Dave Chappelle was born on August 24, 1973, in Washington, D.C., to parents William David Chappelle III and Yvonne Seon. Both of his parents were educators—his father taught music at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and his mother was a professor at Prince George's Community College. After his parents separated during his childhood, Chappelle lived primarily with his mother and spent summers with his father in Ohio.
He graduated in 1991 from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., where he studied theater arts. Shortly after, he moved to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a stand-up comedian.
Chappelle's early performances did not initially garner much acclaim. He was famously booed during his first appearance at the Apollo Theater. Undeterred, he honed his craft by performing in parks and public venues, eventually building confidence and refining his comedic voice.
At age 19, he landed his first film role as Ahchoo in the 1993 comedy “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” That same year, Chappelle turned down the role of Bubba Blue in “Forrest Gump,” mistakenly believing the film would not succeed—a decision he later regretted, as the film became a major critical and commercial success.
By the age of 20, Chappelle had begun to gain recognition for his stand-up performances in New York City and Chicago. In 1995, he appeared as a guest on the popular TV sitcom “Home Improvement.” His appearance led to a starring role in the ABC series “Buddies.” However, the show was short-lived, and after creative disagreements with the producers, Chappelle was dismissed from the project.
In 1996, Chappelle appeared in “The Nutty Professor” alongside Eddie Murphy, a comedian he has often cited as an early influence. The film was a box office success, grossing approximately $129 million. He followed this with supporting roles in notable films such as “Con Air” (1997), “You've Got Mail” (1998), and “Blue Streak” (1999).
| Birth Date: | 24 Aug, 1973 |
| Age: | 46 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Washington, D.C. |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American comedian |
| Net Worth 2021: | 50 million |
