Jay Leno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jay Leno |
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Leno in April 2016
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| Birth name | James Douglas Muir Leno |
| Born | April 28, 1950 New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
| Medium | Television, film, Stand up |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Andover High School |
| Alma mater | Emerson College Bentley University |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Influences | Johnny Carson, Robert Klein, Alan King, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, Rodney Dangerfield |
| Influenced | Dennis Miller |
| Spouse | Mavis Leno (1980–present) |
| Notable works and roles | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (host, 1992–2009, 2010–2014) The Jay Leno Show (host, 2009–2010) |
| Signature |  |
| Emmy Awards | |
| Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series 1995 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno |
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James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno ( born April 28, 1950) is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer, television host and television presenter.
Early life
Leno was born James Douglas Muir Leno in New Rochelle, New York on April 28, 1950. His homemaker mother Catherine (née Muir; 1911–1993) was born in Greenock, Scotland and came to the United States at the age of 11. Leno's father, Angelo (1910–1994), who worked as an insurance salesman, was born in New York, to immigrants from Flumeri, Italy. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and even though his high school guidance counselor recommended that he drop out of school, he later obtained a Bachelor's degree in speech therapy from Emerson College, where he started a comedy club in 1973. Leno's only sibling was his late older brother Patrick, who was a Vietnam veteran and a lawyer.
Career
The Tonight Show
Leno worked on late night television. He became host of The Tonight Show in 1992 when Johnny Carson retired. In 2007, during the writer's strike, Leno sided with the writers, even though he returned to his show after two months (without the writers besides himself) so that his staff would not be out of work. Despite leading the late-night ratings, he was forced out as host of the Tonight Show in 2009 to make way for Conan O'Brien. On March 1, 2010, became The Tonight Show host once again, because of poor ratings with both himself and Conan O'Brien. Leno hosted his last episode of the Tonight Show on February 6, 2014.
The Jay Leno Show
He now stars in his own prime-time comedy show The Jay Leno Show, which debuted on September 14, 2009.
Acting
He guest-starred twice on the Nickelodeon TV series The Fairly OddParents as the Crimson Chin. His character's name uses the fact that Leno has a large and square chin.
Personal life
Since 1980, Leno has been married to Mavis Leno; they have no children by mutual agreement. Leno is dyslexic.
