March 2002 THIS WEEKS FEATURED AUTHOR : CHRISTELLE D. ON DL HUGHLEY

(Mar: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Gallery * Teen ) Current Issue * Archive

By Christelle D. An Actors Diary - - D.L. Hughley Cute, smart, and absolutely hilarious. Sounds like the perfect guy or the perfect comedian. In this case, it's both in one, D.L. Hughely. This "funny man" who can always have a crowd rollin' with laughter wasn't always the sweet suave guy his audiences know and love today. The story of his life is full of twists and turns, often for the worse, that leave me amazed that he can find the strength to smile, let alone bring smiles to the faces of millions of viewers each and every year. D.L. was born on March 6, 1963 (yeah, I couldn't believe it either! I was so sure he was twenty-something) in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up as Darryl, the third of four children, and the son of a homemaker and an airline maintenance worker. After getting kicked out of high school, D. L. joined the Bloods gang of South Central. He decided to leave the gang after his cousin was shot and went to work as a telemarketer at the LA Times, where he met his future wife LaDonna. She encouraged him to try stand-up comedy and soon BET selected him to be the first host of their nighttime comedy show, “Comic View.” That was the start of a successful comedy career for D.L. Hughley. He went on to star in such hits as Spike Lee's “Kings of Comedy,” “The Brothers” and doing numerous cameos and guest appearances on sitcoms. He has three children and can be found every week starring in his hit series “The Hughleys.” From gangster to comedian, DL has managed to turn his life around and become a great example for young dreamers everywhere. And if there's anything I'm sure of, it's that this guy can make me Laugh everyday.