Early Life and Education of Dave Chappelle: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Dave Chappelle, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
David Chappelle is a highly acclaimed American stand-up comedian and actor, best known for co-creating and starring in the influential satirical sketch comedy series, Chappelle's Show. He gained widespread recognition for his sharp wit and social commentary but famously left the show during its third season. After a break, Chappelle returned to stand-up comedy, earning further accolades. He has been hailed as a comedic genius and ranked among the greatest stand-up comics of all time.
August 24, 1973: Dave Chappelle Born
On August 24, 1973, David Khari Webber Chappelle was born. He is an American stand-up comedian and actor.
1991: Graduation from Duke Ellington School of the Arts
In 1991, Dave Chappelle graduated from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where he studied theater arts.
2001: Marriage to Elaine Mendoza Erfe
In 2001, Dave Chappelle married Elaine Mendoza Erfe. The couple have two sons and one daughter.
2004: Donation to Seeds of Peace International Camp
In 2004, Dave Chappelle donated his time to Seeds of Peace International Camp, located in Otisfield, Maine, which brings together young leaders from communities in conflict.
May 2005: Comments to Time Magazine
In May 2005, Dave Chappelle spoke with Time magazine.
September 2006: Living in Yellow Springs, Ohio
In September 2006, Dave Chappelle told Yellow Springs residents about living in the area.
2017: Emmy Awards Shout-Out to D.C. Public Schools
During his acceptance speech at the 2017 Emmy Awards, Dave Chappelle gave a shout-out to D.C. Public Schools, highlighting his support for his high school, Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
2020: Endorsement of Andrew Yang
In 2020, Dave Chappelle endorsed Andrew Yang in the United States presidential election.
November 2021: Duke Ellington School Renaming Controversy
In November 2021, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts was set to rename their auditorium in Dave Chappelle's honor, but the renaming ceremony was delayed until April 2022 due to controversy over jokes in "The Closer".
December 2021: Opposition to Affordable Housing Project
In December 2021, Dave Chappelle told the Yellow Springs, Ohio, village council that he would cancel his planned business investments if they approved a zoning change for a multifamily affordable housing project.
February 7, 2022: Council Meeting Opposition to Zoning Change
On February 7, 2022, Dave Chappelle spoke against a zoning change at a Yellow Springs council meeting, leading to a deadlock vote and failure to approve the change.
April 2022: Duke Ellington Auditorium Renaming
In April 2022, following a school assembly and Q&A session with students, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts decided to proceed with renaming their auditorium in Dave Chappelle's honor.
2024: Campaign Event for Hill Harper
In 2024, Dave Chappelle headlined a campaign event for actor Hill Harper, who was running against Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin in the Democratic primary ahead of the Michigan's U.S. Senate election.
January 19, 2025: Saturday Night Live Monologue
During his January 19, 2025, Saturday Night Live monologue, Dave Chappelle exhorted President Donald Trump to have empathy for displaced people.
