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>Tall, imposing American nightclub comedian turned >television comic and talk show host, whose shock of >thick hair, wide eyes, protruding chin and artful >comic style have helped make him one of the busiest >and most recognizable performers in TV entertainment >during the 1980s and 90s. First and foremost, Leno is >a sly but determinedly clean-cut chronicler of >American follies and foibles--on a proposed >Congressional pay raise, for example, he made a >suggestion quoted on the national nightly news: "They >say if we give them a 50 percent pay increase they'll >stop outside speaking engagements. Maybe if we give >them 100 percent, they'll stop talking altogether.” > >Beginning in nightclubs and on tour (for years Leno >was making 300 personal appearances annually), Leno >made a few early stabs at television and acted in >several films ("American Hot Wax" 1978, "Americathlon" >1979). He did not really hit his stride, though, until >the mid-1980s, when numerous appearances on late-night >TV (especially "The David Letterman Show") gained him >a niche as an occasional replacement for Johnny Carson >on "The Tonight Show". After Leno's quick wit and easy >manner managed a more-than-fair share in the ratings, >he was made the show's permanent guest host in 1988 >and chosen to be Carson's successor in 1992. > >Following in Carson's well-established footsteps was >certain to prove a daunting undertaking, and there was >an initial slight ratings slip as well as some >backstage problems with former executive producer >Helen Gorman Kushnick. On the whole, though, Leno >managed the transition with the good-humored grace >viewers had long since come to expect from him. When >David Letterman jumped ship from NBC to CBS after >being passed over for the "Tonight Show" hosting gig, >Leno found himself facing much more formidable >competition than he or Carson (who tended to favor >Letterman) had encountered, sparking a hotly contested >battle for viewers. The ratings war waged on >neck-and-neck throughout the 1990s, but eventually, >while critics tended to favor Letterman's edgier, >snarkier show, Leno's broader, middle-of-the-road >populist approach gradually emerged as the consistent >ratings winner, bolstered by NBC's stronger prime-time >lineup lead-in and promotional platform. However, in >exchange for mainstream popularity, Leno—a notorious >workhorse who took few days off and usually performed >in clubs and concert halls when he did—seemed to lose >much of his own distinctive brand of comedic bite with >each successive season. In 2004, Leno announced his >planned retirement from "The Tonight Show" in 2009 and >planned to hand his hosting duties over to his NBC >late night cohort Conan O'Brien. > >As an offshoot of his tenure as the host of "The >Tonight Show" and his place in the pop culture >pantheon, Leno has appeared as himself in many feature >films over the years, including “Dave” (1993), “Mad >City” (1997), “Space Cowboys” (2000), “Juwanna Man” >(2002) and “Mr. 3000” (2004). After his announced >retirement, Leno began to branch out. He had a small >voice role as a fire hydrant in “Robots” (2005), an >animated feature about a futuristic world inhabited by >robots, including an idealistic young genius, Rodney >Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan McGregor), who wants to >make the world a better place for his fellow >mechanical brothers and sisters, but faces opposition >from an evil corporation. Leno then gave voice to Fast >Tony, a con artist armadillo, in “Ice Age: The >Meltdown” (2006), the wildly successful sequel to “Ice >Age” (2002) that that reunited Sid the sloth (John >Leguizamo), Manny the wooly mammoth (Ray Romano), >Diego the saber-toothed tiger (Denis Leary) and Scrat >the prehistoric squirrel (Chris Wedge) in a quest to >find Manny a mate despite possibly being the last >mammoth in their rapidly melting world. > >Also Credited As: James Douglas Muir LenoBorn: on >04/28/1950 in New Rochelle, New YorkJob Titles: TV >host, Comedian, Actor, Rolls Royce auto mechanic, >DeliverymanFamily >Brother: Patrick Leno. >Father: Angelo Leno. died on August 16, 1994 at age 83 >in Andover, Massachusetts >Mother: Cathryn Leno. born in Scotland c. 1911; died >on June 26, 1993 in Andover, Massachusetts >Education >Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts, speech >therapy, BA, 1973 >Andover High School, Andover, Massachusetts >Milestones >1973 Moved to Los Angeles >1977 First notable film appearance, "Silver Bears" >1977 Made first appearance on "The Tonight Show" >1977 Was a regular on the short-lived CBS variety >show, "The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Show" >1986 Hosted (and produced) his first hour-long comedy >special on TV: "Jay Leno and the American Dream" on >Showtime >1986 Named one of the two permanent guest hosts of >"The Tonight Show" >1986 Played a sold-out engagement at New York's >Carnegie Hall >1986 Signed an exclusive contract with NBC >1988 Named exclusive guest host of "The Tonight Show" >1991 Announcement made that Leno would replace Johnny >Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" after the latter >retired on May 22, 1992 >1992 Took over as host of "The Tonight Show" >1993 Signed five-year $40 million contract with NBC to >continuing hosting "The Tonight Show" >1998 Signed five-year contract extension with NBC for >a reported $100 million >2000 Received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (April >27) >2001 Extended contract to host "The Tonight Show" >through 2005 >2003 Received a People's Choice nomination for >favorite talk-show host >2004 Received a People's Choice nomination for >Favorite Talk-show host >2004 Signed a new deal with NBC, worth $100 million, >that will keep him at the helm of "The Tonight Show" >through at least 2009 >Emceed campus talent shows while in college, and >performed stand-up comedy in local nightclubs for >extra money >Got a job writing comedy material for Jimmie Walker in >the hit TV comedy, "Good Times" >Raised in Andover, Massachusetts >Was a warm-up act for such performers as Johnny >Mathis, John Denver and Tom Jones
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