Career Timeline of Leslie Jones (comedian): Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 3, 2026

Discover the career path of Leslie Jones (comedian), from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Leslie Jones is an American comedian and actress best known for her work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) as a cast member and writer from 2014 to 2019, earning two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Before SNL, she performed at comedy festivals like Just for Laughs and Aspen Comedy Festival, and had a Showtime comedy special, Problem Child. Jones also starred in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot as Patty Tolan and hosted ABC's Supermarket Sweep.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1987: Stand-up Comedy Debut

In 1987, Leslie Jones began her journey in stand-up comedy while in college, after a friend signed her up for a "Funniest Person on Campus" contest which she won.

2006: Film Appearance in Repos

In 2006, Leslie Jones made an appearance in Master P's film, "Repos."

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2008: Joins Katt Williams's Tour

In 2008, Leslie Jones joined Katt Williams's "It's Pimpin' Pimpin'" tour, gaining exposure as part of a larger comedy act.

2010: Returns to Comedy

After taking a break, Leslie Jones returned to performing in smaller clubs until 2010, when she started securing prime-time slots at The Comedy Store.

2010: Comedy Special "Problem Child" Airs

In 2010, Leslie Jones's one-hour comedy special, "Problem Child", was broadcast on Showtime, showcasing her stand-up talents.

2012: Chris Rock's Support

In 2012, Chris Rock saw Leslie Jones perform and recommended her to several prominent comedy managers.

December 2013: Auditions for Saturday Night Live

In December 2013, Leslie Jones auditioned for Saturday Night Live (SNL) during a casting call aimed at adding an African American woman to the show.

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May 3, 2014: SNL Appearance Sparks Controversy

On May 3, 2014, Leslie Jones appeared on the Weekend Update segment of Saturday Night Live (SNL), hosted by Andrew Garfield, where her jokes about dating and her potential as a "breeding slave" caused controversy.

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October 20, 2014: Promoted to Featured Player on SNL

On October 20, 2014, Leslie Jones was promoted to a featured player on the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL).

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October 25, 2014: Official SNL Debut

On October 25, 2014, Leslie Jones made her official debut as a featured player on Saturday Night Live (SNL) during an episode hosted by Jim Carrey.

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2014: Appears in "Top Five"

In 2014, Leslie Jones appeared in Chris Rock's directorial film, "Top Five".

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2014: Joins Saturday Night Live

In 2014, Leslie Jones became a cast member and writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL).

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2015: Appears in Trainwreck

In 2015, Leslie Jones appeared in the Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer film project, "Trainwreck," with a part reportedly written specifically for her after they saw her performance in "Top Five."

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2016: Olympics Commentary

During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Leslie Jones's live-tweeting and reactions to the events gained so much popularity that NBC invited her to join their team as a commentator, covering swimming, track and field, gymnastics, and beach volleyball.

2016: Allstate Ad Campaign

In 2016, Leslie Jones and Adam DeVine appeared in an ad campaign for Allstate Insurance, created by Leo Burnett Worldwide.

2016: Stars in Ghostbusters

In 2016, Leslie Jones starred in the film "Ghostbusters" as Patty Tolan, marking a significant role in a major motion picture.

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June 25, 2017: Hosts BET Awards

On June 25, 2017, Leslie Jones hosted the BET Awards, marking her debut as a host for a major awards show.

2017: Joins Motion Picture Academy

In 2017, Leslie Jones became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Actors Branch.

2017: Primetime Emmy Nomination

In 2017, Leslie Jones received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on Saturday Night Live.

2018: Echo Spot Advertisements

In 2018, Leslie Jones appeared in two advertisements for Amazon's Echo Spot.

2018: Second Primetime Emmy Nomination

In 2018, Leslie Jones earned her second consecutive nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, recognizing her continued work on Saturday Night Live (SNL).

2018: Winter Olympics Commentary

In 2018, Leslie Jones reprised her Olympics commentary duties at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, continuing her involvement with the event.

2019: Leaves Saturday Night Live

In 2019, Leslie Jones concluded her tenure as a cast member and writer for Saturday Night Live.

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2020: Hosts Supermarket Sweep Reboot

In 2020, Leslie Jones began hosting a reboot of Supermarket Sweep.

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2020: Live-tweeting Summer Olympics

In 2020, Leslie Jones live-tweeted again for the postponed Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

2020: Netflix Stand-up Special

In 2020, Netflix signed Leslie Jones for a stand-up special.

2021: Returns for Supermarket Sweep Season 2

In 2021, Leslie Jones returned to host season 2 of the Supermarket Sweep reboot.

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2021: Hosts MTV Movie & TV Awards

In 2021, Leslie Jones served as the host for the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

2022: Final Olympics Live-tweeting

In 2022, Leslie Jones live-tweeted for the final time for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, later announcing that she would no longer be live-tweeting the Olympics due to pressure from broadcaster NBC.