Jimmy Fallon: A Look At His Life and Career Through The Years

Comedian and actor James Thomas Fallon Jr. was born on September 19, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York. A lifelong fan of Saturday Night Live, his 8th-grade yearbook even predicted he would one day "replace David Letterman." Fallon attended the College of Saint Rose in Albany but left before graduating to pursue his comedy career in Los Angeles.

In the late 1990s, Fallon returned to New York and got the opportunity to audition for his dream show, 'Saturday Night Live'. His impression of Adam Sandler impressed co-creator and producer Lorne Michaels, earning him a spot on the cast for the 1998-1999 season, alongside stars like Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, and Molly Shannon."

During his time on SNL, Fallon became known for his impressions of celebrities like Robert De Niro, John Lennon, Chris Rock, and Mick Jagger, along with original characters like a snotty clerk, a boy-band member, and a sullen Boston teen. He also co-hosted 'Weekend Update' with Tina Fey, and in 2004, used the segment to announce his departure from the show.

Fallon tried moving into movies with mixed results. He starred with Queen Latifah in the 2004 crime comedy 'Taxi', which wasn't well received. He also appeared with Drew Barrymore in the 2005 romantic comedy 'Fever Pitch'. In 2006, Fallon took on a more serious role in 'Factory Girl', playing promoter "Chuck Wein" alongside Guy Pearce and Sienna Miller

In 2008, Fallon got a big opportunity when NBC announced he would take over Conan O'Brien's late-night talk show the next year. When Late Night with Jimmy Fallon started in March 2009, Fallon was under a lot of pressure. His first guests included Robert De Niro and Justin Timberlake.

At first, Fallon got mixed reviews, but he soon became a popular late-night host. His youthful charm and funny skits won over audiences. Besides interviews and monologues, Fallon did comedy segments, played games with guests, and made funny videos.

He married Hollywood producer Nancy Juvonen on Necker Island in the Caribbean on December 22, 2007. They had their first child, a daughter named Winnie Rose, in July 2013. Their second daughter, Frances Cole, was born on December 3, 2014.

In April 2013, it was announced that Fallon would take over 'The Tonight Show' when Jay Leno's contract ended. The show would move from Los Angeles to New York. 'The Tonight Show' Starring Jimmy Fallon premiered on February 17, 2014. Fallon said, 'I just want to do the best I can and take care of the show for a while.'

With 'The Roots' as his band and popular segments like 'Slow Jam the News,' Fallon often outshone Letterman and Kimmel in the early years. However, as political tensions grew, Fallon’s ratings fell behind Stephen Colbert, who was more critical of President Trump. Things got worse after Trump appeared on 'The Tonight Show' in September 2016, and Fallon playfully ruffled his hair. Fallon got criticized for making a controversial candidate seem too friendly.

Additionally, the entertainer has published several books, including 'I Hate This Place: The Pessimist's Guide to Life' (1999), co-written with his sister. He's also written several children's books including, Y'our Baby's First Word Will Be Dada' (2015), 'Everything Is Mama' (2017) and 'This Is Baby' (2019).