Leno was born in New Rochelle, New York. His mother, Catherine (née Muir), a homemaker, was born in Greenock, Scotland, and came to the United States as an eleven year-old. Her schooling was limited and as a result she prized her children's education. His father, Angelo Leno, who worked in the insurance business, was born in New York to immigrants from Flumeri, Italy. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, and though his high school guidance counselor recommended he drop out of high school he not only graduated but went on to receive a bachelor's degree in speech therapy from Emerson College, in 1973. Leno's siblings include his late brother Patrick, who was a veteran.As he was growing up he used to say that he would take over Johnny Carson's job, which he eventually did. Early in his career Leno did commercials for Doritos brand tortilla chips. In the late 1970s, he was the warm-up act for Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones and John Denver. He replaced Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show in 1992. He plans to retire from the show in 2009, to be replaced by Conan O'Brien. During an August 1, 2007 interview with CNN journalist Anderson Cooper on The Tonight Show, Jay Leno confirmed that he is dyslexic.
Though married for many years, he has no children, as mentioned in his July 9, 2008, interview with Aaron Eckhart.
Quick Info
Birth name James Douglas Muir Leno
Born April 28, 1950, New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
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