J. B. Smoove
J. B. Smoove | |
---|---|
![]() Smoove in April 2014 | |
Born | Jerry Angelo Brooks December 16, 1965 |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1991–present |
Spouse |
Shahidah Omar (m.2007) |
Children | 1 |
Jerry Angelo Brooks[1][2](born December 16, 1965),[1]commonly known by hisstage nameJ. B. Smoove,is an American actor, comedian and writer. After beginning his career in 1995 onDef Comedy Jam,he was a writer and performer onNBC'sSaturday Night Live(2003–06). He is best known for his starring roles onHBO'sCurb Your Enthusiasm(2007–24) and theCBSsitcomThe Millers(2013–15). He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on theBETimprov-comedyreality televisionparodyReal Husbands of Hollywood(2013–16).[3]
Early life, family and education
[edit]Smoove was born inPlymouth, North Carolina,to Elizabeth and Floyd Brooks.[4]From the time he was three years old, he grew up inMount Vernon, New York.[2][5][6]He spent a significant amount of time with his mother and extended maternal family in the Plymouth area, which he has said inspired much of his pursuit of comedy and comedy style.[7]He resided in the Levister Towershousing projectsin Mount Vernon with his two younger brothers. His father died from diabetes when Smoove was 15 years old.[4]
In 1983, Smoove graduated fromMount Vernon High School.[8]He attendedNorfolk State Universityin Virginia, studying engineering and graphic design.[3]
Smoove worked as a perfume formulator and sold fire extinguishers door-to-door.[9]
Career
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/JB_Smoove.jpg/220px-JB_Smoove.jpg)
He began his show business career instand-up comedy,which is when he shortened his name, Jerry Brooks, to "J. B." and added "Smoove" as his last name.
Smoove has had recurring roles onEverybody Hates ChrisandSaturday Night Live.OnSNL,he worked as a writer (and had bit roles in sketches, including playing Jimmy "JJ" Walker in a parody of the 1970s sitcomGood Times) and was a recipient of the 2007Writers Guild of Americaaward for Best Comedy/Variety Series (Including Talk).[10]He worked onSaturday Night Livefor three years.[2]
Smoove has been a regular cast member on the HBO comedyCurb Your Enthusiasmsince its sixth season in 2007, playing Leon Black. Smoove landed the role after his stint onSNL.[11]Although at that time he lived on theEast Coast,he visitedLos Angelesfor the funeral of his friend, music producer Oji Pierce, enabling him to audition forCurb Your Enthusiasm.[12]
Smoove wrote a book as hisCurb Your Enthusiasmcharacter, Leon, which was released on October 10, 2017.[13]
He had a major role for seasons two and three on theFOXnetwork sitcom'Til DeathwithBrad GarrettandJoely Fisher.In June 2008, he appeared in several episodes ofThe Gong Show with Dave Attellas one of the celebrity judges. Smoove was also a cast member on the short-livedsketch comedyprogramCedric the Entertainer Presents.He hosted the standup comedy seriesRussell SimmonsPresents: Stand-Up at The El ReyonComedy Centralin July 2010, and also appeared inThe Simpsonsepisode "Angry Dad: The Movie"in February 2011. That same year, he starred in theAmerican Dad!episode "The Worst Stan",and appeared in the episode" Dude, Where's My Wade "inKick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil.
In 2012, his first televised comedy special,JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It,premiered on Comedy Central. The DVD of the special was released April 3, 2012. In 2013, Smoove voiced Hackus inThe Smurfs 2. He appeared inMovie 43in the segment "The Proposition" alongsideAnna FarisandChris Pratt.He was the substitute co-host of the New York City morning talk showGood Day New YorkwithRosanna Scottoon April 9, 2012. He made a cameo appearance as a gravedigger in "Barney/Never", an episode ofLouie.He also played a supporting role in Season 4, Episode 7, "The Vapora Sport" in the American sitcomThe Leagueon FX. He plays Wheelchair Guy, with whom the main characters have recurring comedic run-ins. He plays one of the "Replacers" forCall of Duty: Black Ops II.He was in the showReal Husbands of Hollywood,playing a fictionalized version of himself.[3]
Smoove hostsFour Courses With JB Smoove,a talk show on theMSG Network.[5]He provides the voice of Dr. Ray De Angelo Harris, host of the Chakra Attack radio show in the video gameGrand Theft Auto V.Smoove appeared in the 2013 filmDealin' with Idiotsas Coach Ted. In 2013, he became a regular cast member of the CBS comedyThe Millersas Ray.
In the summer of 2014, Smoove hosted the eighth season of the NBC reality seriesLast Comic Standing.[14]Smoove appeared on comedianJerry Seinfeld's web seriesComedians in Cars Getting Coffeein July 2016.[6][15]Smoove playedSanta ClausinSia's 2017 music video, "Santa's Coming for Us".[16]
Smoove attended the final dinner service ofHell's Kitchen's eighteenth seasonHell's Kitchen: Rookies vs. Veteransin 2019 as a chef's table guest in the blue kitchen that was run by runner-up Mia Castro. He appeared as a guest judge on the first season of the FOX reality singing competitionThe Masked Singer.[17]He voiced Frank inHarley Quinnbeginning in 2019. He playedJulius Dellin theMarvel Studiosfeature filmSpider-Man: Far From Home(2019) and itsSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021).[18][19]
In 2020, Smoove starred inMapleworth MurdersoppositePaula Pell(another former writer forSaturday Night Live) andJohn LutzforQuibi,which was produced by, among others,Lorne MichaelsandSeth MeyersofSNL.[20]Smoove won the 2021Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Seriesfor his role.[21]
Smoove and Miles Grose co-host and createdMay I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove,a podcast that debuted in April 2021 on theTeam Cocopodcast network.[22][23]Beginning in the fall of 2021, Smoove had a recurring role as the titular Caesar in multiple commercials for theCaesars Sportsbookmobile app, appearing alongsidePatton Oswalt,Halle Berry,Vince Vaughn,and theManning family.
Volunteering
[edit]Smoove serves on the board of directors of theBoys & Girls Clubof Mount Vernon, New York. On November 7, 2017, he emceed the Boys and Girls Clubs Future Leaders Gala at The Beverly Hilton inBeverly Hills, California.[24]
Personal life
[edit]In 2007, Smoove married singer Shahidah Omar.[24]They reside inLos Angeles.[4]He has an adult daughter from a previous relationship.
He is a fan of theNew York Knicks,[25]New York Yankeesand theNew York Jets.[26]
In 2019, Smoove played for the "Home" roster during theNBA All-Star Celebrity Gameat theBojangles' ColiseuminCharlotte,North Carolina.The roster was made up of celebrities with Carolina roots.[27]
He has beenvegansince 2018.[28]
Comedy specials
[edit]- JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It(2012)[29]
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Lesser Prophets | Chucky | |
1998 | Tomorrow Night | Mel the Mailman | |
2001 | Pootie Tang | Trucky | |
2002 | Mr. Deeds | Reuben | |
2003 | With or Without You | Darnell | |
2003 | The Watermelon Heist | Numbers | |
2004 | Gas | Ignatius | |
2009 | Frankenhood | Leon | |
2009 | Hurricane Season | Team Bus Driver | |
2010 | Date Night | Cabbie | |
2011 | Hall Pass | Flats | |
2011 | We Bought a Zoo | Mr. Stevens | |
2011 | The Sitter | Julio | |
2012 | Think Like a Man | Bartender | |
2012 | The Dictator | Funeral Usher | |
2013 | Movie 43 | Larry | Segment: "The Proposition" |
2013 | A Haunted House | Kisha's Dad | |
2013 | Dealin' with Idiots | Coach Ted | |
2013 | The Smurfs 2 | Hackus | Voice |
2013 | Clear History | Jaspar | |
2014 | Search Party | Berk | |
2014 | Top Five | Silk | |
2015 | Hell and Back | Sal the Demon | Voice |
2016 | Barbershop: The Next Cut | One-Stop | |
2016 | Almost Christmas | Lonnie | |
2017 | The Polka King | Ron Edwards | |
2018 | Uncle Drew | Angelo | |
2019 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | Julius Dell | |
2019 | The Jesus Rolls | The Mechanic | |
2021 | On the Count of Three | Lyndell | |
2021 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | Julius Dell | |
2023 | Back on the Strip | Amos | |
2024 | Música | Anwar |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Def Comedy Jam | Himself | Also writer |
1998 | Law & Order | Levon | Episode: "Bait" |
2002–2003 | Cedric the Entertainer Presents | Various | Main role |
2003 | Ed | Alvin | Episode: "Second Chances" |
2003–2006 | Saturday Night Live | Various | Also writer |
2004–2013 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Himself | Recurring role |
2005 | Ego Trip's Race-O-Rama | Documentary | |
2007–2008 | Everybody Hates Chris | Manny | Recurring role |
2007–2011 | Comics Unleashed | Himself | 3 episodes |
2007–2024 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Leon Black | Recurring role (seasons 6–8) Main (seasons 9–12) |
2008 | Carpoolers | Parking Attendant | Episode: "Wheel of Fortune" |
2008 | The Gong Show with Dave Attell | Himself | 4 episodes |
2008 | Talkshow with Spike Feresten | Episode: "J. B. Smoove" | |
2008–2010 | 'Til Death | Kenny Westchester | Main role |
2008–2013 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Himself | Recurring role |
2009 | The Wanda Sykes Show | 1 episode | |
2009 | Castle | Norman Jessup | Episode: "Love Me Dead" |
2009–2021 | American Dad! | Airport Security Guard, Radio Station Security Guard, Guy #1, Tracey Bryant | Voice, 6 episodes |
2010 | America's Next Top Model | Himself | Episode: "America's Next Top Vampire" |
2010 | Glenn Martin DDS | Curtis, Uncle Dexter | Voice, episode: "Step Brother" |
2010 | The Bonnie Hunt Show | Himself | 1 episode |
2010 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | 1 episode | |
2010 | Lopez Tonight | 1 episode | |
2011 | The Marriage Ref | Episode: "Rachael Ray, Larry Miller, J. B. Smoove" | |
2011 | The Simpsons | DJ Kwanzaa | Voice, episode: "Angry Dad: The Movie" |
2011 | In the Flow with Affion Crockett | iDaddy | Episode: "Put the Kids to Bed" |
2011–2013 | Funny as Hell | — | Writer 2 episodes |
2011–2017 | Conan | Himself | Recurring role |
2012–2014 | Last Call with Carson Daly | 2 episodes | |
2012 | Watch What Happens: Live | Episode: "J. B. Smoove and Shannon Elizabeth" | |
2012 | Black Dynamite | That Frog Kurtis, That Bastard Kurtis | Voice, 2 episodes |
2012 | Bent | Clem | Main role |
2012 | Louie | Gravedigger #2 | Episode: "Barney/Never" |
2012 | Robot Chicken | B.A. Baracus,Satan | Voice, episode: "Crushed by a Steamroller on My 53rd Birthday" |
2012 | The League | DeRon | Episode: "The Vapora Sport" |
2012–2013 | The Burn with Jeff Ross | Himself | 2 episodes |
2012–2015 | The Wendy Williams Show | 4 episodes | |
2013 | Four Courses with JB Smoove | Himself (host) | |
2013 | Kroll Show | Basketball Player | Episode: "Dine & Dash" |
2013 | Chicago Fire | Sergeant Pruit | Episode: "Let Her Go" |
2013 | The Arsenio Hall Show | Himself | 2 episodes |
2013 | The Talk | Episode: "The Cast of" The Millers "/Sunny Anderson" | |
2013 | Katie | Episode: "Exclusives with Real Husbands of Hollywood/Nelly Performs" | |
2013–2015 | The Millers | Ray | Main role |
2013–2016, 2022 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Himself | Main role |
2014 | Chicago P.D. | Sergeant Pruit | Episode: "Stepping Stone" |
2014 | Last Comic Standing | Himself (host) | Main role |
2014–2016 | Talking Dead | Himself | 2 episodes |
2014–2017 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Anton Zeck / Bebop | Voice, main role |
2015 | The Soul Man | Terrell | Episode: "Oh Snow You Didn't" |
2015–2016 | Fresh Off the Boat | Barry | 2 episodes |
2016 | Epic Rap Battles of History | Frederick Douglass | Episode: "Frederick Douglass vs Thomas Jefferson" |
2016 | Match Game | Himself | 2 episodes |
2016 | Transparent | Porter | Episode: "Elizah" |
2016–2017 | Life in Pieces | Darryl | 2 episodes |
2016 | Chopped Junior | Himself | Episode: "Dinner Is Served" |
2018 | Desus & Mero | 1 episode | |
2018 | New Girl | Van Bishop | Episode: "Godparents" |
2018–2019 | 3Below: Tales of Arcadia | Phil | Voice, 10 episodes |
2019 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Episode: "The Grand Finale" |
2019 | The Masked Singer | Episode: "All Together Now" | |
2019–present | Harley Quinn | Frank the Plant | Voice, main role |
2020 | The Last O.G. | Carl | 4 episodes |
2020 | Mapleworth Murders | Chief Billy Bills | 9 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series |
2020–2022 | Woke | Marker | Voice, 16 episodes |
2021 | Crank Yankers | Philip Johnson | Voice, 2 episodes |
2021–2022 | Fairfax | Quattro the Pigeon | Voice, 15 episodes |
2022 | Beat Bobby Flay | Himself; guest host | Episode: "Smoove Moves" |
2022 | Teen Titans Go! | Black Manta | Voice, 2 episodes |
2022 | Blockbuster | Percy Scott | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
Video games
[edit]Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | Dr. Ray De Angelo Harris |
2016 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Portal Power | Bebop |
2022 | High On Life | Gus |
References
[edit]- ^ab"Jerry Angelo Brooks North Carolina Birth Index".FamilySearch.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^abcItzkoff, Dave (27 January 2008)."JB Smoove – Curb Your Enthusiasm – Television".The New York Times.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^abcMaron, Marc (9 July 2012)."Episode 295 – JB Smoove".WTF with Marc Maron.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^abcMyers, Marc (2 June 2015)."JB Smoove's Childhood Moves".The Wall Street Journal.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^abKramer, Peter D. (23 February 2015)."JB Smoove on Mt. Vernon, high school and more".The Journal News.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^abSeinfeld, Jerry; Smoove, JB (7 July 2016)."JB Smoove: 'Everybody Respects A Bloody Nose'".Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.Season 8. Episode 4. Archived fromthe originalon 25 September 2017.Retrieved12 July2016.
- ^Marsh, Steven P."J.B. Smoove: 'Curb' comic back in Westchester".The Journal News.Retrieved2022-06-02.
- ^Malone, Michael (January 2014)."Talking With Curb Your Enthusiasm's JB Smoove".Westchester Magazine.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^"Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee S08 E04 J B Smoove Everybody Respects a Bloody Nose".Dailymotion.Retrieved2020-04-07.
- ^"Previous Nominees & Winners: 2007 Award Winners".Writers Guild of America.Archived fromthe originalon 6 December 2015.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^Nesbitt, Andy (30 January 2014)."JB Smoove dishes on how he got his role on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' Richard Sherman's passion, and his Super Bowl prediction".Fox Sports.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^Miller, Gerri (28 February 2011)."Q&A: Comedian and Actor JB Smoove".BET.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^Black, Leon; Smoove, JB; Bahr, Iris (10 October 2017).The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool.Gallery Books.ISBN978-1-5011-8072-9.
- ^Bibel, Sara (20 March 2014)."'Last Comic Standing' Season 8 to Premiere Thursday, May 22 on NBC With Judges Roseanne Barr, Keenen Ivory Wayans & Russell Peters ".TV by the Numbers(Press release). Archived fromthe originalon 22 March 2014.Retrieved20 March2014.
- ^Dry, Jude (16 June 2016)."Why JB Smoove Thinks Larry David Is A 'Different Animal' Than Jerry Seinfeld".Indiewire.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^Reed, Ryan (22 November 2017)."Watch Sia's 'Santa's Coming for Us' Video With Kristen Bell, J.B. Smoove".rollingstone.Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2017.Retrieved13 December2017.
- ^Frank, Priscilla (2019-02-20)."How 'The Masked Singer' Became 2019's Must-See 'Car Crash TV'".HuffPost.Retrieved2019-03-14.
- ^"Spider-Man: JB Smoove's Far From Home Role Revealed".CBR.2019-05-10.Retrieved2021-05-06.
- ^"Spider-Man's JB Smoove Confirms He's in No Way Home".comicbook.Retrieved2021-05-06.
- ^Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019)."Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJuly 7,2020.
- ^"2021 Emmy Nominations: The Complete List".Entertainment Tonight.13 July 2021.Retrieved2021-07-13.
- ^"'May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom From JB Smoove' Is Out Now ".TeamCoco.Retrieved21 May2021.
- ^"Team Coco Podcasts".TeamCoco.Retrieved21 May2021.
- ^ab"JB Smoove".bgcmvny.org.Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^"JB Smoove Explains the Perfect Shoes to Rock When Cheating & More While Sneaker Shopping".highsnobiety.
- ^"Comedian JB Smoove Talks HBO'sCurb Your Enthusiasm& More in Studio ".The Rich Eisen Show.8 November 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 24 August 2021.Retrieved28 December2017.
- ^"ESPN and NBA announce celebrity rosters and coaches for 2019 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles exclusively on ESPN".NBA(Press release).Retrieved2019-02-11.
- ^Starostinetskaya, Anna."Curb Your Enthusiasm's J.B. Smoove Voices Just's First Vegan Egg Commercial".VegNews.Retrieved2022-12-31.
- ^JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz ItTV specialatIMDbRetrieved February 22, 2022.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1965 births
- Living people
- Actors from Mount Vernon, New York
- African-American male actors
- African-American stand-up comedians
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male television writers
- American male voice actors
- American stand-up comedians
- American television writers
- Comedians from New York (state)
- Male actors from New York (state)
- Male actors from North Carolina
- MSG Network people
- Norfolk State University alumni
- People from Plymouth, North Carolina
- Screenwriters from New York (state)
- Screenwriters from North Carolina
- Writers from Mount Vernon, New York
- 20th-century American comedians
- 21st-century American comedians
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- 20th-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American people
- Mount Vernon High School (New York) alumni
- African-American male comedians
- American male comedians
- Comedians from North Carolina