Arsenio Hall (February 12, 1955) is an American comedian, talk show host, and actor. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show and stint as host of Star Search.
The son of a Baptist minister, Arsenio Hall performed as a magician when he was a child. Hall attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he was on the speech team with future actress Nancy Cartwright and future news anchor Leon Harris. He then transferred to Kent State University. He later moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. During this time, he became good friends with Eddie Murphy. Arsenio was the original voice of Winston Zeddemore in the cartoon, The Real Ghostbusters from 1986-1987. In 1988, he costarred in the comedy film Coming to America with Murphy.
From January 2, 1989 until May 27, 1994, he hosted The Arsenio Hall Show. The show was known for the audience's shouting "Roo Roo Roo" while pumping their fists. Hall had incorporated this chant used by fans of the Cleveland Browns football team who sit in a special section of Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, and are still known as "The Dawg Pound". He also had a rivalry with Jay Leno after the latter was named host of The Tonight Show, during which Arsenio said that he would "kick Jay's ass" in the ratings game. The two have since patched up their differences and Arsenio has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show. He is also remembered for having had his hair cut into a Hi-top fade during this period.
In 1989, Arsenio released an album on MCA, Large and In Charge, under the moniker "Chunky A". Chunky A was supposed to be Arsenio's overweight "little brother". The album had one minor hit "Owww!" and featured guest rappers Ice-T and KRS-1 and guest musicians Cameo.
The title of the C+C Music Factory dance single "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..." was inspired by Hall's monologue routines. He was also the target of many jokes by Keenen Ivory Wayans, who portrayed him on his sketch comedy show In Living Color.
After The Arsenio Hall Show ended, Hall made only infrequent appearances on television (including a short-lived 1997 sitcom called Arsenio) before starring in Martial Law with Sammo Hung from 1999–2000 and hosting the revival of Star Search in 2003.
Arsenio made a cameo appearance as himself in Chappelle's Show in March 2004, when Dave is imagining "what Arsenio is doing right now" in a dinner scene. It shows Arsenio at a wine party eating some cheese and saying, "Damn! That's some good-ass cheese!" After which, Arsenio starts punching and slapping people for not telling him about the apparently delicious cheese.
Arsenio hosted the early pilot episodes of the US daytime version of the hit game show Deal Or No Deal.
