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Roy Wood Jr.

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Not to be confused with Roy Wood Sr., Roy Woods, or Roy Wood (disambiguation).

Roy Wood Jr.
Roy Wood Jr. holding a microphone.
Wood in 2016
Born
Roy Norris Wood, Jr.

(1978-12-11) December 11, 1978 (age 45)
New York City, U.S.
EducationFlorida A&M University (BS)
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
Years active1998–present
Children1
FatherRoy Wood Sr.
Websiteroywoodjr.com

Roy Norris Wood Jr.[1] (born December 11, 1978) is an American stand-up comedian and actor best known for his correspondent appearances on The Daily Show.[2] A resident of Manhattan, Wood was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from Ramsay High School in 1996, Wood began his career in stand-up comedy as the opening act for Tommy Davidson. He had a position as head writer on the WBHJ radio series Buckwilde Morning Show from 2001 to 2006. Wood has been featured on NBC's reality television series Last Comic Standing in 2010 and the TBS sitcom Sullivan & Son from 2011 to 2014. He formerly hosted two podcasts for Comedy Central: Roy's Job Fair and Beyond the Scenes.

Wood was honored at Entertainment Weekly's "12 Rising Stars of Comedy" in 2008 and the 2010 Florida A&M University Young Alumni Awards. From 2015 to 2023, Wood served as a correspondent for The Daily Show on Comedy Central.[3] He hosted the fourth season of Comedy Central's This Is Not Happening from 2018 to 2019. In addition to his Daily Show appearances, Wood has starred in the stand-up comedy specials Father Figure (2017), No One Loves You (2019), and Imperfect Messenger (2021). He has also been featured in television series and movies.

Early life and education

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Wood was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York. His father, Roy Wood Sr., was a Birmingham, Alabama, radio broadcasting and journalism pioneer who covered the civil rights movement: the racism encountered by African-American soldiers in the Vietnam War, the Soweto uprising, and the Rhodesian Bush War, among other topics.[4] His mother is Joyce Dugan Wood, a college administrator.[5] His paternal three times great-grandfather, Sam Wood, was born c. 1790 in Africa.[1] His parents separated for a time, and Wood lived with his mother in Memphis, Tennessee.[2] When Wood was in the second grade, his parents reconciled, so the family moved to Birmingham;[2] they lived on South Park Road in Birmingham's West End neighborhood.[6] His half-brother is Roy L. Wood, a news anchor.[5]

Wood attended Central Park Elementary and Center Street Middle School.[5] He graduated from Ramsay High School in 1996.[7] In 2001, Wood received a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism from Florida A&M University.[8]

Career

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Before Comedy Central

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While in college, Wood worked as a morning news reporter for Birmingham, Alabama, radio station WBHJ 95.7 Jamz Hot 105.7. He began focusing on a career in comedy after filling in for the station's in-house comedian, Rickey Smiley.[5][9]

In 1998, when he was 19, Wood began his career as a standup.[10] Wood recalls that he passed on his midterm tests, essentially failing the semester, in order to open for Tommy Davidson.[11] Wood spent his last two years of college doing dishes on the weekends.[12]

In 2001, after graduating from college, Wood returned to Birmingham and became the head writer/producer for the Buckwilde Morning Show (WBHJ 95.7 JAMZ), a position he held until 2006.[5] He continued working in radio, providing prank calls and content to various morning shows nationally and contributing to Jamie Foxx's Foxxhole station on Sirius XM Radio.[5] Wood released three prank call CDs: My Momma Made Me Wear This (2003), Confessions of a Bench Warmer (2005), and I'll Slap You to Sleep (2007).[9] Wood's pranks have been featured on numerous hip-hop mix tapes.

In 2007, Wood moved to Los Angeles.[5]

In 2010, Wood finished third in the seventh season of NBC's Last Comic Standing[13] and began hosting his own morning show, The Roy Wood Jr Show. The show garnered top ratings and won 'Large Market Morning Show of the Year' from the Alabama Broadcasters Association for several years.

From 2011 to 2014, Wood appeared on the TBS sitcom Sullivan & Son.[14] He had a guest starring role in the first season, but was then promoted to series regular for the second and third seasons. Sullivan & Son was canceled in 2014.

In 2013, Wood's first stand-up comedy CD, Things I Think, I Think, was released.

In 2015, he was cast by ABC to play alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the comedy pilot Delores and Jermaine; the show did not make it beyond the pilot stage.[15]

At Comedy Central

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In 2015, Wood joined The Daily Show as a correspondent.[10] Wood moved to New York City to take the job.[12] Wood has said that his background in standup coupled with his degree in journalism prepared him for the job.[16] Wood said that his work doing guest roles in sports on ESPN and related companies prepared him for The Daily Show, giving him experience with acting, timing, and building characters.[2][4]

His first Comedy Central stand-up special, Father Figure, premiered in 2017, with an extended uncensored album of the same name released by Comedy Central Records. In 2017, he was named the new host of Comedy Central's storytelling series This Is Not Happening. Wood's second Comedy Central special, Roy Wood Jr.: No One Loves You, premiered in 2019.

Wood has appeared as a comic on many late night talk shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Chelsea Lately, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Conan. Wood has performed for the troops on numerous USO tours in the Middle East and the Pacific Islands.[17]

In 2018, it was announced that Wood planned on shooting a TV show in Jefferson County, Alabama.[18] The pilot, called Jefferson County Probation, started shooting in May 2019.[19] As of March 2020, a completed pilot for the show, now called Jefferson County: Probation, was shot for Comedy Central, with the show in development.[20] The show, created in collaboration with Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks), is about two probation officers in Jefferson County, Alabama. It is loosely inspired by a 1998 experience Wood had as a 19-year-old college student, when he was arrested for stealing $400 to $500 worth of blue jeans and was sentenced to probation.[4]

In 2019, Wood did a series of YouTube videos centered on the Popeyes chicken sandwich craze called The Coalition (Chicken Sandwich Coalition).[4][21]

In 2021, he was a guest on the PBS series Finding Your Roots, where he described how he unexpectedly got probation at 19 for using credit cards he stole while a mail sorter for the US Postal Service to buy fashion jeans, and where it was revealed that he was a distant cousin of Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis.[22]

In 2023, Wood hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.[23]

After Comedy Central

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On October 5, 2023, it was announced that Wood had quit The Daily Show and would not be returning as a correspondent.[24]

Wood has been hosting the American adaptation of the news and entertainment panel show Have I Got News for You on CNN since 14 September 2024.[25] He is due to host the British version on 8 November 2024.

Honors

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Selected publications

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  • Wood Jr., Roy (September 19, 2018). "For Roy Wood Jr., Alabama Is Painful History, New Hope and Home". The New York Times.
  • Wood Jr, Roy (February 9, 2020). "Opinion: I was furious when we moved to Birmingham". Comeback Town, AL.com.
  • Wood Jr, Roy (March 16, 2020). "It's Time for Stand-ups to Prepare for the Worst". Vulture. New York Magazine.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019 The Death of Dick Long Dr. Richter
2020 The Opening Act Gary
2022 Confess, Fletch Sergeant Inspector Monroe
2023 Urkel Saves Santa: the Movie Department Store Santa, Old Man Buechler (voice) Direct-to-video
TBA Outcome Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2001 Showtime at the Apollo Himself [28]
2003 Star Search — Comedian Semi Finalist
2005 Premium Blend Himself
ComicView
2008 Def Comedy Jam 1 episode; also writer
2010 Last Comic Standing 5 episodes; also writer (4 episodes)
2012–2014 Sullivan & Son Roy 33 episodes
2015 Delores & Jermaine Jerome Sr. Comedy pilot
2015–2023 The Daily Show Himself (correspondent), various characters
2017 Impractical Jokers: After Party Himself 1 episode
Let's Fix Sports 1 episode ("Roy Wood Jr: Kill The Kiss Cam"); also writer
2018–2019 This is Not Happening Himself (host) 20 episodes; also writer (2 episodes)
2018 The Detour Kevin 1 episode
2019 Crank Yankers Himself
Roy Wood Jr.: Snitch Cop Snitch Cop TV movie [28]
Roy Wood Jr.: The Avenging Ones Luke Rage TV movie; also writer
Jefferson County: Probation — Pilot; also producer, writer [20]
2020 Better Call Saul Grant 1 episode ("Something Unforgivable") [29]
The Last O.G. Runson 1 episode
Space Force Liaison Bert Mellows 2 episodes [30]
Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party Himself 1 episode
2021 Only Murders in the Building Vaughn
2021–2022 Flatbush Misdemeanors Principal Douglas 2 episodes
2023 The Daily Show Himself (Guest Host) 4 episodes (Week of Apr. 3) [31]
White House Correspondents' Dinner Himself (Host) April 29
2024 Last Week Tonight Boeing Employee 1 episode ("Airplanes") [32]
2024 Have I Got News For You (US) Host [33]

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019–2020 The Coalition — TV short videos; also writer and creator [28]

Stand-up specials

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Year Title Notes
2017 Father Figure Comedy Central special
also digital download
2019 No One Loves You Comedy Central special
also digital download
2021 Imperfect Messenger Comedy Central special
also digital download

Writing

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Selected discography

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  • 2003: My Momma Made Me Wear This CD
  • 2005: Confessions of a Bench Warmer CD
  • 2007: I'll Slap You to Sleep CD
  • 2013: Things I Think, I Think CD

References

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  1. ^ a b Stated on Finding Your Roots, May 4, 2021
  2. ^ a b c d Gross, Terry; Wood Jr., Roy (March 21, 2018). "Comic Roy Wood Jr. Taps into America's Psyche on 'The Daily Show'". Fresh Air. NPR.
  3. ^ Wood Jr., Roy (September 19, 2018). "For Roy Wood Jr., Alabama Is Painful History, New Hope and Home". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b c d Sanders, Sam; Wood Jr., Roy (November 2019). "It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders: Roy Wood Jr. on Comedy, Criminal Justice, and Chicken Sandwiches". NPR.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Temple, Chanda (July 11, 2010). "Birmingham native Roy Wood Jr. is up to some funny business on "Last Comic Standing"". AL.com.
  6. ^ Sher, David; Wood Jr, Roy (February 9, 2020). "Opinion: I was furious when we moved to Birmingham". Comeback Town, AL.com.
  7. ^ Gray, Jeremy (October 15, 2015). "Roy Wood Jr.: From Birmingham stand-up to 'Daily Show' standout". AL.com.
  8. ^ Reinwald, Peter T. (November 4, 2018). "'Daily Show' Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Returning to Town to Emcee FAMU Events". Tallahassee Magazine.
  9. ^ a b Hinson, Mark (November 7, 2018). "Roy Wood Jr. of 'The Daily Show' grew into comedy at FAMU". Tallahassee Democrat.
  10. ^ a b Steinberg, Brian (September 2, 2015). "Comedy Central's 'Daily Show' Stocks Up on New Correspondents". Variety.
  11. ^ "Inside 957jamz.com: Roy Wood Jr". Archived from the original on October 21, 2002.
  12. ^ a b Johnson, Natalie (November 6, 2015). "Who Is New 'Daily Show' Correspondent, Roy Wood Jr.?". NBC News.
  13. ^ Temple, Chanda (August 9, 2010). "Roy Wood Jr. is still standing despite loss on "Last Comic Standing". AL.com.
  14. ^ Gordon, Diane (moderator); Byrne, Steve; Lauria, Dan; Wood Jr, Roy; Ebersole, Christine; Long, Jodi; Bang, Vivian; Benjamin, Owen; Azlynn, Valerie; Ahmed, Ahmed (June 20, 2013). "Conversations with Cast of Sullivan & Son". SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "Did You Know Roy Wood Jr. Is Also on the Cast of ABC's 'Delores & Jermaine'?". Comedy Hype. March 17, 2015. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  16. ^ Stewart, Sherrel Wheeler (December 18, 2015). "Success More Than Jokes For Birmingham's Roy Wood Jr. On Daily Show". WBHM 90.3.
  17. ^ "Helicopter Rides, Crazy Food Pairings and Troops: Steve Byrne and Roy Wood Jr. Talk About Their USO Travels". United Service Organizations (USO). May 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Beahm, Anna (July 21, 2018). "Roy Wood Jr. wants to shoot new sitcom in Birmingham". AL.com.
  19. ^ Beahm, Anna (April 4, 2019). "Roy Wood Jr.'s new sitcom pilot to film in Birmingham in May". AL.com.
  20. ^ a b Tomberlin, Michael (March 12, 2020). "Roy Wood Jr. Makes Comedy Central to His Hometown". The Birmingham Times.
  21. ^ Deb, Sopan (March 1, 2019). "Roy Wood Jr is Following in the Comedy Footsteps of Dick Gregory". Albany Times Union.
  22. ^ "Roy Woods Jr.'s is DNA Cousins with Congressman John Lewis". PBS.org. May 4, 2021.
  23. ^ "2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner". c-span.org. April 29, 2023.
  24. ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (October 5, 2023). "Shocker: Roy Wood Jr. Quits The Daily Show After 8 Years". TVLine. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  25. ^ Power, Ed (September 15, 2024). "An American Have I Got News for You? It's no calamity, but no match for the original". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  26. ^ Pastorek, Whitney; Snierson, Dan (November 12, 2008). "12 Rising Stars of Comedy". Entertainment Weekly.
  27. ^ "President's 40/40". Linked. 1 (4). Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. November–December 2010.
  28. ^ a b c Peele, Anna (June 18, 2018). "The Best Comedians Tell Their Worst Bombing Stories". GQ.
  29. ^ Herzog, Kenny (April 20, 2020). "Better Call Saul Season Finale Recap: Lalo the Leader". Vulture. New York Magazine.
  30. ^ Heath, Paul (May 5, 2020). "Space Force' Trailer: Steve Carell Leads The Netflix Original Series". The Hollywood News.
  31. ^ "The Daily Show Guest Host Lineup". Comedy Central. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  32. ^ Boeing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), retrieved March 13, 2024
  33. ^ Porter, Rick (August 8, 2024). "Roy Wood Jr. to Host CNN's 'Have I Got News for You'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
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