I know J.B. Smoove as the man who breathed a necessary freshness into Curb Your Enthusiasm. Now, after working primarily in television, Smoove (a moniker organically derived from his given name, Jerry Brooks) is taking a part in the upcoming The Dictator. Smoove, whose role has been described only as “Usher,” will join Sasha Baron Cohen’s supporting cast, which currently includes Megan Fox, Anna Faris, John C. Reilly, Jason Mantzoukas (Pawnee, Indiana’s cologne mogul Dennis Feinstein), and—if you can believe it—Ben Kingsley.
Directing The Dictator will be Larry Charles, who worked with Cohen on Borat and Smoove on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Production is currently underway in New York.
Smoove’s additional upcoming projects include Jonah Hill comedy The Sitter and a Cameron Crowe film titled We Bought a Zoo, wherein Matt Damon and his family do just that. Smoove is also launching a comedy website called TheRuckus.com.
Source: Hollywood Reporter