Sanaa Chappelle: Dave Chappelle’s Only Daughter, Debuted Alongside Her Father in ‘A Star Is Born’ at Age Nine
Sanaa Chappelle is a celebrity child and budding actress. Yet, despite her role in A Star Is Born, the world knows little about her personal life.
Who is Sanaa Chappelle?
In this article, we explore Sanaa Chappelle’s childhood and her family life. Plus, read the exciting story on how she got her first acting gig!
Who Is Sanaa Chappelle?
Sanaa Chappelle is the only daughter of famous American actor and comedian Dave Chappelle.
Dave Chappelle is a five-time winner of the Emmy Awards. He also has five Grammys in the Best Comedy Album category. Meanwhile, her mother is a Filipino-American with exceptional culinary skills.
Not much is known about Sanaa’s hobbies and activities as she mostly lives a private life. However, she did burst into the spotlight at just nine years old. This was when she landed a supporting acting role in the 2018 film A Star Is Born!
Sanaa Chappelle’s Early Life and Childhood
Sanaa Chapelle is the only girl and the youngest of Dave Chappelle’s three children. She was born in November 2009, making her 15 years old in 2024.
Unlike other celebrity children, Sanaa wasn’t raised in Hollywood. Her parents preferred keeping their daily lives and children away from the paparazzi.
Because of their desire for privacy, Sanaa Chapelle and her brothers grew up in the family home in Yellowspring, Ohio. Their house is on a 65-acre farm, and Dave Chappelle describes it as a nature reserve.
The area around their home is safe. Moreover, the community watches out for each other and protects the children together.
In an interview with People, Dave Chappelle says his kids often ran and played outdoors in their childhood!
Sanaa Chappelle’s Relationship With Her Dad
One downside to having a famous dad is that he was often away from home because of work. In the beginning, Sanaa and her brothers excitedly welcomed Dave Chappelle whenever he returned from a tour.
Sadly, once they got older, they became less interested. The loss of interest and excitement saddened the comedian. As a result, Dave had a wake-up call and became more focused on his family.
He always makes a point to tell them how much he loves them!
Sanaa Chappelle’s Religion
Sanaa Chappelle’s mom is a Roman Catholic hailing from the Philippines. Her father, on the other hand, converted to Islam when he was only 17.
The name Sanaa is a female name of Arabic origin. It means brightness, greatness, highness of status, and radiance.
Sanaa Chappelle likely has a background in both of her parent’s religions.
Sanaa Chappelle’s Family
Who are the members of Sanaa’s family? Here’s an overview of the Chappelles.
1. Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle is a famous comedian and Sanaa Chappelle’s father. You may know him from his role on the Chappelle Show from 2003 to 2006.
Dave began his career in standup comedy at 14 years old, where he quickly rose to popularity. He starred in TV shows like Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and Buddies in 1996.
In 2005, he abruptly left his career because of the stress. He disappeared from the limelight for a decade. Dave Chappelle was gone for two weeks and didn’t tell his wife that he went to South Africa. It was a trip for some much-needed soul-searching.
Chappelle returned to the big screen in 2018 through the famous movie A Star Is Born. He met Bradley Cooper at a party, and the two became friends. Cooper later recruited Chappelle to play the role of his best friend in the movie.
2. Elaine Chappelle
Elaine Mendoza Erfe is a housewife and Sanaa Chappelle’s mom. She met her husband, Dave Chappelle, in Brooklyn in the 90s. The two have stayed together for an impressive two decades!
According to Dave Chappelle, he met his Filipino-American wife when he was still poor. She stuck by him through all his challenges, serving as his rock and inspiration.
It’s unclear what Elaine does in her free time. However, Dave does mention that she has impressive cooking skills. According to Dave, she once dreamed of becoming part of the culinary industry.
Aside from her mom’s duties, Elaine supports her husband whenever he has an award.
She was in Washington when he received the Mark Twain Award for American Humor. She also proudly recorded on her phone when Dave received the GQ’s Men of the Year award.
That said, Elaine Chappelle mostly keeps a private life. She rarely posts about her family on social media.
3. Sulayman Chappelle
Sulayman Chappelle is Sanaa Chappelle’s eldest brother. He was born in January 2001, making him 23 years old as of 2024.
The eldest Chappelle got his name because of his father’s Muslim background. His name means Man of Peace in Islam.
Growing up, Sulayman attended the prestigious Pacquiao Camp, where he excelled at boxing. He worked under boxer Manny Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach. Dave Chappelle says his son may even go pro one day.
Aside from this, Dave reveals that Sulayman fills his notebooks with poetry during his free time.
4. Ibrahim Chappelle
Ibrahim Chappelle is Sanaa’s second oldest brother. He was born in April 2003, making him 21 as of 2024.
According to Dave Chappelle, Ibrahim is an avid Kevin Hart fan. He once asked his dad for $250 to see one of Kevin Hart’s shows.
Although it upset Dave that Ibrahim was a fan of one of his comedian competitors, he supported his son. Dave and Ibrahim even went backstage to eat dinner with Kevin Hart.
Ibrahim Chappelle is a constant source of laughs, as his father tells funny stories about him on his Netflix, particularly The Age of Spin!
Sanaa Chappelle’s Movie Appearance
Unlike her brothers, Sanaa Chappelle starred in a movie early in her childhood. In 2018, she played Frankie Stone in A Star Is Born when she was only nine.
At the same time, her father played as George “Noodles” Stone. In the movie, Noodles is the half-brother and best friend of Jackson, Maine.
Bradley Cooper portrayed Jack, and Lady Gaga, his co-lead, played as Ally. Sanaa acts as Noodle’s daughter, and you can see her when Jack recovers from a hangover in his best friend’s home.
Dave and Sanaa later attended the premiere of the movie together at the Toronto International Film Festival!
How Did Sanaa Chappelle Get Cast in A Star Is Born?
It took a lot of convincing from Bradley Cooper to get the father-daughter duo to star in his movie.
Bradley Cooper and Dave Chappelle met in London when Cooper performed on The Elephant Man. According to Chapelle, Kanye West introduced the two.
After the show, Cooper and Chappelle spent the whole night talking. Their conversation felt so authentic that Cooper wanted to portray their friendship in the movie.
In an interview with Vulture, Chappelle says Cooper called him every two days to convince him to play the role of Noodles. Cooper even flew to Ohio twice.
Chappelle finally accepted the role to get Cooper to stop bugging him. Later, Bradley Cooper also cast Dave’s daughter, Sanaa Chappelle, in the movie.
What Does Dave Chappelle Think About the Movie?
The comedian was blown away after Dave and Sanaa saw the film premiere together. He admits he didn’t read the script beforehand but marveled at how good it was.
Chappelle mentions how it’s the first time he’s appeared in such a great film!
Sanaa Chappelle’s Net Worth
Being 15 years old, Sanaa is yet to have a determined net worth. That said, her father has a net worth of $35 million.
According to Forbes, the actor-comedian banked $20 million from his Netflix remarkable Equanimity. He also earned a lot from his tours with John Meyer and his Radio City residency.
Dave Chappelle ranks number 98 on the 2018 Celebrity 100 earnings!
How Does Sanaa Affect Dave’s Career?
In an interview with CBS Mornings, Dave Chappelle says his whole outlook on life changed after the birth of his kids. He started to take his job more seriously, and his children made him feel grounded.
Before, he would beat himself up over a lousy show whenever he did it. Now, not even jeers from the crowd can affect him, especially when his kids are watching.
Dave and his kids would laugh about a chaotic show afterward!
Where Is Sanaa Chappelle Now?
Today, Sanaa Chappelle has yet to appear in other films aside from A Star Is Born. She maintains a low profile as she lives in a family home in Ohio.
In 2021, her father got backlash from the LGBT community after a joke he made on his Netflix special, The Closer. This incident led him and his family into further secrecy.
Sanaa and her family enjoy being away from the paparazzi in Hollywood. She can live as a teenager in a safe and quiet community!
Conclusion
Sanaa Chappelle is the beloved daughter of Dave Chappelle and Elaine Mendoza Erfe. She had a private yet fun childhood since she grew up on farmland in Ohio.
Even if she lives far from Hollywood, as a celebrity child, she’s shown early interest in acting. Her career began when she played a supporting role in A Star is Born.
Because of her supportive family, Sanaa Chappelle’s future looks promising. I look forward to the projects she’ll undertake in the future!
