Jay Leno

What do a giant smile, a nightly laugh, and a huge garage full of awesome cars have in common? They all belong to Jay Leno! Jay Leno (born 1950) is an American comedian who became famous in the late 1900s and early 2000s. Today we'll focus on his biggest job: hosting The Tonight Show.

From 1992 to 2009—and again from 2010 to 2014—Jay was the host of The Tonight Show. Every night he stood on stage, told a fast string of jokes called a monologue, and chatted with actors, musicians, and funny people. Millions tuned in to hear his quick, friendly jokes.

Jay made late-night TV friendly and fun. He created silly bits like 'Headlines' and 'Jaywalking' that people loved. He helped other comedians get noticed and kept families laughing for years. He worked hard—writing jokes, practicing, and performing live shows across the country.

A surprising thing about Jay is his passion for cars. He owns one of America's largest private car collections and shares them on 'Jay Leno's Garage.' He enjoys driving, fixing, and explaining engines in a way that makes machines fun to learn about.

Why Jay matters: he shows that practicing, being kind, and loving what you do can lead to big stages. Whether you like jokes or cars, Jay Leno turned his passions into a long, exciting career that made lots of people smile.