Arsenio: A Memoir
About the Book
Arsenio: A Memoir
Arsenio Hall, America’s beloved late-night TV host, reveals the ups and downs of his remarkable career as a trailblazing pioneer with this behind-the-scenes, star-studded, no-holds-barred memoir of celebrity, race and show business.
Arsenio Hall holds a uniquely prominent place in American culture --- celebrated late-night host and comedic actor, famed for starring roles in the cultural touchstones Coming to America and Harlem Nights.
Now, he pulls back the curtain and takes us to a different time in Hollywood. Iconic scenes include: starting out as a young magician in Cleveland; hosting his first talk show in the basement of his apartment building when he was in elementary school; cutting his teeth at the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, learning about comedy and life from legendary comedian Richard Pryor; forming lifelong bonds with legendary icons Muhammad Ali, Luther Vandross, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Eddie Murphy; tasting superstar success with Coming to America, the film that preceded "The Arsenio Hall Show"; conducting unforgettable, groundbreaking interviews with Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton, Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, Madonna and Minister Louis Farrakhan; rescuing a family from a home-fire with Jay Leno; sharing hot sauces and blackjack with Patti LaBelle; and chilling with Prince.
And then, he made the difficult decision to walk away.
This bracingly candid memoir offers a new appreciation for this raw talent and gifted storyteller, who nightly, for six years, hosted what felt like a televised “party” that changed the landscape of late-night television and brought Black culture into living rooms across America.
With this book, he does it one more time.
Arsenio: A Memoir
- Publication Date: April 7, 2026
- Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction
- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: Atria/Black Privilege Publishing
- ISBN-10: 1982191368
- ISBN-13: 9781982191368


