JB Smoove’s creative journey from perfume shop to ‘Curb’ comedy success

From his humble beginnings working in a perfume shop in high school to becoming one of the most beloved cast members on HBO’s hit series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” comedian JB Smoove’s motto of “never disappoint” has propelled him through life with a tenacious appetite to always move forward.

In a sit-down interview with Fox News Digital, the comedy legend opened up about the moments that made him who he is today, as well as his plans for the future.

Although Smoove’s success seems effortless today, its path was anything but. The comedian has faced numerous challenges throughout his life; Each of these develops the tenacity and “never disappoint” attitude that defines him now.

Smoove, who grew up in a housing project in Mount Vernon, New York, attributes his experiences at the time (including losing his father when he was just 15) to shaping him into the person he was destined to be.

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“I always say, you are what you eat. People think you are what you eat, which means food. But that’s not it. It’s what you consume with your ears, with your vision, with what you’re talking out loud, with the person you’re with. That’s not what you eat. That’s what your body consumes,” Smoove explained. “It means what you eat, everything I’ve experienced, everything I’ve seen, everyone I’ve hung out with, everyone I’ve lost, everyone I’ve gained as friends… these all play a role in your perspective on life.”

One of the formative experiences she remembers fondly was her first real job in high school, working at a small perfume shop in her hometown. Smoove not only fell in love with the artistic process of creating new scents, but also developed a deep respect for the store owner who took him under his wing.

“I started to love the way the ingredients worked. There were little scent sticks—you’d stick it in there, you’d break it—and my sense of smell got so good that even with 10 ingredients I could tell you exactly what was in it. She taught me how to do all that,” he recalled.

Looking back on the experience, Smoove told Fox News Digital that the store owner taught him “how to be creative” by showing him how to create something original.

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JB Smoove and the cast of the hit HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” starring Smoove as Leon Black. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

This initial creative spark stayed with him through college, where Smoove studied graphic design before discovering a new passion: comedy.

“The first thing I did in this field as a comedian and actor was take an improv class at the old Improv comedy club on 44th Street and 9th Avenue in New York City,” he told Fox News Digital.

“I was a big fan of sketch shows, too. Including ‘SNL,’ ‘SCTV,’ including ‘Benny Hill’ with Paul Hogan. I was a big fan of all those shows, so I think all of those things, all those little pieces, are what make a person.” Smoove continued.

The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star said she took improv classes because she wanted to find her identity on stage.

“I wanted to find out who I was going to be in that scene, man. How can I build on what I naturally do by being a funny friend, a funny son? How can that work for me? And how can I use that to make people laugh, to make people happy? Then I took that improv class and my class literally ended that summer and the club closed that summer,” he recalled.

“It was weird how I was able to tell the right teacher about it before the club closed. Sometimes it’s timing. I took a little tool, I took the little healing tool and I put it in the toolbox. And I took this. [at] my savings. Now I know what I’m doing on stage.”

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Richard Lewis and Larry David on the golf course in a scene from the movie “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” (John Johnson/HBO)

After getting his first big break as a writer for “Def Comedy Jam,” Smoove was able to apply the improv skills he added to his toolbox in 2003 while working on the set of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” as a writer and actor.

Although it seemed like the pinnacle of his career at the time, just a few years later he would land the role that would define him: Leon Black on Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which he called “the greatest improv show in TV history.”

“Being a huge fan of the show and watching the show religiously and saying to the universe, ‘I love this show,’ and having my wife say, ‘You’re going to be on that show one day, I can see you and Larry together,’ and in the end, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ means just that to me, you know?” he recalled.

“I didn’t step on any toes, I didn’t burn any bridges, I just did what I did… Sometimes you get there when you’re ready. You get that opportunity when you’re ready for it,” Smoove added.

Following the airing of the series’ final episode in 2024, Smoove’s time as Leon Black ended, but the next step in his creative journey began.

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Jarrod Moses sits down with Fox News Digital for a wide-ranging interview. (Fox News Digital)

The comedian teamed up with United Entertainment Group (UEG) founder and CEO Jarrod Moses to combine their unique blend of talent and take over comedy advertising space.

Smoove plans to create the same laughter it creates in its movies, and television programs to commercials that “The First Darrin” will produce.

“I want to hit you right away. I want to let the brand see a different way of doing this — creativity-wise — and also see all the rules. Pace, I guess a certain amount of laughs in 30 seconds. I want to grab your attention. I want your eyebrows to raise. I want you to hear it while you’re doing the dishes and look around the room and go, ‘Oh, I knew it was that commercial. I love that commercial!’ I want you to say. he said.

The UEG CEO is also no stranger to the comedy industry, with Moses describing Smoove as the “comedy genius” of the duo; He co-founded the New York Comedy Festival 20 years ago with comedy champion Caroline Hirsch.

While Moses met Smoove at the beginning of the festival, the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star was still focusing primarily on stand-up comedy. The entertainment mogul told Fox News Digital about the moment the comedian realized he could go far in creative advertising.

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“I knew JB in those days of comedy and stand-up, of course following his career. But what brought this to life was when we partnered with White Claw on a campaign a few years ago, and I saw his comedic genius in the development of that campaign. I said, ‘This guy can really do so much more in this field.’ He was also developing the idea of ​​getting more involved in the advertising world on a parallel track,” he recalled.

“So at this point the two forces joined forces and we started creating the business plan. And now it’s finally coming to fruition,” Moses added.