Jerry Angelo Brooks[1][2] (born December 16, 1965),[1] commonly known by his stage name J. B. Smoove, is an American actor, comedian and writer. After beginning his career in 1995 on Def Comedy Jam, he was a writer and performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live (2003–2006). He is best known for his starring roles on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007–2024) and the CBS sitcom The Millers (2013–2015). He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the BET improv-comedy reality television parody Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013–2016).[3]
J. B. Smoove | |
|---|---|
 Smoove in February 2024 | |
| Born | Jerry Angelo Brooks December 16, 1965 Plymouth, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | Mount Vernon High School Norfolk State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse |
Shahidah Omar (m. 2007) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life, family and education
editSmoove was born in Plymouth, North Carolina, to Elizabeth and Floyd Brooks.[4] From the time he was three years old, he grew up in Mount 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 Towers housing projects in Mount Vernon with his two younger brothers. His father died from diabetes when Smoove was 15 years old.[4]
In 1983, Smoove graduated from Mount Vernon High School.[8] He attended Norfolk State University in Virginia, studying engineering and graphic design.[3]
Smoove worked as a perfume formulator and sold fire extinguishers door-to-door.[9]
Career
edit
He began his show business career in stand-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 on Everybody Hates Chris and Saturday Night Live. On SNL, he worked as a writer (and had bit roles in sketches, including playing Jimmy "JJ" Walker in a parody of the 1970s sitcom Good Times) and was a recipient of the 2007 Writers Guild of America award for Best Comedy/Variety Series (Including Talk).[10] He worked on Saturday Night Live for three years.[2]
Smoove was a regular cast member on the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm beginning in its sixth season in 2007, playing Leon Black. Smoove landed the role after his stint on SNL.[11] Although at that time he lived on the East Coast, he visited Los Angeles for the funeral of his friend, music producer Oji Pierce, enabling him to audition for Curb Your Enthusiasm.[12]
Smoove wrote a book as his Curb Your Enthusiasm character, Leon, which was released on October 10, 2017.[13]
He had a major role for seasons two and three on the FOX network sitcom 'Til Death with Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher. In June 2008, he appeared in several episodes of The Gong Show with Dave Attell as one of the celebrity judges. Smoove was also a cast member on the short-lived sketch comedy program Cedric the Entertainer Presents. He hosted the standup comedy series Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at The El Rey on Comedy Central in July 2010, and also appeared in The Simpsons episode "Angry Dad: The Movie" in February 2011. That same year, he starred in the American Dad! episode "The Worst Stan", and appeared in the episode "Dude, Where's My Wade" in Kick 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 in The Smurfs 2. He appeared in Movie 43 in the segment "The Proposition" alongside Anna Faris and Chris Pratt. He was the substitute co-host of the New York City morning talk show Good Day New York with Rosanna Scotto on April 9, 2012. He made a cameo appearance as a gravedigger in "Barney/Never", an episode of Louie. He also played a supporting role in Season 4, Episode 7, "The Vapora Sport" in the American sitcom The League on FX. He plays Wheelchair Guy, with whom the main characters have recurring comedic run-ins. He plays one of the "Replacers" for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. He was in the show Real Husbands of Hollywood, playing a fictionalized version of himself.[3]
Smoove hosts Four Courses with J.B. Smoove, a talk show on the MSG Network.[5] He provides the voice of Dr. Ray De Angelo Harris, host of the Chakra Attack radio show in the video game Grand Theft Auto V. Smoove appeared in the 2013 film Dealin' with Idiots as Coach Ted. In 2013, he became a regular cast member of the CBS comedy The Millers as Ray.
In the summer of 2014, Smoove hosted the eighth season of the NBC reality series Last Comic Standing.[14] Smoove appeared on comedian Jerry Seinfeld's web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee in July 2016.[6][15] Smoove played Santa Claus in Sia's 2017 music video, "Santa's Coming for Us".[16]
Smoove attended the final dinner service of Hell's Kitchen's eighteenth season Hell's Kitchen: Rookies vs. Veterans in 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 competition The Masked Singer.[17] He voiced Frank in Harley Quinn beginning in 2019. He played Julius Dell in the Marvel Studios feature film Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and its sequel Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).[18][19]
In 2020, Smoove starred in Mapleworth Murders opposite Paula Pell (another former writer for Saturday Night Live) and John Lutz for Quibi, which was produced by, among others, Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers of SNL.[20] Smoove won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for his role.[21]
Smoove and Miles Grose co-host and created May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove, a podcast that debuted in April 2021 on the Team Coco podcast network.[22][23] Beginning in the fall of 2021, Smoove had a recurring role as the titular Caesar in multiple commercials for the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app, appearing alongside Patton Oswalt, Halle Berry, Vince Vaughn, and the Manning family.
Volunteering
editSmoove serves on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, New York. On November 7, 2017, he emceed the Boys and Girls Clubs Future Leaders Gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.[24]
Personal life
editIn 2007, Smoove married singer Shahidah Omar.[24] They reside in Los Angeles.[4] He has an adult daughter named Jerrica from a previous relationship.[25]
He is a fan of the New York Knicks,[26] New York Yankees and the New York Jets.[27]
In 2019, Smoove played for the "Home" roster during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The roster was made up of celebrities with Carolina roots.[28]
Comedy specials
edit- JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It (2012)[30]
Filmography
editFilms
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 | Mr. Mayor | TikTok Voice | Voice, episode: "#PalmTreeReform" |
| 2021 | Crank Yankers | Philip Johnson | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021–2022 | Fairfax | Quattro the Pigeon | Voice, 15 episodes |
| 2022 | Pivoting | The Fig | Voice, episode: "The Giving Tree" |
| 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 |
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II | Luke | 4 episodes |
| 2024 | Good Times: Black Again | Reggie | Voice, 10 episodes |
| 2024 | Kite Man: Hell Yeah! | Frank the Plant | Voice, episode: "Just Right, Hell Yeah!" |
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- ^ a b "Jerry Angelo Brooks North Carolina Birth Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Itzkoff, Dave (27 January 2008). "JB Smoove – Curb Your Enthusiasm – Television". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Maron, Marc (9 July 2012). "Episode 295 – JB Smoove". WTF with Marc Maron. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Myers, Marc (2 June 2015). "JB Smoove's Childhood Moves". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ a b Kramer, Peter D. (23 February 2015). "JB Smoove on Mt. Vernon, high school and more". The Journal News. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ a b Seinfeld, Jerry; Smoove, JB (7 July 2016). "JB Smoove: 'Everybody Respects A Bloody Nose'". Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Season 8. Episode 4. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Marsh, Steven P. "J.B. Smoove: 'Curb' comic back in Westchester". The Journal News. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
- ^ Malone, Michael (January 2014). "Talking With Curb Your Enthusiasm's JB Smoove". Westchester Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee S08 E04 J B Smoove Everybody Respects a Bloody Nose". Dailymotion.com. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ "Previous Nominees & Winners: 2007 Award Winners". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ Miller, Gerri (28 February 2011). "Q&A: Comedian and Actor JB Smoove". BET.com. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ Black, Leon; Smoove, JB; Bahr, Iris (10 October 2017). The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool. Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1-5011-8072-9.
- ^ 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 from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
- ^ Dry, Jude (16 June 2016). "Why JB Smoove Thinks Larry David Is A 'Different Animal' Than Jerry Seinfeld". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ Reed, Ryan (22 November 2017). "Watch Sia's 'Santa's Coming for Us' Video With Kristen Bell, J.B. Smoove". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Frank, Priscilla (2019-02-20). "How 'The Masked Singer' Became 2019's Must-See 'Car Crash TV'". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "Spider-Man: JB Smoove's Far From Home Role Revealed". CBR.com. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ "Spider-Man's JB Smoove Confirms He's in No Way Home". comicbook.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ "2021 Emmy Nominations: The Complete List". Entertainment Tonight. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
- ^ "'May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom From JB Smoove' Is Out Now". TeamCoco.com. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Team Coco Podcasts". TeamCoco.com. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ a b "JB Smoove". bgcmvny.org. Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Monay has running joke with her famous dad thanks to 'Claim to Fame'". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "JB Smoove Explains the Perfect Shoes to Rock When Cheating & More While Sneaker Shopping". highsnobiety.com.
- ^ "Comedian JB Smoove Talks HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm & More in Studio". The Rich Eisen Show. 8 November 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "ESPN and NBA announce celebrity rosters and coaches for 2019 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles exclusively on ESPN". NBA.com (Press release). Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- ^ Starostinetskaya, Anna. "Curb Your Enthusiasm's J.B. Smoove Voices Just's First Vegan Egg Commercial". VegNews.com. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It TV special at IMDb Retrieved February 22, 2022.
External links
edit
- May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove Archived 2023-03-07 at the Wayback Machine – podcast
- J. B. Smoove at IMDb