Dave Chappelle

August 24, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

David Khari Webber Chappelle, born on August 24, 1973, started his career as a professional stand-up comedian in high school. His mother escorted him whenever he had to perform in clubs and bars. He has since grown from a teenage comedian to become one of the greatest comedians the world has ever seen. Chappelle found massive success with his Chappelle’s Show, but he walked away because he lost creative control over the show. He returned after a while and continued to make waves in the comedy industry. Chappelle has won multiple awards for his unique works and today we are excited to celebrate this king of comedy.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

David Khari Webber Chappelle

Nickname:

The Kid

Birth date:

August 24, 1973

Age:

Height:

6' 0"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$60 million

Background

Dave Chappelle is loved worldwide by millions of fans for his unique satirical comedy and strong personality. He is a firm believer in his talent and his ideals. At some point, Chappelle walked away from a $50 million contract because he felt his creativity was being stifled. This was a difficult time in his life, but he survived and he jumped back to his feet. Dave Chappelle was born to Yvonne Seon Reed and William David Chapelle III, who are both university professors. Although his ethnicity is predominantly African American, his mother is partly-white.

He started pursuing his comedy career right from high school. After completing his education, he moved to New York and started doing stand-up comedy in the Boston Comedy Club in Greenwich Village. His talent helped him build a strong reputation, and within a few months, he was performing in comedy clubs all over the city. His breakthrough moment came in his first year in New York when he performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival and left a powerful impression on the audience’s minds.

His resolve was tested when he was booed off the stage at the Apollo in Harlem. He soon bounced back from that and started to take television roles. He appeared in HBO’s Def Comedy Jam in 1992 and played Reggie Warrington in Eddie Murphy’s “The Nutty Professor” in 1996. Racism is a favorite topic for Chappelle’s comedy, but he also works with other topics. In 2016, he landed a $20 million contract with Netflix and this has helped to put him back in the spotlight.

He married Elaine Mendoza, a Filipino, in 2001, and they have three children. Chappelle once made a joke about his children’s ethnicity and called them Puerto Ricans.

Career timeline

1993

The Debut Into Film

Chappelle features in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights."

2006

The Chappelle's Show is Cancelled

Chappelle walks away from the show and possibly 50 million dollars in earnings.

2017

The Dave Chappelle's Day

Columbia declares February 3 as Dave Chappelle's day in honor of his contributions to comedy.

2019

The Mark Twain Award

After almost three decades of work, Chappelle wins the most respected award in comedy.

Why We Love Dave Chappelle

He is a mental health advocate
Chappelle once took a long break due to the mental pressure he had to deal with. We think it's nice when people take a break from challenging situations and protect their sanity.
He stands by his beliefs
When it comes to religion and personal convictions, Chappelle is not one to play around. He stands by what he believes in, and we respect this.
He is generous
The comedian has helped to set up multiple charitable donations. We love people who give back to society and help level the playing field.

5 Surprising Facts

He is a fan of Muhammad Ali
Chappelle met Muhammad Ali when he was just a baby, and he became a lifelong fan of the legendary boxer.
He refuses cell phones at his shows
Chappelle believes comedy is all about surprise, and he prevents his audience from using cell phones in his shows.
He is into gaming
Chappelle loves playing video games like GTA(Grand Theft Auto) and World of Warcraft.
He was in Africa for two weeks
Contrary to the picture painted by the media, Dave only spent a short time in Africa.
He is Muslim
Chappelle converted to Islam in 1998 and has practiced the religion ever since.

Dave Chappelle FAQs

What nationality is Dave Chappelle?

He is an American.

Where did Chappelle go to college?

Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington.

Why did the Chappelle show get canceled?

In an Oprah Winfrey interview, Chappelle said the environment where he worked was highly uncomfortable, and he was losing his creative control over the show.