DAVE CHAPPELLE
Name: David Khari Webber Chappelle
Born August 24, 1973 Washington, D.C., United States
David Khari Webber Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up
comedian, satirist, screenwriter, television/film producer and actor. In 2003,
he became known for his popular sketch comedy television series, Chappelle's
Show.
After finishing high school, Chappelle moved to New York City to pursue a career
as a comedian. He gathered the courage to perform at Harlem's famed Apollo
Theater in front of the infamous "Amateur Night" audience. The performance
resulted in him being booed off the stage. Chappelle has described the
experience as the moment that gave him the courage to continue his show business
aspirations.[1] He quickly made a name for himself in the New York City comedy
circuit, even performing in the city's parks. At the age of 20, Chappelle made
his film debut as "Ahchoo" in Mel Brooks's Robin Hood: Men in Tights. That same
year, he had a small but showy role in the film Undercover Blues. 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 Academy Award winner for Best Picture would have, and
concerned about what seemed to be a racially demeaning character, he turned down
the part. He has since admitted to regretting the decision.[2] Chappelle played
another supporting movie role in 1994's little-seen Getting In. He attracted the
attention of TV network executives with his guest appearance in an episode of
ABC's highly rated sitcom Home Improvement. The storyline had Chappelle and real-life
friend comedian Jim Breuer ask Tim Taylor for advice on their girlfriends. The
characters' single outing in the episode proved so popular that ABC decided to
give them their own spin-off sitcom titled Buddies. However, after taping a
pilot episode, Jim Breuer was fired and replaced with actor Christopher Gartin.
Buddies premiered in March 1996 to disappointing ratings. The show was cancelled
after 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 Nutty Professor starring
Eddie Murphy, one of his major comedic influences. He also had minor roles in
Con Air and Martin Lawrence's Blue Streak. He co-wrote (with Neal Brennan) and
starred in Half Baked, a cult film about a group of pot-smoking best friends
trying to get their friend out of jail.
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' character's friend and confidant in You've Got
Mail.
Name: David Khari Webber Chappelle
Born August 24, 1973 Washington, D.C., United States
David Khari Webber Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up
comedian, satirist, screenwriter, television/film producer and actor. In 2003,
he became known for his popular sketch comedy television series, Chappelle's
Show.
After finishing high school, Chappelle moved to New York City to pursue a career
as a comedian. He gathered the courage to perform at Harlem's famed Apollo
Theater in front of the infamous "Amateur Night" audience. The performance
resulted in him being booed off the stage. Chappelle has described the
experience as the moment that gave him the courage to continue his show business
aspirations.[1] He quickly made a name for himself in the New York City comedy
circuit, even performing in the city's parks. At the age of 20, Chappelle made
his film debut as "Ahchoo" in Mel Brooks's Robin Hood: Men in Tights. That same
year, he had a small but showy role in the film Undercover Blues. 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 Academy Award winner for Best Picture would have, and
concerned about what seemed to be a racially demeaning character, he turned down
the part. He has since admitted to regretting the decision.[2] Chappelle played
another supporting movie role in 1994's little-seen Getting In. He attracted the
attention of TV network executives with his guest appearance in an episode of
ABC's highly rated sitcom Home Improvement. The storyline had Chappelle and real-life
friend comedian Jim Breuer ask Tim Taylor for advice on their girlfriends. The
characters' single outing in the episode proved so popular that ABC decided to
give them their own spin-off sitcom titled Buddies. However, after taping a
pilot episode, Jim Breuer was fired and replaced with actor Christopher Gartin.
Buddies premiered in March 1996 to disappointing ratings. The show was cancelled
after 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 Nutty Professor starring
Eddie Murphy, one of his major comedic influences. He also had minor roles in
Con Air and Martin Lawrence's Blue Streak. He co-wrote (with Neal Brennan) and
starred in Half Baked, a cult film about a group of pot-smoking best friends
trying to get their friend out of jail.
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' character's friend and confidant in You've Got
Mail.