Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas Fallon, commonly referred to as Jimmy Fallon (born September 19, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York) is an Irish-American comedian, actor and Grammy nominated musician best known for his work on Saturday Night Live.
Fallon was raised in Saugerties, New York with his older sister, Gloria, and his parents, Jim and Gloria. Fallon attended St. Mary of the Snow, a Catholic, parochial school, and Saugerties High School. He graduated in 1992 and attended the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. Fallon majored in computer science, dropping out 15 credits shy of a degree.
SNL
Fallon came to fame on SNL, starting out as a supporting player and eventually elevating himself to top status as co-anchor of "Weekend Update." He was most recognized for his song parodies, which he performed to cheering audiences when Colin Quinn was doing update and continued to showcase on special occaision after he had replaced him. He was also famous for his impressions of famous celebrities, notably Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Mick Jagger, Tom Cruise, and Access Hollywood's Pat O'Brian. His drawback on the show was that he could rarely make it through a skit without laughing. No one thought a skit was funnier than Fallon. Fallon is one of the only members in SNL history to gain popularity not only for his comedy talents but also for his sex appeal. He has many websites devoted to him, made mostly by adoring teenage girls. He was also voted one of People's magazines Most Beautiful People. Fallon left SNL in 2004 in pursuit of a film career.
Beyond SNL
Before Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon played in The Scheme (originally entitled The Entrepreneurs). His one line in Father's Day was cut but can still be seen in the background. His post SNL career has included roles in Taxi, Anything Else, Almost Famous, Fever Pitch and Doogal.
His latest project due in September 2006 is Factory Girl.
In 2002, Fallon released the comedy album The Bathroom Wall which was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 for Best Spoken Comedy Album.
He wrote a book in 1998 called I Hate this Place: The Pessimist's Guide to Life with sister Gloria about his brief time in Los Angeles. In 2005 he released a children's book called Snowball Fight! based on a song from his album.
Fallon co-hosted the 2001 MTV Movie Awards with Kirsten Dunst and has played Neo in Sex and the Matrix, a comedic two-in-one parody of Sex and the City and The Matrix.
He also hosted the MTV Video Music Awards alone the next year. This show climaxed with a performance by Guns N' Roses. Fallon had to be bleeped when he excitedly referred to them as "Guns N' Fucking Roses." This show led to persistent rumors that he was the mysterious masked guitarist Buckethead, who was a member of Guns N' Roses at the time. (Buckethead's real name is in fact Brian Carroll.)
Fallon also hosted the 2005 MTV Movie Awards and played Anakin Skywalker in comedic parody of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith's Mustafar scene, in which Anakin and Padme have their last conversation.
Fallon also appeared on the 5th episode of the TV miniseries Band of brothers as 2nd Lt George Rice.
Following the Boston Red Sox's World Series clinching game over the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, Fallon ran onto the field at Busch Stadium with Drew Barrymore to film a scene for their movie Fever Pitch. The move angered numerous Red Sox fans, who felt their 86-year moment-in-waiting had been cheapened by Fallon.
Fallon has also been the subject of much ridicule on some Fox shows. While hosting SNL in an episode of Family Guy, Jimmy Fallon took Meg Griffin's virginity: she was unaware that they were on camera until after the sex, when Fallon shouted "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" Peter promptly beat him up afterwards for his bad acting on the show (again, a jab at his infamous tendency to forget lines and break character by laughing), then asked "Okay, where's the guy who slept with my daughter?", unaware that it was Fallon. On an episode of The Simpsons, Bart and Milhouse were laughing at something on Bart's computer, when Homer strolled past the door. Homer asked, "What are you laughing at? If you say Jimmy Fallon, I'll know you're lying!" He has also recently been parodied on MAD TV, a rival show of Saturday Night Live, by actor Ron Pederson. During one skit on MAD TV, Fallon, played by Pederson, is referred to as "former future movie star", a jab at his less than spectacular movies.
In 2006, Fallon starred in a Pepsi television commercial with actress Parker Posey. In the ad, the two can be seen dancing and jumping around to the song Streamline by Newton.
External links
- Jimmy Fallon at IMDb
- Fan Site
- Another fan's website, focused on Fallon's "Weekend Update" work