Dave Chappelle is one of the most well-known stand-up comedians in the world, thanks to his revolutionary Comedy Central sketch series, Chappelle's Show. Despite his fame and money, his wife of 20 years, Elaine Mendoza Erfe Chappelle, has remained at his side through good times and bad.
Any die-hard Chappelle fan is aware that the comedian occasionally includes tales about his family in his routines. He does not, however, divulge too much about them, preferring to keep his personal life out of the public eye.
But among the details about his wife, Dave owes her everything – as Elaine had to put her dreams on hold for him and the family.
Who Is Dave Chappelle’s Wife Elaine?
Dave Chappelle's wife, Elaine Mendoza Erfe, was born on August 31, 1974. Little is known about her early years, but during an interview with Howard Stern, Dave revealed a few tidbits. He disclosed that Elaine was reared in Brooklyn and is of Filipino origin, but that she does not speak Tagalog.
He also claims that they married around the time she had their first child in 2001. Sulayman and Ibrahim, as well as daughter Sanaa, were their three children.
Dave's wife would often accompany him on longer performances early in their marriage, despite the fact that the family spent most of their time in Yellow Spring, Ohio.
Today, she is still very protective of her privacy and her husband's safety. Dave said his wife keeps him informed about the public reaction to his work since he doesn't waste time on critics and haters.
“The only way I know about stuff is because everyone else tells me about it,” the comedian said in a 2017 appearance on New York radio station HOT 97.
“My wife, if it gets real bad, she’ll let me know, like, ‘Oh, you should look into this.’ But for the most part, I try not to pay attention to it because you don’t want to be careful as a comedian. I try to keep my business small enough so it can still be authentic enough.”
How’s David And Elaine’s Relationship?
Dave and Elaine met in the early 1990s when he went to New York for his stand-up career. Things had gotten off to a shaky start. The comedian said he was booed off stage during his Amateur Night performance at the Apollo Theater in a 2006 appearance on Inside the Actors Studio.
Despite a lackluster start, he persevered on the local comedy scene until he was invited to Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam. Throughout his career, Elaine was by his side.
He told Howard Stern, "She was with me when I was poor." The comedian, on the other hand, waited until his career took off before rewarding his leading lady for her dedication. After starring in a number of films, including Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Nutty Professor, and Half-Baked, he married Elaine.
To keep his wife and kids away from the public, he normally keeps his personal life private. However, he does occasionally reference his wife in his standups and to the press.
“So much of an answer depends on how you feel any given day. But it lives forever. Your opinions about things can change, your view of yourself can change, and yet this is on the permanent record…and that’s the cross you have to bear when you engage the press,” he said in a 2017 CBS News interview.
Until now, the couple prefers to maintain their family’s privacy. Dave and Elaine also have never shown any signs of problems in their relationship. When they step out, they usually put on a united front and are in all smiles
Why Dave Owes His Wife Everything?
Dave, who is doing his best to support his famous comedian friends, owes everything to his wife for this one important reason – his wife had to put her dreams on hold for her husband and children. It is known that Elaine is a talented chef and initially had dreams of pursuing a culinary career.
However, that all changed when she became a mother and a wife. Like so many parents, she decided to put her dream of becoming a professional chef on hold in order to devote her life to raising her three children and supporting her husband’s career.
Nevertheless, Elaine still practices her culinary skills at home.
Dave once said, “She doesn’t work as a professional chef, [but the kids] regularly eat like kings at home, thanks to her excellent culinary skills.” Elaine has proven that living as a full-time housewife doesn’t she has given up couture cooking altogether.