Dave Chappelle became a hit with his eclectic improv, stoner movie parts and his legendary sketch comedy on Chappelle’s Show. After having been out of the public eye for seven years, Dave Chappelle is finally back. His loyal fan base met his arrival with back to back sold out shows in the Motor City.
The offspring of intellectual pedigree, Chappelle was born in Washington, D.C. His mother taught in the D.C. area and his father taught at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a town near Dayton. When he was six, his parents separated and he shared time between D.C. and Ohio.
Chappelle began his comedy career performing in D.C. comedy clubs when he was a just teenager. He eventually played the New York comedy club circuit and landed his first movie appearance in 1993, playing the role of Ahchoo in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
He's come a long way since playing Ahchoo and has developed his own comedic style. His live show is chock full of humorous observations of celebrities, politicians and current events. No one and no subject or topic is off limits – he will go there and pop a tent and camp there.
Just as Dave starting work on Chappelle’s show third season, he suddenly quit. Having had enough of the suffocating control on his creative freedom from network executives, and mourning the death of his father, Chappelle took a trip to Africa to get away from it all and relax.
It’s a tough business. Some comedians did not make it through the emotional, the physical and spiritually destructive journey that grinds most comedic souls to dust. Comedy has mourned the loss of icons such as Chris Farley and John Belushi, who did not survive the pressure. Chappelle survived.
Like some Shaman who walked the burning white hot coals of show business, Chappelle came out the other side with a restored spirit, physical balance and wholeness. He now lives to tell his comedic tales with no compromise to anyone.
After returning from Africa, Chappelle bought a farm in Yellow Springs, Ohio in the same town he lived with his dad growing up. Chapelle has lived a relatively quiet life in the buckeye state, making only sparse public appearances.
Comedyhype.com reported that a few weeks ago, Chappelle shot a new HBO special in Austin, Texas. This is his first HBO special since “Killing Them Softly” aired 15 years ago. Witness the official comeback of Dave Chappelle when his 2015 North American tour hits the Motor City at The Fillmore Detroit on April 23, 24, and 25 with 7pm and 9:30pm show times. Dave Chappelle’s live shows never disappoint. Don’t miss it!