The “Average Joe” actor and “Killin’ Them Softly” comedian come from completely different hometowns and family backgrounds and have chosen different paths in the entertainment industry.
Key Takeaways
- Malcolm Barrett and Dave Chappelle are not related despite their striking resemblance.
- Barrett comes from Brooklyn, New York, and keeps his personal life private.
- Chappelle is more open about his personal life and has had a rollercoaster ride of a career.
With the arrival of “Average Joe” on Netflix, the show starring Malcolm Barrett as Leon Montgomery has stirred quite the buzz.
The show, described as “Ozark meets Black people,” has reached a whole new audience, and Malcolm’s appearance on it has made them curious whether he is related to the famous comedian with whom he shares a striking resemblance.
However, Malcolm Barrett and Dave Chappelle are NOT related.
The pair were born and raised in different cities, have different personal backgrounds, and have chosen different career paths in the entertainment industry.
Malcolm Barrett was born on April 22, 1980, in Brooklyn, New York, where he spent much of his early life until he graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan with fellow actors Telly Leung and Billy Eichner from “Billy on the Street.”
He earned a degree in theatre from the University of Southern California.
The 44-year-old started his acting career in 2000 with a role in the TV series “The Beat.“
Since then, he has been credited with more than 100 acting roles, most notably in “The Hurt Locker,” “The Good Guys,” “The Boys,” a cameo role in “The Office US,” and, of course, “Average Joe.”
Talking about his personal life, he is currently dating “Average Joe” co-star and on-screen wife Cynthia Kaye McWilliams.
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams and Malcolm Barrett are here! #BETAwards
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) June 25, 2023
(📸: Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/zOH6m4igTo
Malcolm’s lookalike, Dave Chappelle, is older than him by 7 years. He was born on August 24, 1973, in Washington, D.C.
Dave’s father, William David Chapelle II, was a professor of vocal performance and the dean of students at Antioch College, while his mother, Yvonne Seon, worked for Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and was a professor and university administrator in several American institutes.
His parents are now divorced, and William remarried, giving Dave a stepmother and stepbrother.
Growing up in the capital with politically active parents, Dave’s family home was no stranger to visitors with big names, such as Pete Seeger and Johnny Hartman.
Hartman, the famous baritone Jazz singer, was impressed with young Dave’s humor and charisma and prophesied that he would someday become a comedian.
Dave’s comedic inspirations at the time were Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor.
The comedy prodigy began his career at the age of 14, performing standup comedy in nightclubs in his hometown.
After graduating from the Duke Ellington School of Arts in 1991, where he studied theater arts, he moved to New York City to pursue comedy full-time.
After performing at various clubs, Chappelle quickly gained recognition in comedy circles.
His big break came when he appeared on “Def Comedy Jam” in 1992, which led to his eventual infamous contract with Comedy Central in 2003.
“Chappelle’s Show” was what made Dave known to the world, with sketches like “Rick James” and “Prince” becoming instant hits that still gain hundreds of thousands of views today.
However, shortly after signing a $50 million deal with Comedy Central, Chapelle left the show in mid-2005, citing creative differences, personal concerns, and work pressure.
When asked about the controversial disagreement with the Network, Chapelle said:
You know why my show is good? Because the network officials say you’re not smart enough to get what I’m doing, and every day I fight for you. I tell them how smart you are. Turns out, I was wrong. You people are stupid.
Via freerepublic.com
Chapelle returned to the comedy scene in 2013 after an 8-year hiatus, which he spent in South Africa, Los Angeles, and Ohio.
In 2017, he signed a lucrative deal with Netflix to release a series of stand-up specials, such as “The Age of Spin,” “Equanimity,” and “The Bird Revelation,” which were highly positively received by the audience.
Since then, Dave Chappelle’s career has only been on the rise, with various movie deals and business ventures.
He has also been involved in politics, activism, and philanthropy.
Dave Chapelle is married to Elaine Mendoza Erfe. The couple have 2 sons and a daughter.
While on his break in 2006, he said to Yellow Springs, Ohio’s residents, in context to his multiple houses in the area:
Turns out you don’t need $50 million to live around these parts, just a nice smile and a kind way about you. You guys are the best neighbors ever. That’s why I came back and that’s why I’m staying.
Via USA TODAY
In conclusion, despite their uncanny resemblances in looks, Dave Chappelle and Malcolm Barrett are completely different people.
They have no familial relationship by blood or marriage, and they have chosen different career paths in the entertainment industry.
Malcolm Barrett is not even the only celebrity who resembles Chapelle.
Anyone else think Bokeem Woodbine (Mike Milligan) looks like Dave Chappelle’s long lost brother?
byu/BigOL-Harrison inFargoTV
A Reddit user pointed out that actor Bokeem Woodbine, the actor from “Old Dads,” bears an even stronger similarity to the comedian.
Isn’t it amazing how people with no familial connection can look so similar?
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Malcolm Barrett is a talented poet who won the Young Playwright competition at Manhattan Class Company in the early 2000s.
- Malcolm is a founding member and artistic director of the non-profit New York City theater company Real Theatre Works.
- Dave Chappelle lives with his family on a 65-acre farm near Yellow Springs, Ohio.
