Bio
Dave Chappelle is an Emmy-nominated American comedian, satirist and actor best known for starring in his sketch comedy television series Chappelle's Show, from 2003-2006, as well as a variety of comedy specials.
The son of college professors, Chappelle began his professional stand-up career in Washington, DC. As a minor, Chappelle's mother, also an ordained Unitarian minister, often accompanied him to local comedy clubs.
After graduating from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts with a concentration in theatre, he moved to New York City to continue his pursuit of stand-up work in earnest.
After getting booed off the stage at the legendary Apollo Theater's Amateur Hour he fell under the wing of Charlie Barnett, a New York street comedian. Charlie helped tutor Chappelle as a performer and taught him that all great comics must develop a definitive point of view.
Chappelle eventually gained valuable experience to perform with such entertainment luminaries as Aretha Franklin at Radio City Music Hall, Richard Pryor at Symphony Hall and with Whoopi Goldberg at the Lincoln Center.
Time-Out New York described his appeal as possessing "that rare balance of depth and delivery, which often makes a [Richard] Pryor or a [George] Carlin."
Chappelle's feature film and television path is unique. After making his movie debut in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Dave had the fortune of appearing in two consecutive blockbusters.
In 1996's The Nutty Professor, Chappelle played the obnoxious 'Def Jam' style comedian Reggie Warrington, who taunted the portly Professor Klump (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently, he appeared in the smash hit Con Air as Pinball Parker, a rioting convict who meets his death after being ejected from an airplane (by Nicolas Cage).
His first full foray into television, the short-lived 1996 series Buddies proved to be a personal low point for Chappelle after his friend Jim Breuer was sacked and the show canceled after four episodes.
Chappelle's first major starring role was in 1998's Half Baked, which he also co-wrote with eventual Chappelle's Show partner Neal Brennan. The film is now viewed as a cult hit and must-own DVD for college kids/stoner movie fans.
Chappelle delivered laughs as co-worker and confidante to Tom Hanks in You've Got Mail. In 1999, the film Blue Streak teamed Chappelle with fellow comic and DC native Martin Lawrence. He also had a turn as Conspiracy Brother in the 2002 Eddie Griffin vehicle Undercover Brother.
In 2005 he teamed with famed video director Michel Gondry to throw the concert documentary Dave Chappelle's Block Party.