Jay Leno kickstarted his career in the nightclub circuit, dedicating himself to around 300 performances annually. His breakthrough came in 1992 when he landed his own late-night talk show, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992). Prior to this, he had dabbled in television appearances and a few film roles, notably in "American Hot Wax" (1978). However, it was his frequent appearances on late-night television, including a notable stint as Johnny Carson's regular guest host on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962), that propelled him to fame.

Jay Leno will be hosting the Banff Western Connection 2025 Northern Radiance Gala.