# J. B. Smoove

Jerry Angelo Brooks (born December 16, 1965), commonly known by his stage name J. B. 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). He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the BET improv-comedy reality television parody Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013–2016).

## Early life, family and education

Smoove was born in Plymouth, North Carolina, to Elizabeth and Floyd Brooks. From the time he was three years old, he grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. 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.
Smoove worked as a perfume formulator and sold fire extinguishers door-to-door.

## Career

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.
Smoove has had 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 plays one of the "Replacers" for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. 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. Smoove played Santa Claus in Sia's 2017 music video, "Santa's Coming for Us".
Smoove attended the final dinner service of Hell's Kitchen's eighteenth season Hell's Kitchen: Rookies vs. Veterans in 2019 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. 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. Smoove won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for his role.
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. Beginning in the fall of 2021, Smoove had 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.

## Volunteering

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

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.
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.
He has been vegan since 2018.

## Comedy specials

* JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It (2012)

## Filmography
### 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 | |

### 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 | Himself | 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 | Himself | 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 | Himself | 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 | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Lopez Tonight | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2011 | The Marriage Ref | Himself | 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 | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Watch What Happens: Live | Himself | 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 | Himself | 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 | Himself | Episode: "The Cast of "The Millers"/Sunny Anderson" |
| 2013 | Katie | Himself | 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 | Himself | 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 | Himself | Episode: "All Together Now" |
| 2019–present | 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!" |

### 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 |