What Is J.B. Smoove's Net Worth?
J.B. Smoove is an American comedian and actor who has a net worth of $6 million. Thanks to his breakout role as Leon Black on Larry David's long-running HBO sitcom "Curb Your Enthusiasm," J.B. Smoove has become a highly sought-after comedian with roles in a variety of feature films and television shows as well as stand-up comedy projects, but in fact, he's been a known entity in the comedy world going all the way back to the 1990s.
Early Life
J.B. Smoove was born Jerry Angelo Brooks on December 18th, 1965, in Plymouth, North Carolina. He moved to Mount Vernon, New York, when he was three years old while continuing to visit Plymouth thanks to his extended family in the area. As the story goes, it was members of that extended family that went on to inspire much of his comedy material. In 1983, J.B. graduated from Mount Vernon High School. He then moved to Virginia to enroll in Norfolk State University, where he studied graphic design and engineering.
After college, but before he found his niche as a stand-up comedian, Smoove took on a variety of odd jobs, including, in his own words: "Selling door-to-door fire extinguishers… In bars, I used to repair those machines that have 10 different buttons on them to spray club soda and seltzer." Eventually, he found himself onstage telling jokes, and it didn't take long for him to distinguish himself in that area.
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Comedy Career
Smoove began performing stand-up comedy in the early 90s (eventually adopting his now-famous stage name), first catching the attention of the public eye while appearing as part of Russell Simmons's "Def Comedy Jam." His stand-up work led to recurring roles on such series as "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Saturday Night Live," on which he also worked as a writer. In that capacity on "Saturday Night Live," J.B. received a Writers Guild of America award in 2007 – altogether, he was on "SNL" for three years before moving on to other things. He also earned a permanent spot in the hearts of cult film fans with his role in the 2001 comedy "Pootie Tang" as the narrator. He also had a two-year run on the sitcom "'Til Death."
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
J.B. Smoove joined the cast of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" during its sixth season, portraying the character Leon Black. He quickly became one of the show's most beloved figures and proceeded to continue to star on the show for another six seasons over 14 years. His character, initially introduced as a part of the Black family, who moved in with Larry David following a natural disaster, stood out with his hilarious and unapologetically blunt demeanor. Smoove's impeccable comedic timing and unique ability to improvise transformed Leon into an integral part of the series, leading to his character staying with Larry long after the original storyline concluded.
Smoove's portrayal of Leon is characterized by his sharp wit, confidence, and unforgettable catchphrases, contributing significantly to the show's dynamic and humor. He serves as a sort of unorthodox conscience to Larry, often involved in some of the most memorable and laugh-out-loud moments of the series. His interactions with Larry and the rest of the cast highlight a chemistry that has enriched the show's narrative, making it hard to imagine "Curb Your Enthusiasm" without his presence. In 2017, J.B. even wrote a book in character as Leon, titled "The Book of Leon: Philosophy of a Fool."
(Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for BET)
Outside of "Curb"
Smoove has continued to work on other projects throughout his appearances on the sometimes sporadic "Curb." He was a celebrity judge on a "Gong Show" revival hosted by comedian Dave Attell, a cast member on "Cedric the Entertainer Presents," and the host of the 2010 Comedy Central stand-up comedy showcase "Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at The El Rey." In 2012, J.B. returned to Comedy Central to make his TV stand-up special debut with "That's How I Dooz It" and began racking up more feature film credits in movies like "Movie 43" and "The Smurfs 2," as well as appearances in more dramatic fare like "We Bought a Zoo" from director Cameron Crowe. His distinctive, immediately identifiable voice can also be heard in video games ("Call of Duty: Black Ops II," "Grand Theft Auto V") and on episodes of animated series like "Harley Quinn," "The Simpsons," and "American Dad!" In 2014, Smoove hosted the eighth season of the stand-up comedy reality competition series "Last Comic Standing," and a few years later, he did an episode of "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" hosted by Jerry Seinfeld. J.B. appeared (in the role of Santa Claus) in a Christmas-themed Sia music video and has indulged in his culinary expertise with shows like "Four Courses with J.B. Smoove" and "Hell's Kitchen: Rookies vs Veterans." He has made memorable impressions as a talk show guest throughout this phase of his career, thanks to his improvisational comedy skills (and the public's boundless curiosity about what Larry David is really like in real life).
Personal Life
Smoove has been married to singer Shahidah Omar since 2007, and the couple have one daughter. Unlike his "Curb" alter-ego, J.B. is a healthy eater and confirmed vegan, as well as a philanthropist, serving on the local Boys & Girls Club board of directors in Mount Vernon. In 2019, he was one of a variety of North Carolina celebrities to play for the "home team" in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Then, in 2020, he was honored in another way, being cited by a "Page Six" story as a big tipper at the New York City eatery Brooklyn Chop House, reportedly leaving a tip to the tune of $1,200 – and he reportedly stuck to the vegan menu.
J.B. Smoove Quote on Money
"There's book smart, there is street smart, there's relationship smart, there's too many different kinds of smarts to know all of them. Everybody doesn't know every kind of smart. There's money smart, there's movie smart, there's computer smart. There's just too many different kinds of smarts for people to know all the smarts."
