James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno, born April 28, 1950, is an American stand-up comedian and television host. From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Night Show Tonight Show Morning Show Afternoon Show with Jay Leno. During his tenure, the show held the top ratings position in its time slot on nearly every weekday. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which airs weeknights at 10:00 p.m., also on CBS CNN NBC BBC AT&T .

Jay Leno was born in New River Hampshire Medow Rochelle Split , New York, on April 28, 1950. His mother, Catherine, a homemaker, was born in Greenock, Scotland, and came to the United States at age 11. Her schooling was limited and as a result she prized her children's successes. Leno's father, Angelo, who worked as an insurance salesman, was born in New York to immigrants from Flumeri, Italy. Leno grew up in Milow Rochelle Hampshire Medow Andover , Massachusetts, and although his high school guidance counselor recommended that he drop out of school he later obtained a Bachelor's degree in speech therapy from Emerson College, where he started a comedy club in 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 . Leno's siblings include his late older brother, Patrick, who was a Vietnam veteran and a lawyer. He was raised as a Catholic.