Jay Leno
Host • Comedian
Birth Name: James Douglas Muir Leno
Birth Date: April 28, 1950
Age: 74 years old
Birth Place: New Rochelle, New York
A genial comedian who skewered the contradictions of everyday life, Jay Leno's Everyman persona and tireless work ethic helped him to earn one of the most sacred spots on television, replacing Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" (NBC, 1954- ). But his ascension to Carson's throne in 1993 earned him considerable spite from David Letterman - who was long considered to be the heir apparent - as both feuded behind the scenes and in public in the so-called Late Night Wars. Leno soared in the ratings while his "Tonight Show" was the most-watched show at 11:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Leno continued cultivating his everyman image by showcasing his love of cars and motorcycles, amassing a collection that totaled some 190 vehicles, and continuing to perform stand-up across the country on his days off. In 2008, NBC shockingly announced that Leno would be replaced as "Tonight Show" host by Conan O'Brien, and in an unprecedented move, Leno revamped his show for a 10 p.m. timeslot. A short time later, Leno would return to his customary timeslot as one of the mainstays of late-night programming.
Credits
Hollywood SquaresStream
Guest
Game Show
2025
TMZ's Merry Elfin' Christmas
Guest
Show
2024
Midas Man
Actor
Ed Sullivan
Movie
2024
The Game Show ShowStream
Guest
Game Show
2023
Show Business Is My Life But I Can't Prove It
Actor
Movie
2023
Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?Stream
Guest
Talk
2022
Access Daily With Mario & Kit
Guest
Show
2022
Piers Morgan Uncensored
Self
Talk
2022
Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl
Self
Special
2022
Project S
Self
Movie
2022
Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes AroundStream
Self
Special
2021
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of HousesStream
Guest
Game Show
2021
Nick Cannon
Guest
Talk
2021
You Bet Your Life With Jay Leno
Host
Game Show
2021
CBS Mornings
Guest
News
2021
You Bet Your Life Preview Show
Host
Show
2021
Hart to HeartStream
Guest
Talk
2021
The Drew Barrymore ShowStream
Guest
Talk
2020
VOMO: Vote or Miss Out
Actor
Show
2020
Martha Knows BestStream
Guest
Series
2020
Skrrt With Offset
Guest
Show
2020
Garth Brooks: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Host
Show
2020
Best in Class: The Making of a Concours d'Elegance
Actor
Movie
2020
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — Adventure AwaitsStream
Actor
Special
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Guest
Talk
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Host
Talk
2019
Access Daily
Guest
Show
2019
Peyton's Places
Actor
Reality
2019
Lights Out With David SpadeStream
Guest
Talk
2019
T.O.T.S.Stream
Voice
Hank Featherbee
Series
2019
Jeff Dunham: Talking Heads
Self
Show
2019
Still Laugh-In: The Stars CelebrateStream
Actor
Special
2019
Today With Hoda & Jenna
Guest
Show
2019
The DL Hughley Show
Host
Show
2019
Chasing Perfect
Actor
Movie
2019
Today 3rd Hour
Guest
Show
2018
The Indian Wrecking Crew
Actor
Movie
2018
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Actor
Movie
2018
I Am Sam Kinison
Actor
Show
2017
The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special
Guest
Show
2017
A Very Pentatonix Christmas
Guest
Special
2017
STEVE on Watch
Guest
Talk
2017
Carpool Karaoke: The SeriesStream
Music Performer
Reality
2017
Adam Carolla and Friends Build Stuff Live
Guest
Show
2017
Mickey and the Roadster RacersStream
Guest Voice
Billy Beagle
Series
2017
Mickey and the Roadster RacersStream
Voice
Billy Beagle
Series
2017
Gilbert
Self
Movie
2017
Ask the StoryBots
Guest Star
Show
2016
Ask the StoryBots
Guest Voice
Show
2016
Jay Leno's Garage: Extras
Actor
Show
2016
Jay Leno's Garage: Extras
Self
Show
2016
Red Nose Day
Guest
Show
2016
ChelseaStream
Guest
Talk
2016
Dateline: On Assignment
Guest
Show
2016
Michael Bublé's Christmas in Hollywood
Guest
Show
2015
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
Self
Show
2015
Jay Leno's GarageStream
Executive Producer
Reality
2015
Jay Leno's GarageStream
Host
Reality
2015
The MuppetsStream
Guest Star
Series
2015
FamelessStream
Guest
Reality
2015
Lip Sync BattleStream
Contestant
Reality
2015
The Nightly Show With Larry WilmoreStream
Guest
Talk
2015
Ted 2Stream
Actor
Himself
Movie
2015
Ted 2Stream
Self
Movie
2015
Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman
Actor
Movie
2015
Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas
Voice
Fake Santa No. 1
Show
2014
Jay Leno: The Mark Twain Prize
Guest
Show
2014
The Meredith Vieira Show
Guest
Talk
2014
Jay Leno's Garage: The Ultimate Car Week
Actor
Show
2014
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Single Shots
Actor
Show
2014
The 7DStream
Guest Voice
Crystal Ball
Series
2014
The 7DStream
Voice
Crystal Ball
Series
2014
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
Guest
Talk
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream
Guest
Talk
2014
Leno and Fallon: An E! News Special
Actor
Show
2014
Glen Campbell... I'll Be Me
Actor
Movie
2014
Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
Guest
Show
2013
The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall
Actor
Show
2013
The Arsenio Hall Show
Guest
Show
2013
Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas
Guest
Show
2012
Steve Harvey
Guest
Talk
2012
Comedians in Cars Getting CoffeeStream
Guest
Talk
2012
Last Man StandingStream
Guest Star
Joe
Series
2011
Dish NationStream
Guest
Talk
2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 3D
Actor
Show
2011
After Lately
Guest
Show
2011
Solartaxi: Around the World With the Sun
Actor
Show
2010
The Talk
Guest
Talk
2010
Access Hollywood Live
Guest
Show
2010
The 1984 Los Angeles Comedy Competition With Host Jay Leno
Host
Show
2010
Hannah Montana Forever
Guest Star
Jay Leno
Show
2010
Hannah Montana Forever
Self
Show
2010
LouieStream
Guest Star
Jay
Series
2010
The Jay Leno Show
Host
Show
2009
Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream
Guest
Talk
2009
Love the Beast
Self
Movie
2009
Chasing Classic CarsStream
Self
Reality
2008
His Highness Hollywood
Actor
Movie
2008
IgorStream
Voice
King Malbert
Movie
2008
Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King
Voice
Jack O'Lantern
Movie
2008
Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare
Voice
Murray Hare
Movie
2008
Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda
Guest
Show
2007
Celebrity Rides: Jay's Duesenberg
Actor
Show
2007
Christmas Is Here Again
Voice
The Narrator
Movie
2007
The Legends of Wrestling
Actor
Show
2006
Rachael Ray Show
Guest
Talk
2006
America's Got TalentStream
Guest
Reality
2006
Ice Age: The MeltdownStream
Voice
Fast Tony
Movie
2006
The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour 3: The Jerkinators!
Voice
Nega-Chin
Movie
2006
Entertainment Tonight Canada
Guest
Show
2005
Wild 'N OutStream
Guest Star
Game Show
2005
The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson
Guest
Talk
2005
RobotsStream
Voice
Fire Hydrant
Movie
2005
Celebrity Rides
Self
Show
2004
The Writer's Hot List
Guest
Show
2004
EntourageStream
Guest Star
Jay Leno
Series
2004
Tavis Smiley
Guest
Talk
2004
Mr. 3000
Self
Movie
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Guest
Talk
2003
Last Comic Standing
Guest
Reality
2003
Real Time With Bill MaherStream
Guest
Talk
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
Guest
Talk
2003
Calendar Girls
Self
Movie
2003
Top GearStream
Guest
Reality
2002
The Olympic Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Host
Show
2002
Jerry Seinfeld: Comedian
Self
Movie
2002
The Bernie Mac ShowStream
Guest Star
Series
2001
ScrubsStream
Guest Star
Jay Leno
Series
2001
The Fairly OddParentsStream
Guest Voice
The Crimson Chin
Series
2001
The West WingStream
Guest Star
Himself
Series
1999
Family Guy
Guest Voice
Himself
Show
1999
Family GuyStream
Guest Voice
Himself
Series
1999
DilbertStream
Guest Voice
Series
1999
Providence
Guest Star
Series
1999
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Actor
Movie
1999
V.I.P.Stream
Guest Star
Series
1998
Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time
Actor
Stand-up
1998
South ParkStream
Guest Voice
Kitty
Series
1997
The View
Guest
Talk
1997
Just Shoot MeStream
Guest Star
Himself
Series
1997
Antiques RoadshowStream
Guest
Reality
1997
My Classic Car
Actor
Show
1997
My Classic Car
Guest
Show
1997
My Classic Car
Self
Show
1997
Hot Rod TV
Actor
Show
1997
Access HollywoodStream
Guest
News
1996
Muppets Tonight
Guest
Series
1996
JAGStream
Actor
Jay Leno
Series
1995
Caroline in the City
Guest Star
Series
1995
FriendsStream
Guest Star
Himself
Series
1994
Extra
Guest
News
1994
The NannyStream
Guest Star
Series
1993
FrasierStream
Guest Voice
Don
Series
1993
Bob Hope: The First 90 Years
Actor
Show
1993
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
Voice
Vorb
Movie
1993
Mad About YouStream
Guest Star
Himself
Series
1992
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Host
Talk
1992
Home ImprovementStream
Guest Star
Series
1991
42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation
Actor
Show
1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirStream
Guest Star
Series
1990
WingsStream
Guest Star
Series
1990
The SimpsonsStream
Guest Star
Himself
Series
1989
The SimpsonsStream
Guest Voice
Himself
Series
1989
BaywatchStream
Self
Series
1989
SeinfeldStream
Guest Star
Himself
Series
1989
Collision Course
Actor
Detective Tony Costas
Movie
1989
The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream
Guest
Talk
1986
Dr. Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce
Self
Movie
1986
Americathon
Actor
Larry Miller
Movie
1979
The Comedy ShopStream
Guest
Series
1978
La Historia de Alan Freed
Actor
Movie
1978
American Hot Wax
Actor
Mookie
Movie
1978
Silver Bears
Actor
Albert Fiore
Movie
1978
AliceStream
Guest Star
Series
1976
Laverne & ShirleyStream
Guest Star
Series
1976
One Day at a TimeStream
Guest Star
Series
1975
Saturday Night LiveStream
Host
Series
1975
Good TimesStream
Guest Star
The Young Man
Series
1974
60 MinutesStream
Guest
News
1968
The Dick Cavett ShowStream
Guest
Talk
1968
The Merv Griffin Show
Guest
Talk
1965
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonStream
Guest
Talk
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonStream
Host
Talk
1962
Today
Guest
News
1952
Photos
News aboutJay Leno
On ‘Fox News,’ Jay Leno Calls Out People ‘Pointing Fingers’ in L.A. Fires (VIDEO)
15 Years Ago, Conan O’Brien’s ‘Tonight Show’ Stint Came to an Ignominious End
Bill Maher Confronts Jay Leno Over His ‘Gambling Debts’ & Mysterious Black Eye
Jay Leno Shares Health Update After Dangerous Fall & ‘Hitting Head on a Rock’
‘Hollywood Squares’ Reveals Celebrity Guests Including Jay Leno, Tyra Banks & Julie Bowen
The Long History of ‘The Tonight Show’ and Its Hosts
Jay Leno & Wife Mavis Provide Update Amid Her Dementia Battle
Jay Leno’s Wife Mavis Heartbreaking Update Amid Dementia Battle
10 Late-Night Interviews Living On in Infamy, Including That Madonna Appearance (VIDEO)
Jay Leno Seeks Conservatorship Over Wife Mavis, Who’s Living with Dementia
Exclusive
See Jay Leno’s Reaction to ‘Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge’ SuperFanVan (VIDEO)
Jay Leno Shows Off His ‘Brand New Face’ on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ (VIDEO)
Jay Leno Breaks Ribs & Collarbone in Motorcycle Accident, ‘Garage’ Show Gets Axed
Jay Leno Tells Hoda Kotb About Horrific Burn Accident: ‘My Face Caught On Fire’ (VIDEO)
Jay Leno Wisecracks About Burn Injuries at Comedy Gig After Accident
Jay Leno Released From Burn Center After Garage Fire
Jay Leno Is ‘Feeling Better’ After Gasoline Fire Injuries, Says Pal Tim Allen
Jay Leno Hospitalized With Serious Face Burns After Car Catches Fire
10 Memorable Moments From Jay Leno’s ‘Tonight Show,’ Now 30 Years Old
‘Harry Potter’ Fans Compete for Hogwarts House Supremacy in ‘Tournament of Houses’ Trivia Show (VIDEO)
Exclusive
‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ First Look: Kevin Bacon Reflects on ‘Diner’ & ‘Tremors’ (VIDEO)
Exclusive
‘Last Man Standing’ Guest Star Jay Leno Races Mike to Find the Best Car (VIDEO)
Exclusive
‘Last Man Standing’: Mike Enlists Joe’s Help for the Chili Cook-Off (VIDEO)
Q&A
Jay Leno on What Makes His ‘Garage’ Celebrity Interviews Different
Exclusive
‘Last Man Standing’: Chuck Asks Mike to Be a Special Part of His Wedding (VIDEO)
Exclusive
Sneak Peek at Jay Leno’s Return as Joe on ‘Last Man Standing’ (VIDEO)
Exclusive
‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ Sneak Peek: Jay Leno & Arnold Schwarzenegger Are up to No Good (VIDEO)
Exclusive
‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ Sneak Peek: Jamie Foxx Reveals His Most Dangerous Stunts (VIDEO)
‘Mickey and the Roadster Racers’ Brings the Speed With Jay Leno, Danica Patrick, Jeff Gordon and more
Jay Leno Plays an Average ‘Joe’ on the ‘Last Man Standing’ Season Finale (PHOTOS)
First Look: Jay Leno Guest Stars with Pal Tim Allen on ‘Last Man Standing’
Jay Leno Picks the 7 Most Iconic Cars From TV History (PHOTOS)
Jay Leno on His TV Return, Trump Jokes and Why He Didn’t Do Dave
White or Gold, Blue or Black? The TV Standoffs That Feel as Unsolvable as #TheDress Debate of 2015
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services