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Curb Your Enthusiasm character guide

Who is Leon Black in Curb Your Enthusiasm?

The brash, fearless houseguest who moves in with Larry David alongside a family displaced by a hurricane, never leaves, and becomes Larry's unlikely roommate, wingman, and life coach.

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Leon Black's Sitcomdle clue card

The five clues the game shows when Leon Black is the answer or a guess.

Show
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Debut
2007
Network
HBO
Role
Main
Gender
Male

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Show
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Played by
J. B. Smoove
First episode
“The Anonymous Donor”Season 6, Episode 2, aired September 16, 2007
Role
Main cast
Network
HBO
Occupation
Larry's houseguest, roommate, and sidekick
Show run
2000 to 2024
Also known as
Leon

Leon Black arrives on Curb Your Enthusiasm as a relative of the family Larry and Cheryl take in after a hurricane, and somehow ends up living with Larry for good. Played by J. B. Smoove, he is loud, confident, and full of outrageous advice.

On Curb Your Enthusiasm, Leon Black's story runs through Larry David (Roommate), Jeff Greene (Friend), Susie Greene (Jeff's Wife), and Cheryl David (Former Host).

Leon Black from Curb Your Enthusiasm: Sitcomdle character card

Who is Leon Black?

In season six, Larry and Cheryl take in the Black family, whose New Orleans home was destroyed in a hurricane. Loretta Black's brother Leon moves in with them too, even though he already lives in Los Angeles and the storm never touched him.

When Loretta and her children finally move out in season seven, Leon stays put. He outlasts Larry's marriage, too, and spends the rest of the series as Larry's roommate, confidant, occasional assistant, and partner in schemes.

Personality and comedy

Leon is everything Larry is not: relaxed, swaggering, and completely unbothered by social rules. He talks in colorful, rapid-fire riffs, offers Larry advice on women, confrontation, and street justice, and rarely seems to have a steady job.

The comedy works because Leon genuinely likes Larry and is fiercely loyal to him. He will happily impersonate someone, scare off an enemy, or tag along on an awkward errand, and his wild suggestions often make Larry's problems worse in the funniest possible way.

Key storylines

Leon gets pulled into many of Larry's biggest messes. In season seven, during the Seinfeld reunion, he poses as a man suffering from a made-up illness. At the end of season eight, he and Larry run off to Paris to dodge a charity obligation. In season nine, Leon becomes Larry's assistant.

The final season begins with Larry and Leon traveling to Atlanta, where Leon visits his Auntie Rae. There, Larry hands her a bottle of water while she waits in line to vote and is arrested under Georgia election law, setting up the trial that closes the series.

Behind the scenes and legacy

J. B. Smoove, a comedian and former Saturday Night Live writer, recurred as Leon in seasons six through eight and became a series regular from season nine through the final season, twelve. His improvised riffs quickly made Leon a fan favorite.

Leon's arrival changed the shape of Curb. With Cheryl gone, Leon became Larry's main scene partner at home, and many fans count the Larry and Leon pairing among the best parts of the later seasons.

Key Leon Black episodes

  1. “The Anonymous Donor”Season 6, Episode 2Leon makes his first appearance as Loretta's brother and settles into Larry and Cheryl's house.
  2. “Vehicular Fellatio”Season 7, Episode 2When the rest of the Black family moves out, Leon stays behind with Larry.
  3. “The Table Read”Season 7, Episode 9Leon poses as a man suffering from a fictional disease.
  4. “Larry vs. Michael J. Fox”Season 8, Episode 10Larry and Leon head to Paris to get out of a charity obligation.
  5. “Foisted!”Season 9, Episode 1Leon becomes Larry's new assistant.
  6. “Atlanta”Season 12, Episode 1Leon visits his Auntie Rae in Atlanta, where Larry is arrested for giving her water in a voting line.

Season and episode numbers follow the original broadcast order.

Leon Black: frequently asked questions

Who plays Leon on Curb Your Enthusiasm?

J. B. Smoove plays Leon Black. He recurs in seasons six through eight and is a series regular from season nine through twelve.

When does Leon first appear on Curb?

Leon first appears in "The Anonymous Donor," the second episode of season six, which aired on September 16, 2007.

Why does Leon live with Larry?

Leon moves in with Larry and Cheryl along with his sister Loretta's family after a hurricane destroys their New Orleans home, even though Leon already lived in Los Angeles. When the rest of the family moves out, Leon simply stays.

Is Leon related to Larry?

No. Leon is the brother of Loretta Black, whose family Larry and Cheryl took in. He and Larry are just roommates and friends.

Is Leon in the Curb finale?

Yes. Yes. Leon is a regular through the final season, which begins when he and Larry travel to Atlanta, where Larry's arrest sets up the trial in the series finale, "No Lessons Learned."

Test yourself: Leon Black quiz

5 questions about Leon Black. Think of your answer, then open the reveal to check it.

  1. Question 1

    Which actor plays Leon Black, Larry's houseguest turned roommate?

    1. Jeff Garlin
    2. J. B. Smoove
    3. Saverio Guerra
    4. Bob Einstein
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. J. B. Smoove

    J. B. Smoove joined in season six as Leon and quickly became a fan favorite, moving up to the main cast in season nine.

    See question 6 in the full quiz

  2. Question 2

    Why is Larry arrested in Atlanta at the start of the final season?

    1. He gave water to Leon's aunt in a voting line
    2. He refused to tip a hotel maid
    3. He insulted a wealthy fan at his party
    4. He threw his glasses out a hotel window
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. He gave water to Leon's aunt in a voting line

    In "Atlanta," Larry hands Leon's aunt a bottle of water while she waits to vote, which gets him arrested and sets up the trial that ends the series.

    See question 17 in the full quiz

  3. Question 3

    Which fictional hurricane destroyed Loretta Black's New Orleans home, bringing the Blacks, and Leon, to Larry's house?

    1. Hurricane Katrina
    2. Hurricane Edna
    3. Hurricane Rita
    4. Hurricane Andrew
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Hurricane Edna

    Larry and Cheryl give Loretta's family a place to stay after Hurricane Edna. Her brother Leon has no storm story at all, since he was already living in LA, but he moves in anyway.

    See question 18 in the full quiz

  4. Question 4

    Who plays Leon Black in Curb Your Enthusiasm?

    1. Peri Gilpin
    2. America Ferrera
    3. J. B. Smoove
    4. Gary Burghoff
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. J. B. Smoove

    J. B. Smoove plays Leon Black.

  5. Question 5

    In what year did Leon Black first appear on Curb Your Enthusiasm?

    1. 2013
    2. 2007
    3. 2009
    4. 2004
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. 2007

    Leon Black debuted in 2007, in "The Anonymous Donor" (Season 6, Episode 2). That year is the Debut clue in the game.

Take the full Curb Your Enthusiasm quiz (20 questions)

Sources and corrections

Reference pages used for this guide, including character, cast, and episode details.

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