Jimmy Fallon biography

Synopsis

Early Years

Comedian and actor James Thomas Fallon Jr. was born September 19, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York. He was a Saturday Night Live enthusiast since childhood, and his kindergarten photo included the caption: "Most likely to take over for David Letterman." He attended the College of St. Rose in Albany before dropping out just shy of graduation to pursue a career in comedy in Los Angeles.

Saturday Night Live

In the late 1990s, Fallon moved back to New York and fulfilled a lifelong dream. He got a chance to audition for his favorite show, Saturday Night Live. Meeting with co-creator and producer Lorne Michaels, Fallon won him over with his impression of Adam Sandler. He joined the show's cast for the 1998-1999 season, which also featured Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan and Molly Shannon.

During his time on the show, Fallon became known for his impressions. He took on such famous names as Robert De Niro, John Lennon, Chris Rock and Mick Jagger. As for original characters, Fallon brought to life a diverse mix of personalities. There was a snotty department store clerk, a boy-band member and a sullen Boston teen, among others. Fallon also co-hosted the show's recurring news sketch "Weekend Update" with Tina Fey. The duo proved to be a popular pairing with the show's fans.

In 2004, Fallon announced during the "Weekend Update" section that he was leaving the show. He then attempted to transition into feature films, with mixed results. That year, Fallon teamed up with Queen Latifah for the crime comedy Taxi, which proved to be a commercial and critical dud. He paired up with Drew Barrymore for the 2005 baseball-themed romantic comedy Fever Pitch. In 2006, Fallon showed a more dramatic side in Factory Girl. The film starred Guy Pearce as artist Andy Warhol and Sienna Miller as his muse, Edie Sedgwick. Fallon played promoter Chuck Wein.

Late-Night Personality

In 2008, Fallon landed a challenging, high-profile role. NBC announced that the young comedian would be taking over Conan O'Brien's late-night talk show the following year. He was under a lot of pressure when his show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, first aired in March 2009. His first guests included Robert De Niro and Justin Timberlake.

While he initially received mixed reviews, Fallon has become a popular late-night host. His boyish charm and quirky spoofs and stunts have won over audiences. In addition to interviews and monologues, Fallon does comedy segments, including playing games with guests and making humorous videos.

Outside of his show, Fallon has served as the host of the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards. He also appeared in the 2009 roller-derby comedy Whip It.

Personal Life

Fallon lives in New York City. He married Hollywood producer Nancy Juvonen on Necker Island in the Caribbean on December 22, 2007.

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