Jay Leno Biography

Summary

"James Douglas Muir 'Jay' Leno" (April 28 1950) is an Emmy Award-winning American comedian and television host, who succeeded Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" in 1992.

Biography

Leno was born in New Rochelle, New York. His mother, Catherine (Muir), a homemaker, was born in Greenock, Scotland and came to the United States as an eleven year-old. His father, Angelo Leno, who worked in the insurance business, was born in New York to immigrants from Flumeri, Italy. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, and received his Bachelor's degree in Speech therapy from Emerson College in 1973. Leno has siblings including a brother who is a veteran.

In the late 1970s, he was the warm-up act for Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones and John Denver. He replaced Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" in 1992. He has planned to retire from the show in 2009, to be replaced by Conan O'Brien. During an August 1, 2007 interview with CNN journalist Anderson Cooper on "The Tonight Show", Jay Leno confirmed that he is dyslexic.

Acting, cameos and voice overs

Leno is not widely known as an actor (legendarily, in auditioning for a role on "Mork & Mindy" which would go to Jay Thomas, he was told that he had a face that would scare children), but he had a number of small roles early in his career in mostly unsuccessful movies; an exception was a bit part in the more popular film "American Hot Wax".

His most prominent role was in the 1989 film "Collision Course", a comedy about a mismatched crime fighting pair, in which he played a detective opposite Pat Morita. When Steve Martin appeared on Leno's "The Tonight Show" in December 2005, a clip from the movie appeared during Martin's game of 'Name That Clip'. Leno was to differentiate clips from Martin's two new movies "Shopgirl" and "Cheaper by the Dozen 2", or give Martin $20 if he got one wrong. The last clip played was from "Collision Course", which Leno immediately said was 'a horrible movie.' Martin said Leno was right, but he would still lose $20 for making it.

Leno also appeared in an episode of the television series "Good Times", in which his character promotes getting tested for venereal diseases. He also appeared as one of the 'pool guys' in the original 1977 version of "Fun with Dick and Jane". He also appeared on other TV shows such as "Laverne and Shirley" and "Alice".

Since becoming the host of the "Tonight Show", Leno made a number of cameo appearances, usually appearing as a talk show host or making fun of his famous chin. In 1993, Leno played the voice of the alien Vorb in the animated film "We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story". In 1994, he played 'Bedrock's Most Wanted Host,' along with Cynthia Clemons, in the live-action comedy film "The Flintstones". Also in 1994, he played himself in "Major League II" which starred Charlie Sheen. He also appeared as himself in an episode of Baywatch, in which Mitch (David Hasselhoff's character) saves him from choking to death. In 1996 Leno appeared on NBC's Homicide: Life on the Streets as himself trying to get a drink in a Baltimore bar.

In 1998, Leno made a series of appearances in conjunction with World Championship Wrestling as part of the nWo storyline. WCW executive (and nWo-executive in storylines) Eric Bischoff began a version of "The Tonight Show" on WCW Monday Nitro that he called 'Nightcap', which featured much-maligned segments often including jokes at Leno's expense. Leno would respond with segments at the end of his monologue involving a short, old midget version of Hogan, whom he would make fun of. The storyline came to a head on "The Tonight Show," where Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Bischoff appeared and attempted to 'take over' the show after the last of the 'old midget Hogan' segments, kicking Leno and Eubanks offstage prior to a commercial break. Diamond Dallas Page came to Leno's aid following the commercial break, and recruited Leno for a tag team match. The stipulations of the match were that if Leno wins, Bischoff ends Nightcap, but if Leno loses, he hands over "The Tonight Show" to Bischoff. At WCW Road Wild 1998, Leno and Page defeated Hogan and Bischoff with the help of Kevin Eubanks.

Also in 1998, he made a voice cameo as himself on an episode of "The Simpsons" entitled "The Last Temptation of Krust". On The Simpsons Season 9 Boxset, he also is on the commentary for that episode. Leno also had a cameo in "Family Guy" in the episode Patriot Games, trying to kill Tom Brady of the New England Patriots for some unknown reason. Leno has made several cameos in the animated series "South Park", once as a cat and twice as himself, the last two making fun of his chin. He also made appearances on the sitcoms "The Drew Carey Show", "Friends", "The Nanny", "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", "Titus" and "Joey". Making fun of his own facial features, he plays the 'Crimson Chin' on "The Fairly OddParents". In 2005, he lent his voice to a talking fire hydrant in the computer animated movie, "Robots".

He also made a cameo appearance for "FOX NFL Sunday" in a fictitious interview with prognosticator Frank Caliendo's impression of Terry Bradshaw. Coincidentally, Caliendo parodied Leno on MadTV. In 2006, he provided the voice of an armadillo named 'Fast Tony' in "Ice Age 2: The Meltdown", and in the Pixar/Disney film "Cars" he voiced 'Jay Limo'. He made a cameo appearance in an episode of TV sitcom "Just Shoot Me!", in a fictitious interview with David Spade's character, Dennis Finch. He made at least one appearance on NBC's "The West Wing" playing himself at a California fundraiser for the president, Jed Bartlet. He has also appeared on "Home Improvement" as a mechanic in a wealthy car collector's garage (in reality his own collection).

He has also appeared as himself doing "Tonight Show" monologues regarding the main characters in the films "Mr. 3000", "Ed TV", "Contact", "Juwanna Mann", "First Daughter", "Dave", "John Q", "In & Out", "Mad City", "The Birdcage" and "The Astronaut Farmer". In the movie "Space Cowboys", he hosted a fictional "Tonight Show" segment featuring the four astronaut protagonists (played by Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Tommy Lee Jones, and Donald Sutherland) just before their space mission. Later, in a case of life imitating art, the four actors appeared together on "The Tonight Show" to promote their film. He also appears in "Wayne's World 2" interviewing Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere) after she makes an appearance as a musical guest. He also did several car commercials in the 1980s.

Recently, he has appeared in the hit comedy "Scrubs" as himself in one of main character J.D.'s daydreams. He appears when J.D. imagines his happy place being on the set of "The Tonight Show" replacing regular guitarist Kevin Eubanks.

Michael Jackson trial

In the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson over allegations of child molestation, Leno appeared as a defense witness (many celebrity defense witnesses had been expected, but Leno was one of the few who actually testified). Thus Leno was initially not allowed to continue telling jokes about Jackson or the case, which had been a fixture of "The Tonight Show"s opening monologue in particular. But he and his show's writers used a legal loophole by having Leno briefly step aside while stand-in comedians took the stage and told jokes about the trial. Stand-ins included Roseanne Barr, Drew Carey, Brad Garrett, and Dennis Miller, among others.

After NBC challenged the gag order, the judge permitted Leno to make jokes, as long as they were not related to his testimony. After the gag order was lifted, the next show featured a monologue entirely of Michael Jackson jokes.

In his testimony, he was expected to say he called police to say the accuser was coached by his mother to ask for money. Instead, Leno testified he never called the police, no money was asked for, and there was no coaching but that the calls seemed unusual and scripted.

Vehicle collection

In automobile collecting circles, Jay Leno is known as an avid student, collector and restorer of cars and motorcycles. He has a large antique car and motorcycle collection of under 3,000 various international marques. The collection spans from the early 1900s to the late 1960s. He constantly works on his collection in his spare time. The collection includes an original 1912 Stanley Steamer and a very rare 1964 Studebaker Avanti. He is also a promoter of the mechanical crafts through a column in "Popular Mechanics" and his educational activities.

Leno also rides motorcycles in his spare time.

In 2001, he auctioned off a Harley-Davidson motorcycle signed by his celebrity guests in an effort to help victims of the September 11 attacks. The bike sold for about $360,000. In 2005, he repeated the gesture twice: early in the year to aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake — the bike sold for $810,000; and later to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. That bike sold for $1,550,100.

The Blastolene Special is a 21-foot-long aluminum-bodied roadster powered by a V12 engine from an M47 Patton tank Leno bought from Blastolene Brothers. It was featured in the 2005 racing game "Gran Turismo 4", and "Monster Garage".

Leno also owns a 227mph 320bhp gas turbine powered motorcycle called the Y2K from Marine Turbine Tech, a company specialized in turbine applications. Leno made several TV programs showing his $185,000 bike.

Leno's column in the American automotive magazine "Popular Mechanics" showcases his extensive car collection. Additionally, Leno uses his column as a platform to give advice about various automotive topics, including restoration and unique models, such as his jet powered motorcycle and solar powered hybrid.

Leno also writes occasional articles for "The Sunday Times" (... more) (London), reviewing high end sports cars.

Leno's passion for classic cars led him to an affiliation with the Automobile Restoration Department at McPherson College. Today he serves on the National Advisory Board for the college's automotive restoration program and helps fund the Fred Duesenberg Memorial Scholarship.

Leno sometimes takes pieces from his collection on joyrides through parts of the San Fernando Valley surrounding the NBC studios. One stop includes the Burbank Bob's Big Boy restaurant which holds a small gathering of classic/exotic car owners every Friday evening.

Criticism

George Lopez attacked Leno during an interview on radio station WOMX-FM in Orlando on January 24, 2007. 'He's the biggest two-faced dude in TV,' Lopez said of Leno. He also called him a back-stabber and said he cannot interview guests well.

Later comedian Paul Rodriguez claimed Leno approached him at a comedy club mistakenly believing he was fellow Latino comedian George Lopez. According to Rodriguez, Leno said; 'Listen, maybe you and I should sit down and work this out. We shouldn't be airing this stuff in public.' Rodriguez was reportedly hurt by Leno's mistake; 'I've worked with him for going on 30 years. Our families know each other. I thought I was on the inside of Jay's circle. When Letterman was kicking his buns, I told my Latino viewers to support Jay. I don't know what makes people so forgetful. Maybe it's time for Conan O'Brien to come on as Leno's replacement.'

Howard Stern has criticized Leno for stealing material from him, and for being such a 'safe' interviewer. Most notably, Stern says Leno blatantly stole the idea for the 'Jaywalking' segment, where Leno asks people on the street basic intelligence/current event questions, from his show. Stern was also upset with Leno for poaching announcer 'Stuttering' John Melendez from his staff without clearing it with him first.

Talk show host David Letterman has called Leno a 'hump' and a 'pinhead' on the "Late Show".

Late comedian Bill Hicks heavily criticised Jay Leno in his stand up shows, referring to his wealth and safe and boring humour. Hicks often used to impersonate Leno, opening his skit on with the words, 'Hey folks, I'm Jay Leno. Remember when I used to be funny?' Hicks also referred to Jay Leno as 'another whore at the corporate gang-bang' for doing commercials when he was earning over $3 million a year alone. Hicks also stated in one of his shows,'I can't wait for the day Jay Leno finally kills himself...I hope he does it live...I can't wait to see him put an Uzi in his mouth and blow that little potato shaped head off his shoulders...leaving an NBC Peacock symbol on the wall because he's a company man until the bitter fucking end'.