J. B. Smoove
Encyclopedia
Jerry Brooks better known by his stage name J.B. Smoove, is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian, who began his TV career on Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam in the early '90's. He is known for his recurring role as Leon on Curb Your Enthusiasm
and Trucky in Pootie Tang
.
, and raised in Mount Vernon, New York
. He grew up with the name Jerry Brooks, which he later shortened to "J.B.", and added Smoove as his last name when he began performing stand-up comedy.
and Saturday Night Live
. On SNL, he worked as a writer (and had bit roles in sketches, including playing Jimmy "J.J" 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).
Smoove's film credits include With or Without You
, Pootie Tang
, Mr. Deeds
, Paper Soldiers
, Date Night
, and Hall Pass.
He had a major role for seasons 2 & 3 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
.
Smoove hosted the stand-up comedy series Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at The El Rey on Comedy Central
in July 2010 and appeared on the Simpsons in February 2011.
Smoove has been a regular cast member on the HBO hit comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm
playing "Leon Black" since its 6th season in 2007.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
and Trucky in Pootie Tang
Pootie Tang
Pootie Tang is an American comedy film written and directed by Louis C.K. and released in 2001. It was adapted from a comedy sketch that first appeared on The Chris Rock Show. The character Pootie Tang is a satire of the stereotyped characters who appeared in old blaxploitation films...
.
Early life
Smoove was born in Plymouth, North CarolinaPlymouth, North Carolina
Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,107 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, and raised in Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
. He grew up with the name Jerry Brooks, which he later shortened to "J.B.", and added Smoove as his last name when he began performing stand-up comedy.
Career
Smoove has had recurring roles on Everybody Hates ChrisEverybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is an African American television period sitcom inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock , while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . The show is set from 1982 to 1987; however, Rock himself was a teenager during years...
and Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
. On SNL, he worked as a writer (and had bit roles in sketches, including playing Jimmy "J.J" Walker in a parody of the 1970s sitcom Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
) and was a recipient of the 2007 Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
award for Best Comedy/Variety Series (Including Talk).
Smoove's film credits include With or Without You
With or Without You (film)
With or Without You is a 2003 comedy-drama film, directed by G. Stubbs. The film stars Cynda Williams, Mushond Lee, and Wendy Raquel Robinson.-Plot:...
, Pootie Tang
Pootie Tang
Pootie Tang is an American comedy film written and directed by Louis C.K. and released in 2001. It was adapted from a comedy sketch that first appeared on The Chris Rock Show. The character Pootie Tang is a satire of the stereotyped characters who appeared in old blaxploitation films...
, Mr. Deeds
Mr. Deeds
Mr. Deeds is a 2002 American comedy film, directed by Steven Brill and starring Adam Sandler and Winona Ryder. The movie, which is loosely a remake of the 1936 film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, also stars Peter Gallagher, John Turturro, Allen Covert and Steve Buscemi...
, Paper Soldiers
Paper Soldiers
Paper Soldiers is an urban crime comedy released in 2002. It stars Kevin Hart, Beanie Sigel, Stacey Dash, Kamal Ahmed, and rapper Jay-Z appears in a cameo role...
, Date Night
Date Night
Date Night is a 2010 action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy and starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey. It was released in the United States on April 9, 2010...
, and Hall Pass.
He had a major role for seasons 2 & 3 on the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network sitcom 'Til Death
'Til Death
’Til Death is an American sitcom which aired on the Fox network from September 7, 2006, to June 20, 2010. The series was created by husband-and-wife team Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, who were also the writers and executive-producers...
with Brad Garrett
Brad Garrett
Bradley "Brad" Garrett is an American actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, and professional poker player. Throughout he has appeared in numerous television and film roles....
and Joely Fisher
Joely Fisher
Joely Fisher is an American actress best known for her work on television as Paige Clark on Ellen as well as Joy Stark in the Fox sitcom Til Death, and also on stage and in films.-Background:...
. In June 2008, he taped several episodes of The Gong Show with Dave Attell
The Gong Show with Dave Attell
The Gong Show with Dave Attell is a revival of the 1970s Chuck Barris comedy game show called The Gong Show, hosted by comedian Dave Attell. The show premiered on July 17, 2008...
as one of the celebrity judges. Smoove was also a cast member on the short-lived sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
program Cedric the Entertainer Presents
Cedric the Entertainer Presents
Cedric the Entertainer Presents was an American sketch comedy television series starring Cedric the Entertainer. The series premiered September 18, 2002 on Fox and after the first season, Fox renewed the show for a second season but right before the show aired its second season, Fox canceled the...
.
Smoove hosted the stand-up comedy series Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at The El Rey on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
in July 2010 and appeared on the Simpsons in February 2011.
Smoove has been a regular cast member on the HBO hit comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
playing "Leon Black" since its 6th season in 2007.