Jay Leno, orig. James Douglas Muir Leno, (born April 28, 1950, New Rochelle, N.Y., U.S.), U.S. comedian and television talk-show host. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in nightclubs and on television, garnering attention for his pleasant-tempered topical and political humour. From 1987 he was the regular guest host on NBC’s The Tonight Show, and he succeeded Johnny Carson as its host in 1992. Leno quickly earned a reputation for his cordial, easygoing manner, and the show won four Emmy Awards (1995–97, 1999). In 2009 he briefly left the program to host The Jay Leno Show, which was canceled in 2010. He subsequently returned to The Tonight Show, where he stayed until 2014. Leno, a noted car collector, later played a car mechanic on the sitcom Last Man Standing, and he hosted Jay Leno’s Garage.
