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Jay Leno
Comedian

Jay Leno

Famoose for

Hosting NBC’s The Tonight Show for two extended runs.

The Tonight Show · Jay Leno’s Garage

Born
28 April 1950
Birthplace
New Rochelle

More people

Joseph PulitzerBuilding influential newspapers and endowing the Pulitzer Prizes.Conan O’BrienHosting late-night television with absurd sketches and self-deprecating humour.Fred AstaireMaking dance central to Hollywood musicals, especially with Ginger Rogers.

Jay Leno

Jay Leno is an American comedian and television host. His stand-up career led to late-night television and later programmes about cars.

Early life

Education

Grew up in Massachusetts and studied speech therapy at Emerson College, where he started a comedy club.

Career

  1. 1977

    Tonight Show debut

    Performed stand-up on Johnny Carson’s programme.

  2. 1992

    Host

    Succeeded Carson.

  3. 2010–2014

    Second tenure

    Returned after the short-lived prime-time Jay Leno Show.

Selected work

The Tonight Show

His first run as host.

Jay Leno’s Garage

Presented an automotive series.

You Bet Your Life

Hosted the game-show revival.

Beyond work

Cars

Collects vehicles and writes about motoring for magazines.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: US mission to the European Union. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.