Share
1 of 8
Jay Leno, right, interviews Jimmy Fallon during a taping of "The Tonight Show" on Monday, February 3. Leno will be handing over the late-night talk show to Fallon this month, ending his 22-year reign as a king of late night. Here's a look back at Leno's career. Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Leno, known for his love of cars, promotes his fifth season as "Tonight Show" host with this flashy set of wheels. He landed the talk-show gig when Johnny Carson retired in 1992. Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images/File
From left, funnymen David Letterman. Garry Shandling, Leno and Carson appear in October 1988 for the 26th anniversary of Carson on "The Tonight Show." Many had expected Letterman would take over the show when Carson retired four years later. Joey Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images/File
Future late-night rivals appear together on "The Tonight Show" in 1979, when Letterman was a guest host for Carson. Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images/File
Leno, seen here circa 1990, hasn't been shy about knocking NBC executives. Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images/File
Leno honed his comic skills at The Improv in Los Angeles during the 1970s. Betty Galella/Getty Images/File
Leno and his wife, Mavis, attend the Emmys in 1987. Jim Smeal/Getty Images/File
In an early acting gig, Leno plays a biker on the TV sitcom "Alice" with Linda Lavin and Vic Tayback. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images/File
