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Arsenio Hall

Arsenio Hall’s career has always crossed lanes: stand-up comedy, acting, voice work and television hosting all belong to the same lively screen presence. Born in Cleveland on February 12, 1956, Hall performed as a magician as a child before pursuing comedy, first moving to Chicago and then Los Angeles. His early television work included a debut on Soul! and appearances on Soul Train. After working as Alan Thicke’s announcer and sidekick on Thicke of the Night, Hall took a turn hosting Fox’s The Late Show in 1987. The response led to the defining television chapter of his career. The nationally syndicated Arsenio Hall Show ran from 1989 to 1994, found particular success with younger viewers and became known for an audience chant of “Woof, woof, woof!” accompanied by raised fists. Between 1988 and 1991, he also hosted the MTV Video Music Awards. Hall used his late-night platform for more than entertainment. He publicly supported gay rights and joined Magic Johnson in a public service announcement addressing HIV/AIDS and the prejudice surrounding the disease. For movie audiences, Hall is closely associated with the 1988 comedy Coming to America, in which he co-starred with Eddie Murphy. His voice work includes originating Winston Zeddemore in the animated series The Real Ghostbusters from 1986 to 1987. Later acting roles included the sitcom Arsenio and Martial Law, while his hosting work continued with Star Search and other television programs. Hall won the fifth edition of The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012 while representing the Magic Johnson Foundation. A new version of The Arsenio Hall Show followed in 2013 and ran for one season. Across those different chapters, Hall has remained a performer equally at home delivering a joke, playing a character or keeping a television audience engaged.