Let's find out a few intriguing facts about him!




1. David Khari "Dave" Webber Chappelle was born on August 24, 1973 in Washington, D.C.

2. He's the youngest of three children.

3. His father, William David Chappelle III, worked as a statistician before becoming a professor at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio.

4. His mother, Yvonne, is a biracial, a professor at Howard University, Prince George Community College, and the University of Maryland, and also a United Universalist Minister.

5. Chappelle has a stepmother and a stepbrother, too.

6. He said his grandparents were multiracial to rape.

7. Chappelle was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, and attended Woodlin Elementary School.

8. His parents were politically active, and the family house was visited by prominent individuals, including Pete Seeger and Johnny Hartman. The latter predicted that he would be a comedian, and around this time Chappelle's comic inspiration came from Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor.

9. After his parents had separated, Chappelle stayed with his mother in Washington while spending the summers with his father in Ohio.
10. 10. In 1991, he graduated from the Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington, where he studied theater arts.

11.-11. Chappelle moved to New York City to pursue his career as a comedian. He was brave enough to perform at Harlem's famous Apollo Theater in front of the infamous "Amateur Night" audience, but he was blown off the stage.

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Twelve. He quickly made a name for himself on the New York comedy circuit, even performing in city parks. Whoopi Goldberg nicknamed him The Kid.

13. 13. At 19, he made his film debut as "Ahchoo" in Mel Brook's Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

14. 14. After starting his film career in 1993 as an Ahchoo in Mel Brooks ' Robin Hood: Men in Tights, he landed supporting roles in box office hits, including The Nutty Professor, Con Air, You've Got Mail, Blue Streak and Undercover Brother.

15. 15. His first leading role was in the 1998 comedy film Half Baked, which he co-wrote with Neal Brennan.

Chappelle also starred in the Buddies ABC TV series.

It's 16. In 2003, Chappelle became more widely known for his sketch comedy TV series, Chappelle's Show, also co-written with Brennan, which ran until his retirement from the show two years later. The show continues to run in the late-night syndication and on TV networks around the world.

It's 17. By 2006, Chappelle was called the "Comic Genius of America" by Esquire and, in 2013, the "Best" by Billboard writer.

Eighteen. Chappelle lives with his wife, Elaine Mendoza Erfe, the sons Sulayman and Ibrahim, and daughter Sanaa on a 65-acre farm near Yellow Springs, Ohio.

19. 19. He also owned a number of houses in Xenia, Ohio.

Twenty. Chappelle said in September 2006 to the residents of Yellow Springs, "Turn out that you don't need $50 million to live around these parts, just a nice smile and a kind way around you. You guys are the best neighbors of all time. That's why I came back, and that's why I'm staying here.