---
name: "J. B. Smoove"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jb-smoove"
fi1m_id: "jb-smoove"
imdb_id: "nm1356578"
tmdb_id: 65920
wikidata_id: "Q3778264"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 December 1965"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 63
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-09-24T20:28:16.788903+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# J. B. Smoove

## Identity

J. B. Smoove

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jb-smoove
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jb-smoove
- **IMDb ID:** nm1356578
- **TMDB ID:** 65920
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3778264
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._B._Smoove, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3778264, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1356578/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/65920

Actor. Born 16 December 1965 in Plymouth, North Carolina, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 December 1965, Plymouth, North Carolina, USA
- **Active:** 2000–present
- **Also known as:** JB Smoove, Jerry Brooks, Jerry Angelo Brooks
- **Average Fi1m score:** 63, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 82 (2), 2010s 50 (3), 2020s 64 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 60 to 59 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Action 2, Adventure 2, Science Fiction 2, Drama 1, Family 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,207m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._B._Smoove, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3778264, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1356578/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/65920

## Coming up

- *Groove Tails* (2027-08-19), as (voice)

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Spider-Man: Far From Home*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-far-from-home.md) (67), [*We Bought a Zoo*](https://film.one/film/we-bought-a-zoo.md) (58)
- **HBO Max:** [*Curb Your Enthusiasm*](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on J. B. Smoove

> As Leon Black in *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, J. B. Smoove is fast, profane and entirely certain, and that certainty makes room for exchanges that would otherwise sound alike. Away from that show, the parts have mostly been broad and small.

Leon Black walks into a room already certain. He talks fast, he swears freely, and he hands out advice that nobody asked for and that no sensible person would take. In a series built on Larry David's quarrels over etiquette, where everyone else is waiting to be offended, Leon is the one who is never uncomfortable, and that changes the sound of a scene. His confidence makes room for exchanges that would otherwise risk sounding much alike, and in a show that runs on one man's disagreements that is a real service.

He came to it late and by a roundabout road. Smoove began in stand-up in the mid-1990s, wrote for *Def Comedy Jam*, performed on *The Chris Rock Show*, and spent three years from 2003 as a writer and occasional performer at *SNL* after the casting auditions had gone against him. The film parts before Leon were small: *Pootie Tang* (2001), and Reuben in *Mr. Deeds* (2002) opposite Adam Sandler. Then Larry David cast him in the sixth series of *Curb Your Enthusiasm* in 2007 and he stayed until the finale in 2024, a recurring part that became the one he is known for.

What he does there is improvise, and it shows in the best way. *Curb* is largely unscripted, and Smoove's lines arrive in the moment, so they land as speech rather than as writing; a good deal of the pleasure is watching David wait to find out what Leon will say next. We laughed at him, and then noticed we had been laughing at the speed and swagger of the talk rather than at any joke we could repeat afterwards, which is the mark of a comic who works on rhythm rather than lines. He has said as much himself: "I don’t consider myself a stand-up comedian. I consider myself a performer; a comic as opposed to stand-up comedian." On the evidence of Leon, the distinction holds.

Away from Leon the record is thinner. There have been supporting turns in studio comedies, a good deal of voice work in animation, and two appearances as Mr. Dell in *Spider-Man: Far From Home* (2019) and its 2021 sequel. The few reservations anyone has published about him say much the same thing: that he keeps being cast as the loud friend in the corner. We have not reviewed those films and will not judge them here, but a comic this quick deserves a room where he is allowed to do more than be loud in it.

If you want to see what he can do, start where everyone did, with *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, and take it an episode at a time; Leon does not wear thin, but the quarrels around him can. Whether anything after Leon gives him a part as good is not in his hands. He has already shown he can make one up on the spot.

## Biography

J. B. Smoove, born Jerry Angelo Brooks, is an American comedian, actor and writer. He began performing stand-up in the mid-1990s, appearing on Def Comedy Jam, and later worked as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live from 2003 to 2006.

He is best known for playing Leon Black on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm from 2007 to 2024. His film credits include Mr. Dell in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), as well as roles in Date Night (2010), We Bought a Zoo (2011) and Mr. Deeds (2002). He has also provided voice work for The Simpsons and American Dad!.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, nytimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America* (2026), Fi1m 55, as Jonesey — [page](https://film.one/tv/life-larry-and-the-pursuit-of-unhappiness-an-almost-history-of-america.md)
- *Spider-Man: No Way Home* (2021), Fi1m 74, as Mr. Dell — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-no-way-home.md)
- *Spider-Man: Far From Home* (2019), Fi1m 67, as Mr. Dell — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-far-from-home.md)
- *Movie 43* (2013), Fi1m 24, as Larry (segment "The Proposition") — [page](https://film.one/film/movie-43.md)
- *We Bought a Zoo* (2011), Fi1m 58, as Mr. Stevens — [page](https://film.one/film/we-bought-a-zoo.md)
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), Fi1m 80, as Manny — [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), Fi1m 84, as Leon — [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Groove Tails* (2027), as (voice)
- *Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America* (2026), series, as Jonesey — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/life-larry-and-the-pursuit-of-unhappiness-an-almost-history-of-america.md)
- *Kite Man: Hell Yeah!* (2024), series, as Frank the Plant (voice)
- *Good Times* (2024), series, as Reggie / Beverly Evans (voice)
- *Música* (2024), as Anwar
- *Office Race* (2023), as Harry
- *Back on the Strip* (2023), as Pastor Amos 'Slim Sexy' Fowler
- *History of the World: Part II* (2023), series, as Luke
- *Blockbuster* (2022), series, as Percy
- *On the Count of Three* (2022), as Lyndell
- *Pivoting* (2022), series, as The Fig (voice)
- *Spider-Man: No Way Home* (2021), as Mr. Dell — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-no-way-home.md)
- *Mr. Mayor* (2021), series, as Tik Tok Voice (voice)
- *Woke* (2020), series, as Marker (voice)
- *Mapleworth Murders* (2020), series, as Chief Billy Bills
- *Harley Quinn* (2019), series, as Frank the Plant (voice), Baby Frank the Plant (voice)
- *The Jesus Rolls* (2019), as The Mechanic
- *Spider-Man: Far From Home* (2019), as Mr. Dell — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-far-from-home.md)
- *Uncle Drew* (2018), as Angelo
- *The Last O.G.* (2018), series, as Carl
- *Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Shredder* (2017), as Bebop (voice)
- *The Polka King* (2017), as Ron Edwards
- *Almost Christmas* (2016), as Uncle Lonnie
- *Barbershop: The Next Cut* (2016), as One-Stop
- *Uncle Drew: Chapter 4* (2015), as Angelo
- *Half-Shell Heroes: Blast to the Past* (2015), as Bebop (voice)
- *Hell and Back* (2015), as Sal the Demon (voice)
- *Life in Pieces* (2015), series, as Darryl
- *Fresh Off the Boat* (2015), series, as Barry
- *Top Five* (2014), as Silk
- *Search Party* (2014), as Berk
- *Transparent* (2014), series, as Porter — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/transparent.md)
- *The Millers* (2013), series, as Ray
- *Clear History* (2013), as Jaspar
- *The Smurfs 2* (2013), as Hackus (voice)
- *Dealin' with Idiots* (2013), Actor
- *Teen Titans Go!* (2013), series, as Black Manta (voice)
- *Movie 43* (2013), as Larry (segment "The Proposition") — Fi1m 24, [page](https://film.one/film/movie-43.md)
- *A Haunted House* (2013), as Kisha's Dad
- *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (2012), series, as Bebop (voice), Bebop / Ogre #2 / Soldier #2 (voice), Zeck / Bebop (voice)
- *The Soul Man* (2012), series, as Terrell
- *The Dictator* (2012), as Funeral Usher
- *Think Like a Man* (2012), as Bartender
- *Bent* (2012), series, as Clem
- *JB Smoove: That's How I Dooz It* (2012), Writer
- *The Sitter* (2011), as Julio
- *We Bought a Zoo* (2011), as Mr. Stevens — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/we-bought-a-zoo.md)
- *New Girl* (2011), series, as Van Bishop — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Hall Pass* (2011), as Flats
- *Epic Rap Battles of History* (2010), series, as Frederick Douglass
- *Date Night* (2010), as Cabbie
- *Hurricane Season* (2010), as Sam
- *The League* (2009), series, as DeRon
- *Glenn Martin, DDS* (2009), series, Actor
- *Frankenhood* (2009), as Leon
- *Castle* (2009), series, as Norman Jessup — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/castle.md)
- *The Gong Show with Dave Attell* (2008), series, Actor
- *Carpoolers* (2007), series, as Parking Attendant
- *'Til Death* (2006), series, as Kenny Westchester
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), series, as Manny — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Robot Chicken* (2005), series, as B. A. Barracus / Satan / Man 1 (voice)
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Airport Security Guard (voice), Radio Station Security Guard (voice), Tracy Bryant (voice), Guy #1 (voice)
- *Gas* (2004), as Ignatius
- *With or Without You* (2003), as Darnell
- *The Watermelon Heist* (2003), as Numbers
- *Cedric the Entertainer Presents* (2002), series, Actor
- *Mr. Deeds* (2002), as Reuben
- *Pootie Tang* (2001), as Trucky
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Leon — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Ed* (2000), series, as Alvin
- *Tomorrow Night* (1998), as Mel the Mailman
- *Ugly Revenge* (1998), as City Fellah
- *Lesser Prophets* (1997), as Chucky
- *The Chris Rock Show* (1997), series, Actor
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Levon — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as DJ Kwanzaa (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Giving Thanks*, as Dexter

## Gallery

- ![JB Smoove (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/62396/gallery-5463738cdd16.jpg) JB Smoove (2012) — Digitas Photos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/JB_Smoove.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![JB Smoove at the NBCUniversal Summer press day in Pasadena at the Langham Huntington Hotel (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/62396/gallery-85703d120250.jpg) JB Smoove at the NBCUniversal Summer press day in Pasadena at the Langham Huntington Hotel (2014) — Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/JB_Smoove_2014_NBC_Universal_Summer_Press_Day.jpg/1280px-JB_Smoove_2014_NBC_Universal_Summer_Press_Day.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![J. B. Smoove](https://film.one/media/person/62396/gallery-393efb277d04.jpg) J. B. Smoove — Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/JB_Smoove_2014_NBC_Universal_Summer_Press_Day_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-JB_Smoove_2014_NBC_Universal_Summer_Press_Day_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![JB Smoove at the NBCUniversal Summer press day in Pasadena at the Langham Huntington Hotel (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/62396/gallery-d1a0c4890c5e.jpg) JB Smoove at the NBCUniversal Summer press day in Pasadena at the Langham Huntington Hotel (2014) — Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/JB_Smoove_2014_NBC_Universal_Summer_Press_Day_%28cropped%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![J. B. Smoove of Curb Your Enthusiasm at the series' season 12 premiere. (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/62396/gallery-5e972fbb993b.png) J. B. Smoove of Curb Your Enthusiasm at the series' season 12 premiere. (2024) — HBO, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/JB_Smoove_2024_Curb_Your_Enthusiasm_premiere.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jb-smoove