Who Is 'Leeroy Jenkins'? The 'World of Warcraft' Legend That Became A Gag On Everything From Jeopardy To Jon Stewart Explained

Leeroy Jenkins was one of the internet's first viral videos, dropping sometime in the mid-2000s and quickly becoming a key part of early internet history. The fail video showed a campaign for the popular RPG game World of Warcraft going horribly wrong, and became viral despite some reports that the video may be staged.

Nevertheless, Leeroy Jenkin's legacy as a total "noob" made him a core part of Blizzard and World of Warcraft history, and his sacrifice came to be referenced in late-night talk shows, movies, and even Jeopardy!.

What Is The Original 'Leeroy Jenkins' Video?

In May 2005, a video from a World of Warcraft campaign was posted to a fansite dedicated to hosting clips of people playing the game. A guild of players called "PalsForLife" posted the clip to the fansite to ask for constructive feedback on their gameplay. The video showed the players working out a strategy to tackle a dangerous zone in the game called the "Rookery," known for having a large number of fatal dragonspawn.

Right as the group is winding down their plan for tackling the level, a paladin in the group who appears to have missed the discussion rushes into the dragonspawn room saying, "Alright let's do this, LEEROY JENKINS." The move almost immediately backfires and results in the entire team dying.

How Did Leeroy Jenkins Become a Viral Meme?

The video of Leeroy Jenkins epic failing in his attempt to lead his team to victory became WoW canon, with a YouTube reupload of the video gathering over 30 million plays by 2012. Blizzard, the corporation that made WoW, commemorated the virality of the Leeroy Jenkins video by giving an official trading card and a mini figure, and even naming an achievement in the Rookery after him. Leeroy Jenkins was also commemorated by becoming a WoW NPC.

So Who Is Leeroy Jenkins Really?

Leeroy Jenkins Was Voiced By Ben Schulz, a Denver-based gamer who filmed the video with a group of college friends. The fame he received as a result of the video going viral landed him an invite to Blizzcon in 2006 and a role as keynote speaker at ROLFCon.

Ben Schulz says he stopped gaming as much as he used to in order to pursue his college education and become an electrical engineer. He says that he is an active user of Kongregate, founded by Ben Vincent who filmed the original Leeroy Jenkins video. Schulz also replied to people questioning the authenticity of the original Leeroy Jenkins video, saying that while he would prefer if people came to their own conclusions, the video was definitely staged for humorous effect.

What Is Leeroy Jenkin's History in Pop Culture?

Leeroy Jenkins' popularity in the 2000s led to him becoming a part of popular culture in some odd ways. In one instance, Jenkins was the clue for a question on the beloved gameshow Jeopardy!, and in another instance, he was the punchline to a joke on Jon Stewart.

The meme also made an appearance in the storyboard for the animated movie Mosters vs. Aliens, although the scene appears to have been cut from the final screenplay. The meme was even referenced in a World of Warcraft-themed Toyota Tacoma commercial.

For the full history of Leeroy Jenkins, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.