Roy Wood Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roy Wood Jr.
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Wood in 2016
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Roy Norris Wood, Jr.
December 11, 1978 New York City, U.S.
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| Education | Florida A&M University (BS) |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Children | 1 |
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Roy Norris Wood Jr. (born December 11, 1978) is a famous American comedian and actor. Many people know him from his funny reports on The Daily Show. He also hosts a news and entertainment show called Have I Got News for You on CNN.
Roy Wood Jr. grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. He started his comedy career in 1998. Before becoming a TV star, he worked in radio. He was even the head writer for a morning radio show. He has appeared on TV shows like Last Comic Standing and Sullivan & Son. Roy Wood Jr. has also created his own comedy specials. These include Father Figure and No One Loves You. He is known for making people laugh with his stand-up comedy.
Contents
About Roy Wood Jr.
Early Life and School
Roy Wood Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York City. His father, Roy Wood Sr., was a radio pioneer in Alabama. He reported on important events like the civil rights movement. Roy's mother, Joyce Dugan Wood, worked at a college.
When Roy was young, his parents lived apart for a while. He lived with his mom in Memphis, Tennessee. Later, his parents got back together. The family then moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Roy went to Central Park Elementary and Center Street Middle School. He finished Ramsay High School in 1996. In 2001, he earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Florida A&M University.
Starting His Comedy Career
While in college, Roy Wood Jr. worked as a news reporter for a radio station. He started doing comedy when he filled in for another comedian. In 1998, at age 19, he began doing stand-up comedy. He even skipped some college tests to open for comedian Tommy Davidson.
After college, Roy went back to Birmingham. From 2001 to 2006, he was the head writer for a morning radio show. He also made funny prank call CDs. These included My Momma Made Me Wear This and I'll Slap You to Sleep. In 2007, he moved to Los Angeles to continue his career.
Becoming a TV Star
In 2010, Roy Wood Jr. finished third on NBC's Last Comic Standing. This show helped him become more well-known. From 2011 to 2014, he acted in the TV show Sullivan & Son. He was a main character for two seasons. In 2013, he released his first stand-up comedy album.
In 2015, Roy Wood Jr. joined The Daily Show as a correspondent. This meant he would report on news in a funny way. He moved to New York City for this job. He felt his journalism degree and comedy background helped him a lot. He worked on The Daily Show until 2023.
Roy Wood Jr. has also had his own comedy specials on Comedy Central. These include Father Figure (2017) and Roy Wood Jr.: No One Loves You (2019). He has performed on many late-night talk shows. He has also entertained troops overseas with USO tours.
In 2023, Roy Wood Jr. hosted the important White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This event brings together journalists and the President.
After The Daily Show
In October 2023, Roy Wood Jr. announced he was leaving The Daily Show. Since September 2024, he has been hosting Have I Got News for You on CNN. He even hosted the British version of the show in November 2024.
Awards and Recognition
- 2008: Entertainment Weekly named him one of their "12 Rising Stars of Comedy."
- 2010: He received a "Young Alumni Award" from Florida A&M University.
Roy Wood Jr. on Screen
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Death of Dick Long | Dr. Richter | ||
| 2020 | The Opening Act | Gary | ||
| 2022 | Confess, Fletch | Sergeant Inspector Monroe | ||
| 2023 | Urkel Saves Santa: the Movie | Department Store Santa, Old Man Buechler (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
| 2025 | Love, Brooklyn | Post-production | ||
| TBA | Outcome | Post-production |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Showtime at the Apollo | Himself | ||
| 2003 | Star Search | — | Comedian Semi Finalist | |
| 2005 | Premium Blend | Himself | ||
| ComicView | ||||
| 2008 | Def Comedy Jam | 1 episode; also writer | ||
| 2010 | Last Comic Standing | 5 episodes; also writer (4 episodes) | ||
| 2012–2014 | Sullivan & Son | Roy | 33 episodes | |
| 2015 | Delores & Jermaine | Jerome Sr. | Comedy pilot | |
| 2015–2023 | The Daily Show | Himself (correspondent), various characters | ||
| 2017 | Impractical Jokers: After Party | Himself | 1 episode | |
| Let's Fix Sports | 1 episode ("Roy Wood Jr: Kill The Kiss Cam"); also writer | |||
| 2018–2019 | This is Not Happening | Himself (host) | 20 episodes; also writer (2 episodes) | |
| 2018 | The Detour | Kevin | 1 episode | |
| 2019 | Crank Yankers | Himself | ||
| Roy Wood Jr.: Snitch Cop | Snitch Cop | TV movie | ||
| Roy Wood Jr.: The Avenging Ones | Luke Rage | TV movie; also writer | ||
| Jefferson County: Probation | — | Pilot; also producer, writer | ||
| 2020 | Better Call Saul | Grant | 1 episode ("Something Unforgivable") | |
| The Last O.G. | Runson | 1 episode | ||
| Space Force | Liaison Bert Mellows | 2 episodes | ||
| Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party | Himself | 1 episode | ||
| 2021 | Only Murders in the Building | Vaughn | ||
| 2021–2022 | Flatbush Misdemeanors | Principal Douglas | 2 episodes | |
| 2023 | The Daily Show | Himself (Guest Host) | 4 episodes (Week of Apr. 3) | |
| White House Correspondents' Dinner | Himself (Host) | April 29 | ||
| 2024 | Last Week Tonight | Boeing Employee | 1 episode ("Airplanes") | |
| Have I Got News For You (US) | Host | |||
| Have I Got News For You (UK) | 1 episode - Shown on 8 November 2024 |
Web Series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2020 | The Coalition | — | TV short videos; also writer and creator |
Stand-up Comedy Specials
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Father Figure | Comedy Central special also digital download |
| 2019 | No One Loves You | Comedy Central special also digital download |
| 2021 | Imperfect Messenger | Comedy Central special also digital download |
| 2025 | Lonely Flowers | Hulu special |
Music and Writing
Roy Wood Jr. has also written for TV shows. He has released several comedy albums with his prank calls and stand-up routines.
Writing Credits
- 2006: Bob & Tom: Standup Sitting Down TV movie – writer
- 2008: The Funny Spot TV series – writer
Comedy Albums
- 2003: My Momma Made Me Wear This CD
- 2005: Confessions of a Bench Warmer CD
- 2007: I'll Slap You to Sleep CD
- 2013: Things I Think, I Think CD
