Leslie Jones (comedian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leslie Jones |
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Jones at the Stress Factory in 2018
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| Birth name | Annette Leslie Jones |
| Born | September 7, 1967 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Education | Chapman University Colorado State University |
| Years active | 1987–present |
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| Notable works and roles | Former Saturday Night Live cast member and writer; Ghostbusters (2016) Coming 2 America (2021) Good Burger 2 (2023) |
Annette Leslie Jones (born September 7, 1967) is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is known for her energetic performances and funny observations.
Leslie was a cast member and writer for the popular TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 2014 to 2019. She also hosted the game show Supermarket Sweep. You might have seen her in movies like Ghostbusters (2016) and Coming 2 America (2021). She has been nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on SNL.
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Early Life and Basketball
Leslie Jones was born on September 7, 1967, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father was in the United States Army, so her family moved around a lot. They eventually settled in Los Angeles, California.
Leslie went to high school in Lynwood. She was very tall, so her father encouraged her to play basketball. She became a good player!
She even went to Chapman University on a basketball scholarship. She thought about playing professional basketball overseas. Later, she transferred to Colorado State University. She studied different subjects there, like accounting and computer science, before choosing communications.
Starting Her Comedy Career
Leslie started doing stand-up comedy in 1987 while still in college. A friend signed her up for a "Funniest Person on Campus" contest, and she won! This win made her decide to move to Los Angeles to pursue comedy.
From Clubs to TV
In Los Angeles, Leslie performed at comedy clubs. She worked different jobs, like at a restaurant and for UPS, to support herself. Other comedians, like Dave Chappelle, encouraged her to move to New York City to improve her skills.
She spent over two years in New York, even appearing on BET's ComicView. After returning to Los Angeles, she kept performing. In 2012, famous comedian Chris Rock saw her act. He helped her get an audition for Saturday Night Live.
Becoming a Star on Saturday Night Live
In December 2013, Saturday Night Live was looking for new cast members. Leslie auditioned and was hired as a writer for the show. She also started appearing on the show's "Weekend Update" segment.
On October 20, 2014, Leslie was promoted to a full cast member! She was 47 years old, making her the oldest person to join SNL as a cast member. Her joining also meant that for the first time, SNL had more than one African American woman in its cast.
Emmy Nominations
Leslie became very popular on SNL for her funny characters and sketches. Her strong performances led to her being nominated for an Emmy Award in both 2017 and 2018. She left SNL after the 2019 season.
Leslie Jones in Movies
Leslie has appeared in several movies. In 2014, she was in Chris Rock's film Top Five. Chris Rock was so impressed with her that he wanted to work with her more!
In 2015, she appeared in the comedy Trainwreck. The director and writer reportedly created a part just for her after seeing her in Top Five.
One of her most famous movie roles was in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot. She played Patty Tolan, alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon. She also appeared in Coming 2 America (2021), a sequel to the classic movie Coming to America.
Her Olympic Adventures
During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Leslie became famous for her hilarious live-tweets and videos of her reactions to the events. People loved her excitement!
A TV producer saw her tweets and suggested to NBC (the network covering the Olympics) that they should invite her to join their team. NBC agreed, and Leslie flew to Rio to cover sports like swimming and track and field.
She continued her fun commentary for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She also live-tweeted for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, which she said would be her last time.
Other Fun Projects
Leslie has also done other exciting things! In 2016, she appeared in commercials for Allstate Insurance. She hosted the 2017 BET Awards in 2017, which was her first time hosting a major awards show.
In 2020, Leslie became the host of a new version of the game show Supermarket Sweep. She also hosted the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards in 2021.
Who Inspired Leslie?
Leslie Jones has said that several famous comedians and actors inspired her. These include Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, John Ritter, and Whoopi Goldberg.
Personal Life
Leslie is a big fan of the soccer team Seattle Sounders FC. She also loves the reality TV show RuPaul's Drag Race.
Images for kids
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Jones at the Stress Factory in 2018
See also
In Spanish: Leslie Jones (actriz) para niños
