On this day in 1974, Jimmy Fallon was born

Jimmy Fallon is a multi-talented individual, best known for his work in television; specifically, his recurring appearances on Saturday Night Live, and hosting his late-night TV show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Born James Thomas Fallon, Jimmy grew up with a love of comedy and often performed stand-ups during his time in high school. Shortly before his college graduation, Jimmy moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in comedy. He had been a Saturday Night Live (SNL) enthusiast since childhood, so Jimmy was overjoyed when shortly after moving back to New York in the late 1990s, he landed his dream job. In 1998 Jimmy impressed the producers of the popular television show with his impersonation of Adam Sandler, and subsequently became a cast member of the 1998–2000 seasons of SNL.

After leaving the show, Jimmy pushed for a career in the film industry, but never quite got it right. He co-hosted a few prestigious awards ceremonies such as the MTV Music Awards and the MTV Movie Awards, so it seemed his true passion was presenting; he also presented the Golden Globes in 2017.

In his eighth-grade yearbook, the caption under his photo read, “most likely to replace David Letterman”. And almost as if it was fate, in 2009, the third incarnation of Letterman’s Late Night franchise, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, premiered.

While he received mixed reviews as the host of Late Night, the criticism he received was mostly positive and in 2014 he became the new host of the Tonight Show. The show has earned international acclaim with Jimmy as its host, but he never let that deter him from his responsibilities to his wife and two daughters.