
  • South Park Gift Pack 4 (Volumes 10-12), 1998
  • (In archival footage) Christina Aguilera: Genie Gets Her Wish, 2000
  • WRITINGS
  • Television Series
  • Head writer, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 1992-, broadcastmonthly on the Internet as Virtual Jay, 1999-
  • Television Specials
  • (With Kevin Rooney) Jay Leno and the American Dream, Showtime, 1986
  • The Jay Leno Show, NBC, 1986
  • Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour, NBC, 1987
  • Television Episodes
  • "J. J. in Trouble," Good Times, CBS, 1974
  • The Tonight Show (also known as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson), NBC, between 1987-1992
  • Other Writings
  • (Editor) Headlines: Real but Ridiculous Samplings from America's Newspapers, Warner Books (New York City), 1989
  • (Editor) More Headlines: Real but Ridiculous Samplings from America's Newspapers, Warner Books, 1991
  • (Editor) Headlines III: Not the Movie, Still the Book; Real but Ridiculous Samplings from America's Newspapers, Warner Books, 1991
  • (Editor) Headlines IV: The Next Generation; More Out-of-This World Headlines from the Bestselling Series, Warner Books, 1992
  • (Editor) Jay Leno's Headlines: Books I, II, III, Wings (New York City), 1992
  • (Editor) Jay Leno's Police Blotter: Real-Life Crime Headlines from"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Andrews & McMeel (Kansas City, MO), 1994
  • (With Bill Zehme) Leading with My Chin (autobiography), HarperCollins (New York City), 1996
  • Author of "Jay Leno's Garage," a column in Popular Mechanics,1999.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books:
    • Contemporary Newsmakers 1987, December 20, 1999, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1988.
    Periodicals:
    • Electronic Media, p. 12.
    • Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2000, p. F1.
    • Parade, July 12, 1998, p. 18.
    Other:
    • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, http://nbctv.nbci.com/tonightshow.
    • Virtual Jay, http://nbctv.nbci.com/tonightshow/virtualjay/special.html.

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