If you asked different people where they first saw ARSENIO HALL, you'd probably get a number of different answers but it was the success of his Emmy Award-winning late-night talk show The Arsenio Hall Show that made "Arsenio" a household name. In 1979, Hall moved from Ohio to Chicago, Illinois where he tried his hand at stand-up comedy and was discovered by jazz singer Nancy Wilson. In the following years Hall toured, opening for major headliners, including Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder. A short time later, he attempted to diversify his career by making numerous appearances on television shows such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

In 1987, Hall was asked to replace Joan Rivers on the Fox Network series The Late Show. On the strength of his work as interim host, he was signed to a film and television deal with Paramount Pictures that subsequently led to the opportunity to co-write and co-star in the hit comedy Coming to America. On January 3, 1989, The Arsenio Hall Show made its debut.

In 1998, Hall joined the cast of the CBS dramedy Martial Law, playing Terrell Parker, a streetwise L.A.P.D. detective, for two years. He followed that role with a two-season stint as the host of the new Star Search (CBS). Then, taking on his most challenging task to date, he returned to stand-up comedy and toured for the first time in over a decade.

Currently, Hall is developing a television vehicle and writing a children's book.

08/07