JB Smoove is an American actor, writer, comedian, and producer who rose to fame through his comedic roles on television. He is best known for his role as Leon Black on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm and as Larry David’s “man on the street” on Saturday Night Live. He has also appeared in films such as Pootie Tang, Hall Pass, Date Night, and Think Like A Man. Smoove is an accomplished stand-up comedian, having performed on The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and Def Comedy Jam. He is also the author of the book The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool.
Early Life
JB Smoove was born Jerry Brooks on December 16, 1965 in Plymouth, North Carolina. He was raised in Mount Vernon, New York and attended Mount Vernon High School. After graduating, he attended Norfolk State University, where he studied electrical engineering. He later moved to New York City to pursue a career in comedy.
Career
In the early 1990s, Smoove began performing stand-up comedy, appearing on Def Comedy Jam and The Apollo Comedy Hour. He made his television debut in 1995 on The Apollo Comedy Hour. In 2001, he made his feature film debut in Pootie Tang. He went on to appear in films such as Hall Pass, Date Night, and Think Like A Man.
In 2007, Smoove joined the cast of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm as Leon Black, a role he has portrayed for over a decade. He has also appeared on Saturday Night Live as Larry David’s “man on the street” and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In addition to his acting career, he is also an accomplished stand-up comedian and has released the book The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool.
Personal Life
JB Smoove is married to Shahidah Omar and the couple have two children. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and traveling. Smoove is also an avid fan of the New York Knicks and the New York Giants.
JB Smoove is an American actor, writer, comedian, and producer who has made a name for himself through his comedic roles on television and in films. He is best known for his role as Leon Black on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm and as Larry David’s “man on the street” on Saturday Night Live. He is also an accomplished stand-up comedian and author of the book The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool. Smoove is married to Shahidah Omar and the couple have two children. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
