J. B. Smoove
Jerry Angelo Brooks (born December 16, 1965), known professionally as J. Smoove, is an American comedian, actor, and writer. After beginning his career in 1995 on Def Comedy Jam, he was a writer and performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live (2003–2006). He is best known for his starring roles on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007–2024) and the CBS sitcom The Millers (2013–2015).
Also recorded as Jerry Brooks
J. B. Smoove

Mingle Media TV · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- J.
- Birth Name
- Jerry Angelo Brooks
- Birthplace
- Plymouth, North Carolina, U.S.
- Born
- 16 December 1965
- Occupation
- * Actor
- Full name
- Jerry Angelo Brooks.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Education
- Norfolk State University and Mount Vernon High School.
- Known for
- Música.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Jerry Angelo Brooks (born December 16, 1965), known professionally as J. Smoove, is an American comedian, actor, and writer. After beginning his career in 1995 on Def Comedy Jam, he was a writer and performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live (2003–2006). He is best known for his starring roles on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007–2024) and the CBS sitcom The Millers (2013–2015).
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Note VALÉORINE
J. B. Smoove (born 1965) is an actor, comedian and film actor, among other activities, of American nationality. The actor was born Jerry Angelo Brooks in Plymouth.
J. B. Smoove was educated at Mount Vernon High School and Norfolk State University. The actor lived in Los Angeles.
Among the works is Música. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q3778264 · wikipedia · J. B. Smoove
In this article
Biography
Biography
He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the BET improv-comedy reality television parody Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013–2016). He also portrayed Julius Dell in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies; Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) as a main role, and later reprised his role as a minor role in the sequel Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — J. B. Smoove • Birth Name — Jerry Angelo Brooks • Birthplace — Plymouth, North Carolina, U.S. • Born — 16 December 1965 • Occupation — * Actor • comedian • writer • Years Active — 1991–present • Children — 1
Early life
Early life
Jerry Angelo Brooks was born on December 16, 1965, in Plymouth, North Carolina. His parents are Elizabeth and Floyd Brooks. From the time he was three years old, he grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, a suburb of New York City. He spent a significant amount of time with his mother and extended maternal family in the Plymouth area, which he has said inspired much of his pursuit of comedy and comedy style. He resided in the Levister Towers housing projects in Mount Vernon with his two younger brothers. His father died from diabetes when Smoove was 15 years old. In 1983, Smoove graduated from Mount Vernon High School. He attended Norfolk State University in Virginia, studying engineering and graphic design.
Career
Career
• Illustration — Smoove in 2012 Smoove worked as a perfume formulator and sold fire extinguishers door-to-door. He began his show business career in stand-up comedy, which is when he shortened his name, Jerry Brooks, to "J. B." and added "Smoove" as his last name. He has landed 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). He worked on Saturday Night Live for three years. Smoove was a regular cast member on the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm beginning in its sixth season in 2007, playing Leon Black. Smoove landed the role after his stint on SNL. Although at that time he lived on the East Coast, he visited Los Angeles for the funeral of his friend, music producer Oji Pierce, enabling him to audition for Curb Your Enthusiasm. Smoove wrote a book as his Curb Your Enthusiasm character, Leon, which was released on October 10, 2017. 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 appeared in 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 in The Simpsons episode "Angry Dad: The Movie" in February 2011. That same year, he starred in the American Dad! episode "The Worst Stan", and appeared in the episode "Dude, Where's My Wade" in Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil. 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. He 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 made a cameo appearance as a gravedigger in "Barney/Never", an episode of Louie. 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 was in the show Real Husbands of Hollywood, playing a fictionalized version of himself. Smoove hosts Four Courses with J.B. Smoove, a talk show on the MSG Network. 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 as Ray. In the summer of 2014, Smoove hosted the eighth season of the NBC reality series Last Comic Standing. Smoove appeared on comedian Jerry Seinfeld's web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee in July 2016. Also in 2016, Smoove appeared in the web series Epic Rap Battles of History, portraying abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Smoove played Santa Claus in Sia's 2017 music video, "Santa's Coming for Us". He played Julius Dell in the Marvel Studios feature film Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and its sequel Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). In 2020, Smoove starred in Mapleworth Murders opposite Paula Pell (another former writer for Saturday Night Live) and John Lutz for Quibi, which was produced by, among others, Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers of SNL. Beginning in the fall of 2021, Smoove played a recurring role as the titular Caesar in multiple commercials for the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app, appearing alongside Patton Oswalt, Halle Berry, Vince Vaughn, and the Manning family. 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. Smoove and Miles Grose co-host and created May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove, a podcast that debuted in April 2021 on the Team Coco podcast network. In 2019, Smoove attended the final dinner service of reality TV series Hell's Kitchens 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. He voiced Frank in Harley Quinn beginning in 2019.
Charity work
Charity work
Smoove serves on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, New York. On November 7, 2017, he emceed the Boys and Girls Clubs Future Leaders Gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
Personal life
Personal life
In 2007, Smoove married singer Shahidah Omar. They reside in Los Angeles. He has an adult daughter named Jerrica from a previous relationship. He is a fan of the New York Knicks, New York Yankees and the New York Jets. He has been vegan since 2018.
Comedy specials
Comedy specials
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2012 — JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It — Self
Podcasts
Podcasts
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2012 — WTF with Marc Maron — Self — Episode 295 • 2021–2022 — May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom from JB Smoove — Self
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1995 — Def Comedy Jam — Himself — Also writer • 1998 — Law & Order — Levon — Episode: "Bait" • 2002–2003 — Cedric the Entertainer Presents — Various — Main role • 2003 — Ed — Alvin — Episode: "Second Chances" • 2003–2006 — Saturday Night Live — Various — Also writer • 2004–2013 — Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Himself — Recurring role • 2005 — Ego Trip's Race-O-Rama — Documentary • 2007–2008 — Everybody Hates Chris — Manny — Recurring role • 2007–2011 — Comics Unleashed — Himself — 3 episodes • 2007–2024 — Curb Your Enthusiasm — Leon Black — Recurring role (seasons 6–8) Main (seasons 9–12) • 2008 — Carpoolers — Parking Attendant — Episode: "Wheel of Fortune" • 2008 — The Gong Show with Dave Attell — Himself — 4 episodes • 2008 — Talkshow with Spike Feresten — Episode: "J. B. Smoove" • 2008–2010 — Til Death — Kenny Westchester — Main role • 2008–2013 — The Tonight Show with Jay Leno — Himself — Recurring role • 2009 — The Wanda Sykes Show — 1 episode • 2009 — Castle — Norman Jessup — Episode: "Love Me Dead" • 2009–2021 — American Dad! — Airport Security Guard, Radio Station Security Guard, Guy #1, Tracey Bryant — Voice, 6 episodes • 2010 — America's Next Top Model — Himself — Episode: "America's Next Top Vampire" • 2010 — Glenn Martin DDS — Curtis, Uncle Dexter — Voice, episode: "Step Brother" • 2010 — The Bonnie Hunt Show — Himself — 1 episode • 2010 — Late Night with Jimmy Fallon — 1 episode • 2010 — Lopez Tonight — 1 episode • 2011 — The Marriage Ref — Episode: "Rachael Ray, Larry Miller, J. B. Smoove" • 2011 — The Simpsons — DJ Kwanzaa — Voice, episode: "Angry Dad: The Movie" • 2011 — In the Flow with Affion Crockett — iDaddy — Episode: "Put the Kids to Bed" • 2011–2013 — Funny as Hell — Writer 2 episodes • 2011–2017 — Conan — Himself — Recurring role • 2012–2014 — Last Call with Carson Daly — 2 episodes • 2012 — Watch What Happens: Live — Episode: "J. B. Smoove and Shannon Elizabeth" • 2012 — Black Dynamite — That Frog Kurtis, That Bastard Kurtis — Voice, 2 episodes • 2012 — Bent — Clem — Main role • 2012 — Louie — Gravedigger #2 — Episode: "Barney/Never" • 2012 — Robot Chicken — B.A. Baracus, Satan — Voice, episode: "Crushed by a Steamroller on My 53rd Birthday" • 2012 — The League — DeRon — Episode: "The Vapora Sport" • 2012–2013 — The Burn with Jeff Ross — Himself — 2 episodes • 2012–2015 — The Wendy Williams Show — 4 episodes • 2013 — Four Courses with JB Smoove — Himself (host) • 2013 — Kroll Show — Basketball Player — Episode: "Dine & Dash" • 2013 — Chicago Fire — Sergeant Pruit — Episode: "Let Her Go" • 2013 — The Arsenio Hall Show — Himself — 2 episodes • 2013 — The Talk — Episode: "The Cast of "The Millers"/Sunny Anderson" • 2013 — Katie — Episode: "Exclusives with Real Husbands of Hollywood/Nelly Performs" • 2013–2015 — The Millers — Ray — Main role • 2013–2016, 2022 — Real Husbands of Hollywood — Himself — Main role • 2014 — Chicago P.D. — Sergeant Pruit — Episode: "Stepping Stone" • 2014 — Last Comic Standing — Himself (host) — Main role • 2014–2016 — Talking Dead — Himself — 2 episodes • 2014–2017 — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Anton Zeck / Bebop — Voice, main role • 2015 — The Soul Man — Terrell — Episode: "Oh Snow You Didn't" • 2015–2016 — Fresh Off the Boat — Barry — 2 episodes • 2016 — Epic Rap Battles of History — Frederick Douglass — Episode: "Frederick Douglass vs Thomas Jefferson" • 2016 — Match Game — Himself — 2 episodes • 2016 — Transparent — Porter — Episode: "Elizah" • 2016–2017 — Life in Pieces — Darryl — 2 episodes • 2016 — Chopped Junior — Himself — Episode: "Dinner Is Served" • 2018 — Desus & Mero — 1 episode • 2018 — New Girl — Van Bishop — Episode: "Godparents" • 2018–2019 — 3Below: Tales of Arcadia — Phil — Voice, 10 episodes • 2019 — Hell's Kitchen — Himself — Episode: "The Grand Finale" • 2019 — The Masked Singer — Episode: "All Together Now" • 2019–2025 — Harley Quinn — Frank the Plant — Voice, main role • 2020 — The Last O.G. — Carl — 4 episodes • 2020 — Mapleworth Murders — Chief Billy Bills — 9 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series • 2020–2022 — Woke — Marker — Voice, 16 episodes • 2021 — Mr. Mayor — TikTok Voice — Voice, episode: "#PalmTreeReform" • 2021 — Crank Yankers — Philip Johnson — Voice, 2 episodes • 2021–2022 — Fairfax — Quattro the Pigeon — Voice, 15 episodes • 2022 — Pivoting — The Fig — Voice, episode: "The Giving Tree" • 2022 — Beat Bobby Flay — Himself; guest host — Episode: "Smoove Moves" • 2022 — Teen Titans Go! — Black Manta — Voice, 2 episodes • 2022 — Blockbuster — Percy Scott — Recurring role; 8 episodes • 2023 — History of the World, Part II — Luke — 4 episodes • 2024 — Good Times: Black Again — Reggie — Voice, 10 episodes • 2024 — Kite Man: Hell Yeah! — Frank the Plant — Voice, episode: "Just Right, Hell Yeah!" • 2026 — Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness — Jonesey — Episode: "McCarthy"
Video games
Video games
• Year — Title — Role • 2013 — Grand Theft Auto V — Dr. Ray De Angelo Harris • 2016 — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Portal Power — Bebop • 2022 — High on Life — Gus • 2026 — High on Life 2 — Gus
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Los Angeles.
Residences
Plymouth.
Birth place
Films
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1997 — Lesser Prophets — Chucky • 1998 — Tomorrow Night — Mel the Mailman • 2001 — Pootie Tang — Trucky • 2002 — Mr. Deeds — Reuben • 2003 — With or Without You — Darnell • 2003 — The Watermelon Heist — Numbers • 2004 — Gas — Ignatius • 2009 — Frankenhood — Leon • 2009 — Hurricane Season — Team Bus Driver • 2010 — Date Night — Cabbie • 2011 — Hall Pass — Flats • 2011 — We Bought a Zoo — Mr. Stevens • 2011 — The Sitter — Julio • 2012 — Think Like a Man — Bartender • 2012 — The Dictator — Funeral Usher • 2013 — Movie 43 — Larry — Segment: "The Proposition" • 2013 — A Haunted House — Kisha's Dad • 2013 — Dealin' with Idiots — Coach Ted • 2013 — The Smurfs 2 — Hackus — Voice • 2013 — Clear History — Jaspar • 2014 — Search Party — Berk • 2014 — Top Five — Silk • 2015 — Hell and Back — Sal the Demon — Voice • 2016 — Barbershop: The Next Cut — One-Stop • 2016 — Almost Christmas — Lonnie • 2017 — The Polka King — Ron Edwards • 2018 — Uncle Drew — Angelo • 2019 — Spider-Man: Far From Home — Julius Dell • 2019 — The Jesus Rolls — The Mechanic • 2021 — On the Count of Three — Lyndell • 2021 — Spider-Man: No Way Home — Julius Dell • 2023 — Back on the Strip — Amos • 2024 — Música — Anwar
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “J. B. Smoove”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3778264: J. B. Smoove
General reference · Wikidata
Honors and awards
Smoove won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for his role in Mapleworth Murders.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Jerry Angelo Brooks North Carolina Birth Index. FamilySearch.
- 2.Itzkoff, Dave. JB Smoove – Curb Your Enthusiasm – Television. The New York Times. 27 January 2008.
- 3.Maron, Marc. Episode 295 – JB Smoove. WTF with Marc Maron. 9 July 2012.
- 4.Myers, Marc. JB Smoove's Childhood Moves. The Wall Street Journal. 2 June 2015.
- 5.Kramer, Peter D. JB Smoove on Mt. Vernon, high school and more. The Journal News. 23 February 2015.
- 6.Seinfeld, Jerry. JB Smoove: 'Everybody Respects A Bloody Nose'. 4. 7 July 2016.
- 7.Marsh, Steven P. J.B. Smoove: 'Curb' comic back in Westchester. The Journal News.
- 8.Malone, Michael. Talking With Curb Your Enthusiasm's JB Smoove. Westchester Magazine. January 2014.
- 9.Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee S08 E04 J B Smoove Everybody Respects a Bloody Nose. Dailymotion.com.
- 10.Previous Nominees & Winners: 2007 Award Winners. Writers Guild of America.
- 11.Nesbitt, Andy. JB Smoove dishes on how he got his role on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' Richard Sherman's passion, and his Super Bowl prediction. Fox Sports. 30 January 2014.
- 12.Miller, Gerri. Q&A: Comedian and Actor JB Smoove. BET.com. 28 February 2011.
- 13.Black, Leon. The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool. Gallery Books. 10 October 2017. 978-1-5011-8072-9.
- 14.Bibel, Sara. '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. 20 March 2014.
- 15.Dry, Jude. Why JB Smoove Thinks Larry David Is A 'Different Animal' Than Jerry Seinfeld. Indiewire.com. 16 June 2016.
- 16.ERB. Frederick Douglass vs Thomas Jefferson. Epic Rap Battles of History. 2016-05-30.
- 17.Reed, Ryan. Watch Sia's 'Santa's Coming for Us' Video With Kristen Bell, J.B. Smoove. rollingstone.com. 22 November 2017.
- 18.Spider-Man: JB Smoove's Far From Home Role Revealed. CBR.com. 2019-05-10.
- 19.Spider-Man's JB Smoove Confirms He's in No Way Home. comicbook.com. 26 April 2021.
- 20.Porter, Rick. Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast. The Hollywood Reporter. December 3, 2019.
- 21.ESPN and NBA announce celebrity rosters and coaches for 2019 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles exclusively on ESPN. NBA.com.
- 22.'May I Elaborate? Daily Wisdom From JB Smoove' Is Out Now. TeamCoco.com.
- 23.Team Coco Podcasts. TeamCoco.com.
- 24.Frank, Priscilla. How 'The Masked Singer' Became 2019's Must-See 'Car Crash TV'. HuffPost. 2019-02-20.
- 25.Agard, Chancellor. Kaley Cuoco to star in 'Harley Quinn' series: 'It has definitely been empowering'. Entertainment Weekly. October 3, 2018.
- 26.Melrose, Kevin. Alan Tudyk to Voice The Joker in Harley Quinn Animated Series. Comic Book Resources. October 25, 2018.
- 27.Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. JB Smoove.
- 28.2021 Emmy Nominations: The Complete List. Entertainment Tonight. 13 July 2021.
- 29.Sederholm, Jillian. Monay has running joke with her famous dad thanks to 'Claim to Fame'. Entertainment Weekly. August 28, 2023.
- 30.JB Smoove Explains the Perfect Shoes to Rock When Cheating & More While Sneaker Shopping. highsnobiety.com.
- 31.Comedian JB Smoove Talks HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm & More in Studio. The Rich Eisen Show. 8 November 2017.
- 32.Starostinetskaya, Anna. Curb Your Enthusiasm's J.B. Smoove Voices Just's First Vegan Egg Commercial. VegNews.com.
- 33.Rich, Jamie S. JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It. DVD Talk. March 24, 2012.
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General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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