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David "Dave" Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American comedian, satirist and actor who rose to top stardom in 2003 with the debut of Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show. He received two Emmy nominations during the 2003-04 TV season and another nomination for the 2004-05 season.
Early life and education
Dave Chappelle was born in Washington, D.C.. His father, William Chappelle was a professor of voice and music at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. His mother, Yvonne Seon is a Unitarian Universalist minister. During young Dave's formative years, his comic inspiration came from various comedy idols, particularly Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and also the Warner Brothers cartoon character Bugs Bunny.
At the age of 14, he gathered the courage to perform stand-up comedy at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater. The performance resulted in him being booed off the stage, but in the Inside the Actors Studio interview, broadcast February 12, 2006, he described the experience as an enlightening moment that gave him the courage to continue his show business aspirations.
After his parents separated, Chappelle stayed in Washington with his mother, while spending summers with his father in Yellow Springs. In June 1991, he graduated from Washington's Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a renowned performing arts high school, where he majored in theatre arts.
Career
Early works
Within a year of his graduation, Dave Chappelle appeared, at the age of 19, in small, but showy roles in his first two films, 1993's Robin Hood: Men in Tights (released on July 28) and Undercover Blues (released on September 10, although it was apparently filmed before Robin Hood). On the strength of his performances in these films, Chappelle was offered the role of Bubba in Forrest Gump, which was in a pre-production stage. Not realizing the impact this future Best Picture Oscar would have, and concerned about what seemed to be a racially-demeaning portrayal of the character, he took the advice of fellow comedian Bill Cosby in turning down the part, ultimately played by Mykelti Williamson. He has since admitted to deeply regretting the decision. Chappelle played another supporting movie role in 1994's little-seen Getting In.
He attracted the attention of TV network executives with his exuberant performance in the March 14, 1995 episode of ABC's highly rated sitcom Home Improvement. The storyline had Chappelle and actor Jim Breuer play a duo of amateur filmmakers whose every move with their girlfriends resulted in comic mayhem. The characters' single outing in the episode proved so popular that ABC decided to star them in their own half-hour sitcom Buddies premiering on Tuesday, March 5, 1996. Jim Breuer however, was replaced with Christopher Gartin as Dave's "buddy" after subsequent rehearsals. The unique comic timing and chemistry that Chappelle had with Breuer in the Home Improvement episode was not present with Gartin, and Breuer's abrupt firing exacerbated ill will and prevented Chappelle and Gartin from developing the rapport and comedic chemistry necessary for the characters' believability and likeability. The dilemma was reflected in the disappointing ratings. When a move to Wednesday night failed to improve its performance, Buddies was off the air on March 27 after a broadcast history of only four episodes out of thirteen that were produced. Nine years later, in May 2005, ten of the episodes were released on a single-disc DVD to capitalize on Chappelle's new-found fame.
He later appeared as the nightclub comedian in the remake of The Nutty Professor, had a minor role in Con Air, had a supporting role in Martin Lawrence's Blue Streak, and co-wrote (with Neal Brennan), produced (uncredited) and starred in Half Baked, a cult film about a group of pot-smoking best friends trying to get their friend out of jail. Since he remained in contact with his Buddies co-star Jim Breuer, Chappelle decided to try recapturing the special comic harmony that they generated two years earlier by offering Breuer the co-starring role in Half Baked.
Chappelle appeared as himself in an episode of The Larry Sanders Show, in which he and the executives of the show's nameless television network satirized the treatment that scriptwriters and show creators were subject to, as well as the executives' knee-jerk stereotyping when it came to race. In 1998, he played a supporting role as Tom Hanks' best friend and confidant in You've Got Mail.
Chappelle's Show
In 2003, Chappelle debuted his own weekly television show on Comedy Central called Chappelle's Show. The show parodies many aspects of American culture such as racial stereotypes and slurs, including his African-American heritage. This, combined with Chappelle's pointed social and political commentary, quickly helped garner the show's critical and commercial success. Chappelle's Show also gained a large hip-hop following and featured progressive rappers such as Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Mos Def, and Kanye West. Along with comedy skits, the show also had musical performances, which spotlighted musical guests such as Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, Outkast, Common, De La Soul, Fat Joe, Anthony Hamilton, DMX, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, and John Mayer.
By the end of the second season, it was one of the highest-rated shows on basic cable, with a greater audience share than South Park on Comedy Central. Additionally, the DVD set, Chappelle's Show Season One Uncensored!, became the best-selling DVD of a television show to date, overtaking the previous best-selling, The Simpsons first season DVD. It had sold over 3 million copies Due to the show's popularity, Comedy Central's parent company Viacom reportedly offered Chappelle a $55 million contract (giving Chappelle a share of DVD sales) to continue production of Chappelle's Show for two more years while allowing him to do side projects. Chappelle had stated that sketches are not his favorite form of comedy, and that the characteristics of the show's format were somewhat like short films.
Season 3 turbulence
The comedian stunned fans and the entertainment industry when he abruptly left during production of the third season of Chappelle's Show. Chappelle has since stated that he was unhappy with the direction the show had taken, claiming pressure from network executives regarding the show's content. Chappelle left the United States to visit South Africa. His decision triggered reports of mental or drug problems with the actor, which Chappelle later denied. On May 11, 2005, news sources reported that Chappelle had checked himself into a psychiatric facility in South Africa, which Chappelle has since repeatedly denied. On May 14, Time Magazine announced that one of their reporters had interviewed Chappelle in South Africa, and the comedian said no psychiatric treatments were occurring or necessary. Chappelle has stated that his reasons for visiting South Africa were to reflect on his life and career.
On August 3, co-star Charlie Murphy gave an interview to TV Guide stating that he believed that Chappelle was finished with Chappelle's Show and would not be returning.
Return
Later in the year, Chappelle had returned home and was performing impromptu shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Newport, Kentucky. He was interviewed for Inside the Actors Studio on December 18, 2005 at Pace University's Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. The show premiered on February 12, 2006. Chappelle stated that the death of his father had an impact in his decision to go to South Africa to get away from the stress of stardom, stating that he had not received a chance to mourn his father's death. He also said the rumors that he was in drug or psychiatric treatment only persuaded him to stay in South Africa.
He was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on her show on February 3, 2006 in his first televised interview since his departure from Chappelle's Show. He stated in the interview that he "wasn't crazy" but the environment was "incredibly stressful". He continued:
“ I would go to work on the show and I felt awful every day, that's not the way it was. ... I felt like some kind of prostitute or something. If I feel so bad, why keep on showing up to this place? I'm going to Africa. The hardest thing to do is to be true to yourself, especially when everybody is watching. ”
Chappelle also admitted to Oprah that he felt some of his sketches were socially irresponsible. He singled out the "pixie sketch" (in which it implied everyone has a pixie that appears to them and encourages them to act in a way stereotypical for their race) and said during the filming of the blackface pixie sketch, a white crew member was laughing. Chappelle said "it was the first time I felt that someone was not laughing with me but laughing at me." He also said that during the sketch he was called nigger by one of the other non-important cast members.
During these interviews, Chappelle did not rule out returning to Chappelle's Show to "finish what we started", but promised that he would not return without changes to the production, such as a better working environment. He also stated he would like to donate half of the DVD sales to charity, and to people that supported him. Chappelle expressed disdain at the possibility of his material from the unfinished third season being aired, saying that to do so would be "a bully move", and that he would not return to the show if Comedy Central were to air the unfinished material. On July 9, 2006, Comedy Central aired the first episode of Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes. An uncensored DVD release of the episodes was made available on July 25.
Chappelle has stated that he has no intention of leaving Yellow Springs, Ohio, his current residence (see below). "Turns out you don't need $50 million to live around these parts, just a nice smile and a kind way about you. You guys are the best neighbors ever", he stated at a blues and jazz festival in the town in mid-September 2006, "That's why I came back and that's why I'm staying."
Rick James Biopic
Variety magazine reported on December 14, 2006 that a film about the life of colorful and controversial punk-funk singer Rick James had started pre-production stages. Screenwriter Sheldon Turner has stated he is interested in pursuing Chappelle to play James, something that he had expressed interest in a few years back.
Block Party
Chappelle was the subject of the Michel Gondry-directed documentary Dave Chappelle's Block Party which chronicles a Chappelle-hosted event in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn on 18 September 2004. The highlight of the event was the reunion of popular '90s rap group The Fugees. Chappelle toured several cities in February and March 2006 to promote the film under the moniker "Block Party All-Stars featuring Dave Chappelle". Universal Pictures' genre division Rogue Pictures released the film in the United States on March 3, 2006.
Other works
Along with regular actor roles, Chappelle has also done commercials for Right Guard deodorant, Coke, and Pepsi.
Chappelle has made an appearance on Def Poetry. He performed two poems, titled Fuck Ashton Kutcher and How I Got the Lead on "Jeopardy!."
Dave Chappelle was scheduled to perform at The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, November 14-18, 2006, however, it was cancelled at the last minute on the first date of the show for reasons unknown.
According to IMDB, Chappelle is set to star in a sports comedy film Ballers in 2007.
Personal life
In 1998, Chappelle converted to Islam. He told Time Magazine in a May 2005 interview, "I don't normally talk about my religion publicly because I don't want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing. And I believe it is beautiful if you learn it the right way."
Chappelle has commented on being a computer and video game enthusiast, some of his favorites being NBA Street, Street Fighter and Grand Theft Auto. He also is a World of Warcraft fan. On Chappelle's Show, he has paid homage a few different times to various video games. One was to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, in which he plays the main character that steals a car to go to work. Another was to the game Street Hoops, in which he challenges and beats a child with cancer. In a 2Pac rap sketch, a lyric mentions "run up in yo' spot like CJ from San Andreas".
He lives with his wife Elaine (who is of Filipino descent) and two sons (one is named Sulayman) on a 65-acre (26-hectare) farm just outside Yellow Springs, Ohio. When he is not touring or engaged in filming for television or the big screen, Chappelle can be seen in the shops and markets of the small college town known as a countercultural center.
Chappelle likes to skateboard as a hobby and says he tries to find skateparks in the cities he performs in. He made an appearance skateboarding in the Signature Video Magazine Volume 1. The video features a short clip of Dave skating at Project 58 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He made another appearance skating on the first episode of Chappelle's Show during the credits as Clayton Bigsby, black white supremacist.
Trivia
* Prior to Richard Pryor's death, his wife stated that he feels he has "passed the torch" to Chappelle.
* Dave Chappelle created an iTunes Celebrity Playlist and selected the DangerDoom track Mince Meat for his Block Party Picks. He stated, "Two very consistently good artists collaborate to make my head nod. Doom, Mouse - Thank You. Wherever you are, nice album."
* Chappelle has also reportedly offered beatboxer Rahzel $1,000,000 to "be his iPod".
Filmography
Major works
* Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly, 2000
* Chappelle's Show: Season One, 2004
* Chappelle's Show: Season Two, 2004
* Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth, 2004
* Dave Chappelle's Block Party, 2006
* Chappelle's Show: Lost Episodes, 2006
Year Film Role Notes
1993 Undercover Blues Ozzie
1993 Robin Hood: Men in Tights Ahchoo
1994 Getting In Ron
1996 Buddies Dave Carlisle
1996 Joe's Apartment Cockroach (voice)
1996 The Nutty Professor Reggie Warrington
1997 Damn Whitey Dave
1997 Bowl of Pork Black Forrest Gump
1997 Con Air Joe 'Pinball' Parker
1997 The Real Blonde Zee
1998 Woo (film) Lennu
1998 You've Got Mail Kevin Jackson
1998 Half Baked Thurgood Jenkins/Mr. Nice Guy & Sir-Smoke-a-Lot Co-writer
1999 Blue Streak Tulley
2000 Screwed Rusty P. Hayes
2002 Undercover Brother Conspiracy Brother
2005 Dave Chappelle's Block Party himself
2007 Ballers unknown announced
| Latest news about David Chappelle |
Comment on Social Networking Dinosaur Syndrome (Written by David ...David Chappelle > \\\"grok-n-roller\\\"... what a great term. show comment. Continue reading
Comment on Consumers Are Ready to Accept Biometrics, Says Unisys ...David Chappelle > ... show comment. Continue reading
Cinema Sounds: Dave Chappelle's Block Party SoundtrackIn his 2004 concert documentary, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, the comedian played several roles. As concert impresario, he assembled a who's who of backpacker hip-hop and neo-soul: The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Common, ... Continue reading
Precious: Brutal New Classic or African-American Bruno? | Slog ...1)No, David...Mariah's moustouche kicks ass in Precious... 2)The actors are great, the movie is powerful but uneven (wanders a bit into "To Sir With Love" territory) and it's nothing like the gawdawful "Crash" or the ok but sweet "Slumdog" .... The Black Crusaders are coming for you, like they did Dave Chappelle and Tracy Jordan. Posted by Brian with an I on November 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM. Unregistered Comment on November 20, 2009 at 5:46 PM 43 ... Continue reading
YoBeat: Making Fun of Snowboarding Since 1997 » News » Dave ...Dave Chappelle Comes to Portland! By admin • Jul 15th, 2009 • Category: News. We didn't go, but here's what we missed (via twitter.) Starring @nateb (Nate Berthoda) @jpdevries (JP Devries) @oakaquarium (Party Time Nate) @cobradogs (Cory ... Continue reading
Mapping Xantias Basic Mountain Tutorial."If a celebrity can't piss on his fans, than i don't want to be in showbiz anymore." -David Chappelle. Xantia is offline. Old 9th November 2009, 13:28. Xantia. Freelancer. Xantia's Avatar. Join Date: Nov 2009. Posts: 145 ... Continue reading
I Found David Chappelle; Solange Knowles Does PRIDE Instead Of BET ...David Chappelle is seen here leaving Guys and Dolls in West Hollywood. Looking plain and simple in his “white tee”. I hope he's thinking of a way to return to television. I need a good laugh. david_chapelle_guys_girls ... Continue reading
27. Chappelle's ShowThat's why when David Chappelle reached the pinacle of his career, it was so bizarre to see him walk away from a reported $55 million dollar payday and leave the spotlight because of principles. But in 2005, that's exactly what David ... Continue reading
Third Times a CharmBlock Party which features entertainer and comedian David Chappelle during the summer of 2004 hosting a big block party in Brooklyn, New York. He invited several alternative hip hop and neo-soul musical artists to perform at the party, ... Continue reading
PSN video content update: killers, spaceships, and giant robots ...A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; Boarding Gate; Bollywood/Hollywood; Bruno; Color Me Kubrick; Crazy Love; Dark Country; Dave Chappelle's Block Party; Diggers; Franklyn; Freaky Friday (2003); Ichi The Killer (Unrated); My Sister's Keeper ... Continue reading
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