Jay Leno

Jay Leno’s friendly, caricature-prone face (trademark chin) belies a keen intellect and quick wit that while often warm-hearted, can quickly turn sharp when talking about public figures. He has embraced his physical appearance, turning it to, naturally, comic effect on numerous occasions.

Leno is also blessed with a classic comic’s voice, which can be made high-pitched to cajole audiences or help the delivery of a joke—without being whiny. He has lent his voice to numerous animated films. As host of “The Tonight Show” his opening monologues are aided by a spry, active stage manner that moves things along at a faster pace than that of his “Late Show” counterpart David Letterman.

Jay Leno’s laidback demeanor and accessible personality make him well suited to film in Los Angeles, where hardnosed comedy might ruffle feathers. As a result, his popular Jay Walking segment—in which Leno garners big laughs by stumping people on the street with what should be easy trivia questions—continues to find willing victims as he manages to balance participants’ feelings with his winks and nods to the audience.

Before inheriting “The Tonight Show” from Johnny Carson, Jay Leno was already used to a grueling comedy schedule, making appearances in nightclubs at a rate of 300 days a year before making it big. Critics have praised his “squeaky-clean” comedy routine, which replaces swear words with innuendo designed to go over children’s heads while leaving adults rolling in the aisles.

Jay Leno was stung by what many people perceived as a snub by Johnny Carson when NBC handed him the reins of the tonight show. Carson did not appear on “The Tonight Show,” though he did appear on Letterman’s “Late Show.” Fortunately, Leno has had plenty of other guests to help salve his wounds. The nation’s most prominent politicians and some of the biggest names in entertainment have graced his show, and he’s won the adoration of his audience through both his talent and he and his wife Mavis’s contributions to charity. His favorite hobby is collecting motorcycles and cars.