Trivia

Arsenio Hall (as a character named Chunky A) put out an album entitled "Large and In Charge". Paula Abdul, Wil Wheaton and Ice-T are among the guests that appear on the album.

In 1987, he was the most popular of several rotating guests who replaced Joan Rivers as host of the fledgling Fox network's new late night talk show, The Late Show (1986) after Rivers was fired. He later got his own show syndicated by Paramount, The Arsenio Hall Show (1989). Hall and Rivers are good friends, and Hall had Rivers as a guest on his new show at Paramount.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6776 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 7, 1990.

As a teenager, he was an accomplished magician.

He was a member of Ohio University's forensics (competitive speech) team. The team has also had Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson) and Leon Harris (morning anchor, CNN) as members.

Famous for a headlining story in "Entertainment Weekly" magazine, in which he declared he would "kick Leno's ass" in the ratings when his late-night talk show went up against Jay Leno's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992). Hall's show was canceled shortly after being trampled by Leno's ratings.

Attended Kent State University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in Speech (1977).

Was the original voice of Winston Zeddemore on the animated series The Real Ghostbusters (1986), beating out Ernie Hudson, who had played Winston in the theatrical films Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989). Hall was reportedly confused when he arrived at the audition and saw Hudson auditioning for the role Hudson originated in the films. Hall was later replaced by Buster Jones, and Jones later reprised the role in an episode of Extreme Ghostbusters (1997).

On May 5, 2016, Hall filed a defamation lawsuit against Sinéad O'Connor after she claimed he had fueled Prince's drug habit and had also spiked her drink at Eddie Murphy's house. Hall dropped the lawsuit after O'Connor apologized and retracted her allegations.

He hosted the early pilot episodes of the American daytime version of the game show Deal or No Deal (2005).

Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Central State University (Spring 1992).

Cites Don Cornelius as his favorite idol, growing up, watching him on Soul Train (1971).

He was the Master of Ceremonies at the Sheba Lounge in Chicago, late 1970s and early 1980s. Praised and encouraged to pursue a professional career by singer Nancy Wilson, for whom he did an opening act.

Friends with Joan Rivers, Nancy Wilson, Magic Johnson and Tiffany Haddish.

Before he had a successful talk show, legendary comedienne Joan Rivers had used him for The Late Show (1986), as her replacement. Fortunately for Hall, he only got the job, because she left the show, because of the way the producers had been taken advantaged of her.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 202-204. New York: Facts on File (1992). ISBN 0816023387.

Close friends with Eddie Murphy.

Attended and graduated from Warrensville Heights High School in Warrensville Heights, Ohio (1973). Yvette Nicole Brown graduated from the high school (1989).