Jay Leno

Season 10, Episode 1001

Original Airdate: February 15, 2004

James Douglas Muir Leno was born April 28, 1950. From a young age, he aspired to be a comedian, pursuing nightclub gigs and working almost every night of the year. He took parts in films, as well, and in 1978 acted in “American Hot Wax” with Cybill Shepherd and “Silver Bears” with Fran Drescher, as well as the television series “Almost Heaven.”

Continuing his work as a stand-up, Jay performed in several TV specials including “The Jay Leno Special,” “Jay Leno and the American Dream,” and “Family Comedy Hour.”

His hard work finally paid off in 1987 when he became a regular guest host on “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson,” and then again in 1992, when he inherited the coveted “Tonight Show” slot from Carson. In eleven years of production, Leno has been nominated for seven Emmy awards, and won in 1995 for “Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.” In between, he has appeared in over fifty films.