Chappelle, the eldest of three children, grew up in Washington, D.C., and Ohio, where his father was a professor at Antioch College. At 14, Chappelle first tried standup in Washington comedy clubs, with his mother, a Unitarian minister, serving as a chaperon. Chappelle soon made a name for himself on the New York comedy circuit, which he parlayed into TV and film roles.

Chappelle became a household name when "Chappelle's Show" premiered on Comedy Central in 2003, and two years later, he became a tabloid fixture when he abruptly quit the sketch show and went to South Africa.

Chappelle has since avoided the limelight, but he recently hinted at a comedy comeback. Here, we recap his up-and-down career.