Long-time funny man Dave Chapelle has been making audiences laugh for decades. With roles in movies like Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Nutty Professor, Half Baked, Undercover Brother, starring in his own series Chapelle’s Show on Comedy Central, and countless broadcast and streaming stand up specials, he needs no introduction.
But not everyone is completely familiar with his wife, who has been with him since the 1990s and often serves as inspiration for much of his material, along with the rest of his family. However, as the saying goes, “behind every great man, is a great woman.” So, who is Dave Chapelle’s “better half?” Beyond supporting her wildly successful husband, here’s what we know about Elaine Chapelle, how the two met and what she’s doing now.
They Met 30 Years Ago
Elaine Chapelle (nee Erfe) has been in Dave’s life since the 1990s when he was prioritizing his standup career. Given that the family lives in Yellow Springs, Ohio — not exactly a bustling see-and-be-seen locale — it’s safe to say that the two prefer to shun the spotlight on their private life.
Even though the two are tight-lipped about their courtship, there are still a few details that are public knowledge. For starters, the two met in Brooklyn before he became famous. Chapelle joked that “she was with me when I was poor,” while being interviewed by Howard Stern. Eventually, the two exchanged vows in 2001 in a private ceremony. While they remain under the radar about their relationship and marriage, it’s no secret that the two share three children: Chapelle and Elaine are proud parents to two sons Sulayman and Ibrahim, and a daughter Sanaa.
He Doesn’t Always Give Her Advance Notice
While the two have been together for a very long time, Dave doesn’t always give Elaine warning before he makes moves. The most high-profile example of this was when Dave abruptly stopped filming on his popular Chapelle’s Show and temporarily disappeared in 2005 to South Africa temporarily.
Unfortunately, even Elaine was caught by surprise with this move which also meant her husband turned down a $50 million contract in the process. Looking back at the situation, even Dave admitted to Oprah Winfrey during an interview that not giving his wife a head’s up of his plans wasn’t the smartest move.
They Keep a Low Profile
Anyone who’s watched “Dave Chapelle: Live in Real Life” knows that the Chapelle family prefers to live in quiet anonymity rather than chase the spotlight. “We don’t live in Hollywood” Dave Chapelle shared with David Letterman during the taping of an episode on the night show host’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman before continuing “there’s no paparazzi trying to get their picture,” referring to his family.
With her husband being in the public eye, no one could blame Elaine for preferring to fly under the radar. Even her social media is wisely locked down. Although, she counts Chrissy Teigen as one of the few 700 followers on her private Instagram account. As if to tell the world that she’s perennially unbothered, her IG bio features the famous Eleanor Roosevelt quote “what other people think of me is none of my business.”
But staying under the radar isn’t the same as being clueless. She’s got her finger on the rumor mill’s pulse and relays to Dave what’s being said online. Likewise, even though Elaine prefers to live outside of the spotlight, that doesn’t mean that she never supports her husband publicly.
Most notably, she was spotted at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to celebrate her husband receiving the Mark Twain Award for American Humor in 2019. Similarly, she attended the GQ’s Men of the Year event in 2014 and was also spotted at the Dior Homme fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in 2022 with her husband and supermodel Naomi Campbell.