Dave Chapelle

Dave Chapelle was born in Washington D.C. Both his parents we’re university professors. His father taught at Antioch College in Yellow springs whilst his mother lectured at Howard University and the University of Maryland. She is also a Unitarian Universalist Minister.

When growing up, Chapelle was influenced by world class Comedians Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor.

At the age of 14, he performed at an open-mic night and bombed horribly. He was told he should study acting. In 1991, he graduated from Washington’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts where he studied ‘Theatre arts’.

Chapelle’s first movie role was in Robin Hood: Men In Tights as ‘Ahchoo’. He also had a small role in ‘Undercover Blues’. He was even offered a role in ‘Forrest Gump’ but rejected it as he was worried of what seemed to be a racially demeaning character.

He later appeared in ‘The Nutty Professor’ alongside one of his major influences, Eddie Murphy. He had minor roles in ‘Con Air’ and ‘Blue Streak’. He also co-wrote ‘Half-Baked’ with Neal Brennan; a movie about a group of pot smoking friends who wanted to get their friend out of jail.