J. B. Smoove
Who J. B. Smoove is
American comedian, actor and writer, born in Plymouth, North Carolina, and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, who began on Def Comedy Jam in 1995 and was a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live from 2003 to 2006. He is best known as Leon Black on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007–2024); his Comedy Central stand-up special That's How I Dooz It premiered in 2012, he hosted NBC's Last Comic Standing in 2014, and he won a 2021 Emmy for Mapleworth Murders. He lives in Los Angeles and still tours.
At a glance
- Born
- 1965
- Based in
- Los Angeles, CA
- Came up through
- Saturday Night Live, Def Comedy Jam and Last Comic Standing
- Stand-up specials
- JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It
- Podcasts
- May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove and The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool
- On screen
- Def Comedy Jam, Saturday Night Live, Curb Your Enthusiasm and 6 more
- Official site
- jb-smoove.com ↗
On stage
No dated show on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar right now — their own site has their dates: jb-smoove.com ↗.
Lineups belong to the rooms and the comedians, and can change; each listing has the last word. Their nights on the Comedy Calendar →
Specials, shows and podcasts
Stand-up specials
- JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It 2012, Comedy Central
On screen
- Def Comedy Jam stand-up and writer, 1995
- Saturday Night Live writer and performer, 2003–2006
- Curb Your Enthusiasm Leon Black, 2007–2024
- 'Til Death Kenny Westchester, 2008–2010
- The Millers Ray, 2013–2015
- Real Husbands of Hollywood himself, 2013–2016
- Last Comic Standing host, 2014
- Mapleworth Murders Chief Billy Bills, 2020
- Top Five Silk, 2014
Podcasts
- May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove co-host with Miles Grose, 2021–2022
- The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool book, 2017
Where they got their start
- Saturday Night Live writer and performer, 2003–2006
- Def Comedy Jam stand-up and writer, 1995
- Last Comic Standing host, 2014
Came up the same way
Other comedians in SUCDb who came through Saturday Night Live, Def Comedy Jam and Last Comic Standing:
Comedians like J. B. Smoove
Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.
- Chris Rock also in Top Five
- Faizon Love also in Real Husbands of Hollywood
- Craig Robinson also came through Def Comedy Jam
- Kevin Hart also in Real Husbands of Hollywood
- Bill Bellamy also came through Def Comedy Jam
- Lavell Crawford also came through Def Comedy Jam
- Rich Vos also came through Def Comedy Jam
- Russell Peters also came through Def Comedy Jam
Career timeline
- 1965Born
- 1995Def Comedy Jam (stand-up and writer, 1995) On screen
- 2003Saturday Night Live (writer and performer, 2003–2006) On screen
- 2007Curb Your Enthusiasm (Leon Black, 2007–2024) On screen
- 2008'Til Death (Kenny Westchester, 2008–2010) On screen
- 2012JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It (2012, Comedy Central) Special
- 2013The Millers (Ray, 2013–2015) On screen
- 2013Real Husbands of Hollywood (himself, 2013–2016) On screen
- 2014Last Comic Standing (host, 2014) On screen
- 2014Top Five (Silk, 2014) On screen
- 2017The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool (book, 2017) Book
- 2020Mapleworth Murders (Chief Billy Bills, 2020) On screen
- 2021May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove (co-host with Miles Grose, 2021–2022) Podcast or book
Questions about J. B. Smoove
Where is J. B. Smoove performing next?
No date is on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar right now; their own site has their dates: jb-smoove.com ↗.
What stand-up specials have they released?
JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It.
What podcast do they host?
May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove and The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool.
What TV shows and films are they in?
Def Comedy Jam, Saturday Night Live, Curb Your Enthusiasm, 'Til Death, The Millers and Real Husbands of Hollywood, among 9 credits.
Where did they get their start?
Saturday Night Live (writer and performer), Def Comedy Jam (stand-up and writer) and Last Comic Standing (host).
Where are they based?
Los Angeles, CA, as their record gives it.
When were they born?
In 1965.
Who are some comedians like them?
Chris Rock (also in Top Five), Faizon Love (also in Real Husbands of Hollywood), Craig Robinson (also came through Def Comedy Jam), Kevin Hart (also in Real Husbands of Hollywood) and Bill Bellamy (also came through Def Comedy Jam).
The full SUCDb record
The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with a button to add them to your D.O.C., your twelve.
Sources
- Wikipedia — J. B. Smoove ↗ Birth year and place, Def Comedy Jam 1995, SNL 2003–2006, Curb, sitcoms, 2012 Comedy Central special, Last Comic Standing, Emmy, podcast, book, Los Angeles…
- JB Smoove — About (official site) ↗ Same background and credits; hosted Last Comic Standing and The Ruckus; one-hour special How I Dooz It
- JB Smoove — Tour (official site) ↗ Official tour-dates page
Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026