J. B. Smoove

Jerry Angelo Brooks[1][2] (born December 16, 1965),[1] known as J. B. Smoove, is an American actor, writer, comedian, and voice actor. After beginning his career in 1995 on Def Comedy Jam, he was a writer and performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live (2003–05), and is best known for his recurring roles on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007–present) and the CBS sitcom The Millers (2013–15). He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the BET improv-comedy reality television parody Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013–16).[3]

J. B. Smoove
Smoove in April 2014
Born
Jerry Angelo Brooks

(1965-12-16) December 16, 1965
OccupationActor, writer, comedian, voice actor
Years active1995–present
Spouse(s)
Shahidah Omar
(m. 2007)
Children1

Early life

Smoove was born in Plymouth, North Carolina, to parents Floyd and Elizabeth 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 extended maternal family in the Plymouth area, which he has said inspired much of his comedy. In Mount Vernon, he grew up in the Levister Towers housing projects with his two younger brothers. Smoove's father died from diabetes when Smoove was 15 years old.[4]

In 1983, Smoove graduated from Mount Vernon High School.[7] 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.[8]

Career

Smoove in 2012

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).[9] He was on Saturday Night Live for three years.[2]

Smoove has been a regular cast member on the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm since its sixth season in 2007, playing Leon Black. Smoove got the role of Leon on Curb Your Enthusiasm after his stint on SNL.[10] Although he was at that time based on the East Coast, he was in Los Angeles for his friend, music producer Oji Pierce's funeral, so was able to audition for Curb Your Enthusiasm.[11] Smoove wrote a book as his Curb Your Enthusiasm character, Leon, which was released on October 10, 2017.[12]

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 taped 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 on an episode of The Simpsons titled '"Angry Dad: The Movie" in February 2011. Also in 2011, he starred in the American Dad! episode "The Worst Stan" and appeared in an episode of Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil called "Dude, Where's My Wade".

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. Smoove 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 had a cameo as a grave digger in the episode of Louie entitled "Barney/Never". 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, where he played a fictionalized version of himself.[3]

Smoove hosts a talk show on the MSG Network called Four Courses With JB Smoove.[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, playing the character Ray.

In the summer of 2014, Smoove hosted the eighth season of the NBC reality series Last Comic Standing.[13]

In July 2016, Smoove appeared on comedian Jerry Seinfeld's web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.[6][14]

In 2017, Smoove played Santa in Sia's music video, "Santa's Coming for Us".[15]

In 2019, Smoove attended the final dinner service of Hell’s Kitchen's eighteenth season Hell's Kitchen: Rookies vs. Veterans 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.[16] He also voiced Frank in Harley Quinn beginning in 2019.

In 2020, Smoove starred in Mapleworth Murders opposite Paula Pell and John Lutz for Quibi.[17]

Volunteering

Smoove serves on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. On November 7, 2017, he emceed the Boys and Girls Clubs Future Leaders Gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.[18]

Personal life

In 2007, Smoove married singer Shahidah Omar.[18] They live together in Los Angeles.[4] He has an adult daughter from a previous relationship. He shortened his name, Jerry Brooks, to "J. B." and added "Smoove" as his last name when he began performing stand-up comedy. He is a fan of the New York Knicks,[19] New York Yankees and the New York Jets.[20]

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.[21]

He is a vegan.[22]

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Lesser ProphetsChucky
1998Tomorrow NightMel the Mailman
2001Pootie TangTrucky
2002Mr. DeedsReuben
2003With or Without YouDarnell
2003The Watermelon HeistNumbers
2004GasIgnatius
2009FrankenhoodLeon
2010Hurricane SeasonTeam Bus Driver
2010Date NightCabbie
2011Hall PassFlats
2011We Bought a ZooMr. Stevens
2011The SitterJulio
2012Think Like a ManBartender
2012The DictatorFuneral Usher
2013Movie 43LarrySegment: "The Proposition"
2013A Haunted HouseKisha's Dad
2013Dealin' with IdiotsCoach Ted
2013The Smurfs 2HackusVoice
2013Clear HistoryJaspar
2014Search PartyBerk
2014Top FiveSilk
2015Hell and BackSal the DemonVoice
2016Barbershop: The Next CutOne-Stop
2016Almost ChristmasLonnie
2017The Polka KingRon Edwards
2018Uncle DrewAngelo
2019Spider-Man: Far From HomeJulius Dell
2019The Jesus RollsThe Mechanic
2021On the Count of ThreePost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995Def Comedy JamHimselfAlso writer
1998Law & OrderLevonEpisode: "Bait"
2002–2003Cedric the Entertainer PresentsVariousMain role
2003EdAlvinEpisode: "Second Chances"
2003–2005Saturday Night LiveVariousAlso writer
2004–2013Jimmy Kimmel Live!HimselfRecurring role
2005Ego Trip's Race-O-RamaDocumentary
2007–2008Everybody Hates ChrisMannyRecurring role
2007–2011Comics UnleashedHimself3 episodes
2007–presentCurb Your EnthusiasmLeon BlackRecurring role (seasons 6–8)
Main (since season 9)
2008CarpoolersParking AttendantEpisode: "Wheel of Fortune"
2008The Gong Show with Dave AttellHimself4 episodes
2008Talkshow with Spike FerestenEpisode: "J. B. Smoove"
2008–2010'Til DeathKenny WestchesterMain role
2008–2013The Tonight Show with Jay LenoHimselfRecurring role
2009The Wanda Sykes Show1 episode
2009CastleNorman JessupEpisode: "Love Me Dead"
2009–2012American Dad!Airport Security Guard, Tracey Bryant (voices)Recurring role
2010America's Next Top ModelHimselfEpisode: "America's Next Top Vampire"
2010Glenn Martin DDSCurtis, Uncle Dexter (voices)Episode: "Step Brother"
2010The Bonnie Hunt ShowHimself1 episode
2010Late Night with Jimmy Fallon1 episode
2010Lopez Tonight1 episode
2011The Marriage RefEpisode: "Rachael Ray, Larry Miller, J. B. Smoove"
2011The SimpsonsDJ Kwanzaa (voice)Episode: "Angry Dad: The Movie"
2011In the Flow with Affion CrockettiDaddyEpisode: "Put the Kids to Bed"
2011–2013Funny as HellN/AWriter
2 episodes
2011–2017ConanHimselfRecurring role
2012JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz ItDocumentary
2012–2014Last Call with Carson Daly2 episodes
2012Watch What Happens: LiveEpisode: "J. B. Smoove and Shannon Elizabeth"
2012Black DynamiteThat Frog Kurtis, That Bastard Kurtis (voices)2 episodes
2012BentClemMain role
2012LouieGravedigger #2Episode: "Barney/Never"
2012Robot ChickenBosco "B.A." Baracus, Satan (voices)Episode: "Crushed by a Steamroller on My 53rd Birthday"
2012The LeagueDeRonEpisode: "The Vapora Sport"
2012–2013The Burn with Jeff RossHimself2 episodes
2012–2015The Wendy Williams Show4 episodes
2013Four Courses with JB SmooveHimself (host)
2013Kroll ShowBasketball PlayerEpisode: "Dine & Dash"
2013Chicago FireSergeant PruitEpisode: "Let Her Go"
2013The Arsenio Hall ShowHimself2 episodes
2013The TalkEpisode: "The Cast of "The Millers"/Sunny Anderson"
2013KatieEpisode: "Exclusives with Real Husbands of Hollywood/Nelly Performs"
2013–2015The MillersRayMain role
2013–2016Real Husbands of HollywoodHimselfMain role
2014Chicago P.D.Sergeant PruitEpisode: "Stepping Stone"
2014Last Comic StandingHimself (host)Main role
2014–2016Talking DeadHimself2 episodes
2014–2017Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesAnton Zeck / Bebop (voice)Main role
2015The Soul ManTerrellEpisode: "Oh Snow You Didn't"
2015–2016Fresh Off the BoatBarry2 episodes
2016Epic Rap Battles of HistoryFrederick DouglassEpisode: "Frederick Douglass vs Thomas Jefferson"
2016Match GameHimself2 episodes
2016TransparentPorterEpisode: "Elizah"
2016–2017Life in PiecesDarryl2 episodes
2016Chopped JuniorHimselfEpisode: "Dinner Is Served"
2018Desus & Mero1 episode
2018New GirlVan BishopEpisode: "Godparents"
2018–20193Below: Tales of ArcadiaPhil (voice)10 episodes
2019Hell's KitchenHimselfEpisode: "The Grand Finale"
2019The Masked SingerEpisode: "All Together Now"
2019–presentHarley QuinnFrank the Plant (voice)
2020The Last O.G.Carl4 episodes
2020Mapleworth MurdersChief Billy Bills
2020WokeMarker

Video games

YearTitleRole
2013Grand Theft Auto VDr. Ray De Angelo Harris
2016Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Portal PowerBebop

References

  1. "Jerry Angelo Brooks North Carolina Birth Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  2. Itzkoff, Dave (27 January 2008). "JB Smoove – Curb Your Enthusiasm – Television". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. Maron, Marc (9 July 2012). "Episode 295 – JB Smoove". WTF with Marc Maron. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  4. Myers, Marc (2 June 2015). "JB Smoove's Childhood Moves". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  5. Kramer, Peter D. (23 February 2015). "JB Smoove on Mt. Vernon, high school and more". The Journal News. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  6. Seinfeld, Jerry; Smoove, JB (7 July 2016). "JB Smoove: "Everybody Respects A Bloody Nose"". Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Season 8. Episode 4. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  7. Malone, Michael (January 2014). "Talking With Curb Your Enthusiasm's JB Smoove". Westchester Magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  8. "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee S08 E04 J B Smoove Everybody Respects a bl.oody Nose - Dailymotion Video". Dailymotion. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  9. "Previous Nominees & Winners: 2007 Award Winners". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  10. 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.
  11. Miller, Gerri (28 February 2011). "Q&A: Comedian and Actor JB Smoove". BET. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  12. Leon Black; JB Smoove; Iris Bahr (10 October 2017). The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool. Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1-5011-8072-9.
  13. 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.
  14. Dry, Jude (16 June 2016). "Why JB Smoove Thinks Larry David Is A 'Different Animal' Than Jerry Seinfeld". Indiewire. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  15. Reed, Ryan (22 November 2017). "Watch Sia's 'Santa's Coming for Us' Video With Kristen Bell, J.B. Smoove". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  16. Frank, Priscilla (2019-02-20). "How 'The Masked Singer' Became 2019's Must-See 'Car Crash TV'". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  17. Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  18. "JB Smoove". Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  19. "JB Smoove Explains the Perfect Shoes to Rock When Cheating & More While Sneaker Shopping". highsnobiety.com.
  20. "Comedian JB Smoove Talks HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm & More in Studio". The Rich Eisen Show. 8 November 2017.
  21. release, Official. "ESPN and NBA announce celebrity rosters and coaches for 2019 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles exclusively on ESPN". NBA.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  22. of GQ, The Editors. "How to Find Your Best Diet". GQ. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
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