Roy Wood Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roy Wood Jr.
Wood at Essence Festival of Culture July 2025.
Born	Roy Norris Wood, Jr. (1978-12-11) December 11, 1978 (age 46) New York City, U.S.
Education	Florida A&M University (BS)
Occupation	Comedian actor
Years active	1998–present
Children	1
Parent(s)	Roy Wood Sr. (father)

Roy Norris Wood Jr. (born December 11, 1978) is an American comedian and actor. He became well-known for his appearances on The Daily Show. Since September 2024, Wood has been hosting the American version of the news and entertainment show Have I Got News for You on CNN.

Wood grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. After high school, he started his comedy career. He was the opening act for comedian Tommy Davidson. From 2001 to 2006, Wood was the head writer for a radio show called Buckwilde Morning Show. He also appeared on the TV show Last Comic Standing in 2010. From 2011 to 2014, he was on the TBS show Sullivan & Son. Wood also hosted two podcasts for Comedy Central.

In 2008, Entertainment Weekly named him one of "12 Rising Stars of Comedy." From 2015 to 2023, Wood worked as a correspondent for The Daily Show. He also hosted the fourth season of This Is Not Happening. Wood has released several stand-up comedy specials. These include Father Figure (2017) and No One Loves You (2019). His special Imperfect Messenger came out in 2021, and Lonely Flowers was released in 2025. He has also acted in many TV shows and movies.

Roy Wood Jr.'s Early Life and School

Roy Wood Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York. His father, Roy Wood Sr., was a radio pioneer in Birmingham, Alabama. His father reported on important events like the civil rights movement. Roy's mother, Joyce Dugan Wood, worked at a college.

For a time, Wood lived with his mother in Memphis, Tennessee. When he was in second grade, his parents got back together. The family then moved to Birmingham. Wood went to Central Park Elementary and Center Street Middle School. He finished Ramsay High School in 1996. In 2001, Wood earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Florida A&M University.

Roy Wood Jr.'s Comedy Career

Starting Out in Comedy

While in college, Wood worked as a news reporter for a radio station in Birmingham. He started focusing on comedy when he filled in for the station's comedian.

In 1998, at age 19, Wood began his stand-up career. He even skipped some college tests to open for Tommy Davidson. After college, Wood returned to Birmingham in 2001. He became the head writer for the Buckwilde Morning Show until 2006. He also made prank call CDs, which were popular on hip-hop mixtapes.

In 2007, Wood moved to Los Angeles. In 2010, he placed third on NBC's Last Comic Standing. He also hosted his own morning radio show, The Roy Wood Jr Show. This show won awards for being a top morning show.

From 2011 to 2014, Wood acted on the TBS sitcom Sullivan & Son. He started as a guest and then became a regular actor. In 2013, he released his first stand-up comedy CD, Things I Think, I Think.

Roy Wood Jr. at Comedy Central

Wood performing at The Stand NYC in 2016.

In 2015, Wood joined The Daily Show as a correspondent. He moved to New York City for this job. Wood felt his background in stand-up and journalism helped him prepare for the role.

His first Comedy Central stand-up special, Father Figure, came out in 2017. He also became the host of Comedy Central's This Is Not Happening. Wood's second special, Roy Wood Jr.: No One Loves You, premiered in 2019.

Wood has performed on many late-night talk shows. He has also entertained troops on USO tours overseas. In 2018, he started working on a TV show pilot called Jefferson County: Probation. This show was inspired by a real experience he had at 19.

In 2019, Wood made a series of online videos about the popular Popeyes chicken sandwich. In 2021, he appeared on the show Finding Your Roots. On the show, he learned he was a distant cousin of civil rights leader John Lewis. In 2023, Wood hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Roy Wood Jr. After Comedy Central

Wood hosting a concert for Juneteenth at the White House, 2024

On October 5, 2023, it was announced that Wood had left The Daily Show. He did not return as a correspondent.

Since September 14, 2024, Wood has been hosting the American version of Have I Got News for You on CNN. He also hosted the British version of the show on November 8, 2024, and again on May 30, 2025.

Awards and Recognition

• 2008: Entertainment Weekly, named one of "12 Rising Stars of Comedy"
• 2010: Florida A&M University, Young Alumni Awards: A 40/40 Celebration

Roy Wood Jr. in Movies and TV

Movies

Television Shows

Web Series

Stand-up Specials

Roy Wood Jr.'s Music

• 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