Celebrity Nooz: Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle (Comedian) - Chappelle Show

Updated: 1/03/18

Name: Dave Chappelle

Born: August 24, 1973, Washington, D.C., U.S.

Claim To Fame: This comedian became widely known for his popular sketch comedy television series, Chappelle's Show.

Family Life: Chappelle is married to wife Elaine and they have two sons, Sulayman and Ibrahim.

Info: With aspirations to become a comedian, Dave Chappelle moved to New York City and quickly made a name for himself in the New York comedy circuit. At the age of 20, Chappelle made his film debut as "Ahchoo" in Mel Brooks's Robin Hood: Men in Tights. He made appearances in The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Martin Lawrence's Blue Streak.

However, it wasn't until the debut of his weekly sketch comedy show on Comedy Central called Chappelle's Show in 2003 that Chappelle really began to achieve fame. With his social and political commentary, along with comedy skits parodying many aspects of American culture, the show soon became a critical and commercial success. Chappelle received two Emmy nominations for the show, and the DVD set became the best-selling DVD of a television show to date.

In 2005, Chappelle shocked fans and the entertainment industry when he abruptly left during production of season three, mysteriously taking off to South Africa. He later denied any drug or mental problems but stated that his reasons for visiting South Africa were to reflect on his life and career.

Trivia: Is one of the few (if not only) celebrities to do advertisements for both Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Was best friends and frequent co-writers with Neal Brennan. Their partnership ended when Chappelle abruptly left "Chappelle's Show" (2003) in its third season.

Is very good friends with fellow comedian Mario Cantone, who appears in the "Ask A Gay Dude" segment on Chappelle's Show.

Has gone on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" 8 times so far, more appearances than he has had on all other talk shows combined.

#43 on Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Standups of All Time. He is the youngest person to make the list.

Made the Forbes Celebrity 100 List with $12 million in earnings.

His mother has been a professor at Howard University, Wilberforce University, Central State University and University of Maryland. She is also a Unitarian Universalist minister.

Graduated from Washington's Duke Ellington School of the Arts where he studied theatre arts.

Can play two songs on the piano, Round Midnight and Misty (song), as revealed by drummer Questlove in Dave Chappelle's Block Party.

Has stated that he is an avid World of Warcraft player.

Where Are They Now: Since his departure from the show, Chappelle performed impromptu stand-up shows in Los Angeles, went on a tour, and made a surprise appearance on HBO's Def Poetry where he performed two poems. In an interview for Inside the Actors Studio in 2005, he stated that the death of his father in 1998 had an impact on his decision to go to South Africa.

Chappelle again appeared on Inside the Actors Studio and in celebration of the show's 200th episode, he humorously interviewed the show's usual host, James Lipton. The episode aired on November 10, 2008. He currently lives with his wife Elaine and two sons on a 65-acre farm just outside Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Write To Dave Chappelle:
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Official Website: www.davechappelle.com

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