American entertainer, a hip black comic with a stylish wardrobe who began as a late-night TV show host on 3 January 1989. He formerly co-starred with his pal, Eddie Murphy, in “Coming to America,” 1988 and “Harlem Nights,” 1989.
Hall was raised in the Cleveland ghetto by a divorced mom and grandma. His Baptist minister dad had been abusive and left when the boy was five. When he was nine, his folks divorced and he was raised by his grandmom from that time on.
His big goal was to live someday in a house where there were no rats or roaches. Out of lonely and disjoined childhood, he managed to make good grades in school and did a magic show as a teen. He went to Kent State University for a degree in speech. He became involved in theatre arts, working as a disc jockey at the campus radio station while continuing to practice his magic skills. He received his B.A. in December 1977.
Show biz was a climb up the ladder from stand-up comedy to emcee as a warm-up act for stars. At a show on Christmas night in 1979, he made a big break by playing emcee at a show featuring the singer Nancy Wilson. Impressed by the young comic, she financed his move to Los Angeles. In addition to performing regularly in L.A. nightclubs, Hall appeared on telethons and benefit shows. Then, on Wilson’s recommendation, he became the opening act for the legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, from where he began the opening for many top-class acts.
His high-intensity style reaches today’s market and his own show booked a variety of guests for 167 stations nationwide. Hall can’t sit still. He interacts with audience, black and white, and obviously loves what he does.
When the show ended in 1994, Hall dropped out of sight. He became an immediate nonentity in Hollywood, giving him a time to reevaluate friendship and fame. Perhaps he reached his low point in 1996 when his mom had cancer. She recovered, and his career also moved into the next phase.
On 5 March 1997, 9:30 PM EST, “Arsenio” made its debut on ABC. In the fierce competition for ratings, the show fell behind and was cancelled within a month.
On 18 June 2012, Hall signed a contract with CBS to host a new talk show, slated to debut in September 2013.
Link to Wikipedia biography