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Jay Leno

Birth Name:
James Douglas Muir Leno
Birth Place:
New Rochelle, New York, United States
Profession
Actor, Producer, Writer, Soundtrack
Jay Leno

Fast Facts

  • Began serving as the grand marshal for the Love Ride charity in 1985 to help raise money for muscular dystrophy research and the Autism Speaks organization
  • Donated $100,000 in 2001 to the Feminist Majority's campaign to help stop gender apartheid in Afghanistan
  • Inducted into the Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame in early 2014
  • Earned a bachelor's degree in speech therapy in 1973 from Emerson College in Boston
  • Testified for the defense in the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson
  • Started a comedy club in 1973 at Emerson College
  • Quote: "I enjoy being a road comic again․ It's really fun to concentrate on a joke․ When I did 'The Tonight Show,' I did different jokes in the same place․ Now I do the same jokes in different places․"
  • Quote: "I like cars and motorcycles․ I love working with my hands ․․․ In the comedy business, some people think you're funny․ Some people don't․ It's personal taste․ When you fix something that's not working, nobody can say it's not running․"
  • Widely recognized for his large chin and for his "Headlines" segment on "The Tonight Show․"
  • Worked 300 nights a year performing stand-up in comedy clubs before hosting his own late-night show
  • Wrote alongside future late-night rival David Letterman on the staff of "Good Times․"

Awards

  • 1990American Comedy Award - Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication:Nominated
  • 1993Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 1994Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 1995Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Winner
  • 1996Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 1998Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
  • 1998Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 1999Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 2002Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Nonfiction Programs:Winner
  • 2012People's Choice Award - Favorite Late Night TV Host:Nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Nonfiction Programs:Nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Nonfiction Programs:Nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program:Nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series:Nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series:Nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series:Nominated
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