"I'm Rick James, bitch!'

No line from the hysterically funny two seasons of Chappelle's Show was repeated or laughed at more often than that one. Dave Chappelle has a knack for outrageous impersonations, and his take on the coked-up funk icon Rick James became an immediate cult classic.

Now scarce on TV and in the movies after short-circuiting his wildly successuful and innovative Comedy Central show in 2005, Chappelle claimed to be burnt out. Unlike most celebrities, he decided not to take the money and run for a third season, disappointing his legion of fans and his network, Comedy Central.

The Washington, DC native burst on the scene in 1998 with Half Baked, a comedy co-starring Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Harlan Williams, Guillermo Diaz, Tommy Chong, Steven Wright and Rachel True and directed by Tamra Davis. Chappelle plays a double role as Thurgood and Sir Smoke-a-lot (he also co-wrote the movie with Neal Brennan). Thurgood and his buds start a weed delivery business in order to spring Kenny (Williams) from jail. They steal medical marijuana from a hospital and deal it to a cast of celebs including Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson and Jon Stewart ("Did you ever look at a dollar bill... on weed?").

Chappelle recorded a number of HBO comedy specials and appeared as the smoked-out Conspiracy Brother opposite Eddie Griffin in Undercover Brother in 2002 before launching Chappelle's Show a year later. Comically commenting on race relations, drugs and other issues and providing a home for other comics like Charlie Murphy and Donnell Rawlins, and consicious rappers who would end the the half-hour program on a musical note, Chappelle's Show was must-see TV until the mercurial host pulled up stakes.

His unique concert film featuring the Roots, Kanye West, Erakah Badu and other hip-hop perfomers, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, was relased in 2006.

Lately, Chappelle has been making surprise appearances at comedy clubs around Los Angeles, and recently was seen in Portland's Pioneer Pioneer Square for an impromptu midnight appearance.

He lives with his wife and two sons in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Also see:

Chappelle Website

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