Jay Leno
Biography
Jay Leno is an American comedian, television host, writer and actor. Born in New Rochelle, New York, and raised in Andover, Massachusetts, he began as a stand-up comedian before making his first Tonight Show appearance in 1977. During the 1970s he took minor television and film roles, including a prominent part in Silver Bears (1977) and a minor role in Americathon (1979); his only starring film role came in the direct-to-video Collision Course (1989). He began filling in regularly for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show in 1986 and replaced Carson as host in 1992, staying until 2009 and then returning from 2010 until his final show in 2014. That year he entered the Television Hall of Fame. Later he hosted Jay Leno's Garage from 2014 to 2022 and You Bet Your Life from 2021 to 2023, and did voice work as The Crimson Chin on The Fairly OddParents.
76years old
Turns 77 on April 28in 198 days
- Born New Rochelle
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- James Douglas Muir Leno (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 28
- Career span
- 47 years1977 to 2024
Genres
- Comedy39%, 11 films
- Documentary36%, 10 films
- Adventure21%, 6 films
- Animation21%, 6 films
- Biography18%, 5 films
First and latest
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First role
In the 1970s Leno took minor parts in television series and films. His first was the 1976 Good Times episode "J.J. in Trouble," and that year he also appeared in the pilot of Holmes & Yo-Yo.
A first
Leno's only starring film role came in the 1989 direct-to-video movie Collision Course, in which he appeared opposite Pat Morita.
Big break
Leno began filling in for Johnny Carson as a regular substitute host on The Tonight Show in 1986. He took over as host in 1992, succeeding Carson.
A role that slipped away
Leno turned down an invitation to be on Late Show with David Letterman, even though people thought he might turn up on the show's 2015 finale.
A change of course
Leno was the host of You Bet Your Life's third revival, which ran for two seasons between 2021 and 2023. It was canceled in August 2023 after he would not cross the picket line during the Writers Guild of America strike.
Jay Leno movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Larry King appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Larry King's page
Edward Asner's page
Tommy Lee Jones's page
Ted Levine's page
George Carlin's page
Also two films together4 more actors
- Jerry SeinfeldJerry Before Seinfeld (2017) and Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time (1998)
- David LynchLynch/Oz (2022) and Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch (1997)
- Charlie RoseLynch/Oz (2022) and Jimmy Carter Man from Plains (2007)
- Kelly ClarksonKelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around (2021) and Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas (2012)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Jay Leno's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$1.1 billion
9 of the 28 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 28 films: 9 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 9 never in cinemas; 1 streaming, short cinema run; 7 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 9Never in cinemas
- 1Streaming, short cinema run
- 7Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$661M62.2% of the total
- 2$216M20.3% of the total
- 3$129M12.1% of the total
- 4$31M2.9% of the total
- 5$11M1.0% of the total
- 6$9.3M0.9% of the total
- 7$6.2M0.6% of the total
- 8$108K0.0% of the total
$68,987from the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 0% of the total
Awards
Four awards and honors from 2011 to 2014, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 2011 | Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series | Won | |
| Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| 2014 | Mark Twain Prize for American Humor | Won | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.