Jimmy Fallon Biography

Summary

"James Thomas Fallon" (born September 19, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American comedian, actor, musician, and Grammy nominee best known for his work on "Saturday Night Live".

Early life

Fallon was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jim Fallon, a Vietnam veteran and Gloria Fallon, and grew up in Saugerties. As a child, he and his sister Gloria would reenact the 'clean parts' of "Saturday Night Live" that his parents had taped for him. Fallon attended St. Mary of the Snow, a Roman Catholic parochial school, and Saugerties High School. He graduated in 1992 and attended the The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. Fallon majored in Computer Science, dropping out 15 credits shy of a degree. Fallon was such a fan of "Saturday Night Live" that he made a weekly ritual of watching it in his dormitory, even turning down invitations to parties as a result.

Early career

Fallon appeared in the feature film "The Scheme" (originally entitled "The Entrepreneurs"). His one line in "Father's Day" was cut but can still be seen in the background.

By late 1998, Fallon was studying at the Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles, making $7.50 a set at The Improv Theater, when he was summoned to New York to audition for the long-running late night sketch comedy show, "Saturday Night Live". Fallon did his impersonations of Jerry Seinfeld, John Travolta and Adam Sandler, which drew laughter from producer Lorne Michaels.

"Saturday Night Live"

Fallon began on "Saturday Night Live" as a featured player in the 1998-1999 season, and was promoted to full cast member in the summer of 1999. He became co-anchor of "Weekend Update" with Tina Fey. Among his signature bits were his song parodies, which he performed when Colin Quinn was doing "Update" and continued to showcase on special occasions after he had replaced him. Fallon quit "SNL" in 2004 to pursue a film career.

Recurring characters

Dave, a young man in the Will Ferrell/Rachel Dratch recurring sketch, 'The Lovers', often used as a pawn in Roger and Virginia's matchmaking.

Jarret (from Jarret's Room), a stoner who hosts his own Internet webcam show.

Jeffrey's clerk, one of the clerks (the other being a male host for the show) of an upscale department store.

Joey Mack, an obnoxious radio DJ who mocks his celebrity guests.

Kip Bloder, brother to Chris Parnell's Wade Bloder.

The Leather Man, an intense man who owns a shop filled with leather clothes.

Nick Burns, a sarcastic tech support representative who helps office workers with computer problems (and is almost always exposed as not knowing as much as he should by one of the workers). He frequently used the catchphrase 'Moooooove!' when ousting people from their desk so he could fix the problem.

Pat Sullivan, nicknamed 'Sully', one of the Boston Teens, boyfriend of Rachel Dratch's 'Zazu' character.

Patrick Fitzwilliam, a surly Irishman who hosts a show called Top O' The Morning with his friend, William Fitzpatrick (played by Seth Meyers)

Randy Goldman, from 'Wake Up Wakefield', Megan's (Maya Rudolph) crush who doesn't know she exists.

Rodney 'The Zipper' Calzoun, the MC at the Rialto Grande

Señor Guadalupe Ramirez, one of the guitar players on the recurring sketch, 'The 'How Do You Say, Ah, Yes' Show'

Wade, one of the members of the boy band 7 Degrees Celsius

Barry Gibb, in the skit called 'The Barry Gibb Talk Show', he hosts along with his brother Robin Gibb (played by Justin Timberlake).

Carson Daly, whom he impersonated with a monotone delivery and the catch phrase 'I am a massive tool.'

After "SNL"

Fallon has appeared in roles in "Taxi", "Anything Else", "Almost Famous", "Fever Pitch", "Band of Brothers" and "Doogal". His latest project from December 2006 is "Factory Girl". He occasionally does stand up comedy at the Comedy Centre in New York City.

Fallon is said to be in the running as the replacement for Conan O'Brien on "Late Night" when O'Brien takes over "The Tonight Show" from Jay Leno in 2009.

In 2002, Fallon released the comedy album "The Bathroom Wall" which was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 for Best Spoken Comedy Album.

Fallon co-hosted the 2001 MTV Movie Awards with Kirsten Dunst and has played Neo in "Sex and the Matrix", a comedic two-in-one parody of "Sex and the City" and "The Matrix'. He hosted the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards alone that year. His opening number included parodies of videos by Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, The White Stripes and Dave Matthews. It was named the best most memorable MTV moment of that year. This show climaxed with a performance by Guns N' Roses. Fallon had to be censored when he excitedly referred to them as 'Guns N' Fucking Roses.' This show led to persistent rumors that he was the mysterious masked guitarist Buckethead, who was a member of Guns N' Roses at the time.

Fallon also hosted the 2005 MTV Movie Awards and played Anakin Skywalker in comedic parody of "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith"s Mustafar scene, in which Anakin and Padme have their last conversation.

Following the Boston Red Sox's World Series clinching game over the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, Fallon ran onto the field at Busch Stadium with Drew Barrymore to film a scene for their movie "Fever Pitch". The move angered numerous Red Sox fans, who felt their 86-year moment-in-waiting had been cheapened by Fallon and Barrymore.

In 2006, Fallon starred in a Pepsi television commercial with actress Parker Posey. In the ad, the two can be seen dancing and jumping around to the song "Streamline" by Newton. In October of that year, he appeared on stage in The Secret Policeman's Ball, a charity gig filmed to raise awareness of Amnesty International at the Royal Albert Hall. Fallon made three appearances during the show, the first in a sketch in which he performed impressions of people such as David Bowie, Jerry Seinfeld and David Blaine in order to get past a doorman (Shaun Williamson) who claims Fallon isn't on the list. The doorman finally recognizes him for his role in "Taxi", but still won't let him in. He later masqueraded as Russell Brand before being lead off by Williamson, and made one final appearance in a cameo role as the front of a pantomime horse in the Al Murray 'pub landlord' routine.

In 2007, Fallon wrote the song 'Car Wash for Peace' with all the proceeds donated to charity. He performed the song on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "The View" and dedicated a MySpace page to the cause. Around the same time, a video circulated on various Internet sites called LonelyFallon32, in which Fallon parodied YouTube celebrity Jessica Rose (a.k.a. lonelygirl15) and later performed the song.