Dave Chappelle Biography David Khari Webber Chappelle born August 24, 1973 is a renowned American comedian and actor. He co-created and starred in the satirical comedy sketch series Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006) before abruptly leaving during the third season of production. After a break from the spotlight, Chappelle returned to performing stand-up comedy across the U.S. By 2006, he was recognized as the “comic genius of America” by Esquire and in 2013, was dubbed “the best” by a Billboard writer. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him No. 9 on their list of the “50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time.” Chappelle has appeared in several films, including Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), The Nutty Professor (1996), Con Air (1997), You’ve Got Mail (1998), Blue Streak (1999), Undercover Brother (2002), Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (2005), Chi-Raq (2015), and A Star Is Born (2018).
Dave Chappelle Biography
Dave Chappelle began his career while still in high school at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, where he studied theatre arts. At the age of 14, he started performing stand-up comedy in nightclubs. After graduating, he moved to New York City and quickly gained recognition as a rising talent. By 19, Chappelle made his film debut in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). He later starred in the short-lived sitcom Buddies (1996) and had a featured role in The Nutty Professor (1996). Chappelle is a renowned American comedian, actor, producer, and writer. In addition to signing a lucrative $20 million deal with Netflix, he won an Emmy Award in 2017 for his guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Dave Chappelle Biography Details
| Birth name |
David Khari Webber Chappelle |
| Born |
August 24, 1973 (age 51)
Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Medium |
· Stand-up
· television
· film |
| Education |
· Eastern High School
· Duke Ellington School of the Arts |
| Years active |
1990–present |
| Genres |
· Observational comedy
· surreal humor
· sketch comedy
· black comedy
· insult comedy
· racial humor
· satire |
| Subject(s) |
· American politics
· African-American culture
· pop culture
· racism
· race relations
· recreational drug use
· current events
· human sexuality |
| Spouse |
Elaine Erfe
(m. 2001) |
| Children |
3 |
| Parent(s) |
William David Chappelle III
Yvonne Seon |
| Relative(s) |
· William D. Chappelle (great-grandfather)
· Robert John Palmer (great-great-grandfather)
· W. D. Chappelle Jr. (grand-uncle) |
| Category |
Singers Bio |
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About Dave Chappelle
David Khari Webber Chappelle is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He starred in and co-created the satirical comedy sketch series Chappelle’s Show before quitting in the middle of production during the third season. After a hiatus, Chappelle returned to performing stand-up comedy across the U.S.
- Born: 24 August 1973 (age 51 years), Washington, D.C., United States
- Spouse: Elaine Chappelle (m. 2001)
- Children: Ibrahim Chappelle, Sanaa Chappelle, Sulayman Chappelle
- Parents: Yvonne Seon, William David Chappelle III
- Height: 83 m
- Siblings: Felicia Chappelle Jones, William S. Chappelle
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Early Life and Education
Chappelle was born in Washington, D.C., on August 24, 1973. His father, William David Chappelle III, was a professor of vocal performance and the dean of students at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. His mother, Yvonne Seon (née Reed, formerly Chappelle), was a Unitarian Universalist minister and worked as a professor and university administrator. Chappelle grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and attended Woodlin Elementary School. His parents were politically active, with family friends including Pete Seeger and Johnny Hartman, who predicted Chappelle would become a comedian. Chappelle drew inspiration from comedians Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor. After his parents’ separation, Chappelle lived with his mother in Washington, D.C., while spending summers with his father in Ohio. In high school, he worked as an usher at Ford’s Theatre.
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Early Career
After high school, Chappelle moved to New York City to pursue comedy. He started by performing at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night (where he was booed off stage), but quickly gained recognition in the New York comedy scene. He made a breakthrough appearance on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam in 1992, earning critical acclaim. This helped him secure guest spots on late-night talk shows like The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. At 19, he opened for Aretha Franklin. Chappelle made his film debut at 20 in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) and later appeared in Eddie Murphy’s The Nutty Professor (1996). In 1998, he co-wrote and starred in Half Baked, a cult classic stoner comedy.
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Dave Chappelle Bio, Age, Height, Family
| Full Name |
David Khari Webber Chappelle |
| Stage Name |
Dave Chappelle |
| Years Active |
1990 – present |
| Dave Chappelle Age |
51 years |
| Gender |
Male |
| Date of Birth |
August 24, 1973. |
| Marital Status |
Married |
| Dave Chappelle Wife |
Elaine Erfe (2001 – present) |
| No. of Children |
Ibrahim Chappelle
Sanaa Chappelle
Sulayman Chappelle |
| Nationality |
American |
| Dave Chappelle Height |
1.83 m |
| Dave Chappelle Parents |
Yvonne Seon (mother)
William David Chappelle III (father) |
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Dave Chappelle’s Net Worth and Salary
Dave Chappelle is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer with a net worth of $70 million. He is widely recognized for his stand-up specials, particularly those on Netflix, which are the primary source of his fortune. Netflix has made a lucrative arrangement with Chappelle, offering him $20 million for each special, he has released four, including the special The Dreamer in December. Chappelle rose to fame in the early 2000s with Chappelle’s Show, a sketch comedy series that became both a critical and commercial hit. Known for his fearless handling of topics like race, culture, and politics, Chappelle’s comedic style is characterized by sharp wit and a laid-back, conversational delivery.
