Popular stand-up comedian D L Hughley made the move to primetime television with his sitcom "The Hughleys" (ABC, 1998-2000; UPN, 2000-2002), based upon his own experiences moving from the inner-city to the suburbs. He proved a surprisingly capable actor with a welcome screen presence and his observant comedy translated well to the sitcom genre.A former member of the notorious L.A. gang The Bloods, Hughley turned his life around after the murder of his cousin, a member of a rival gang. While working as a telemarketer for the circulation department of the Los Angeles Times, he was encouraged by his barber to enter a stand-up comedy contest, which led to bookings on the so-called 'Chitlin Circuit'. Hughley's good-natured barbs were well-received and he proved popular with audiences, notably in appearances on HBO's popular "Def Comedy Jam". Hughley served as the inaugural host of BET's "Comic View", staying with the show from 1992 through 1994. He reached even more viewers with the highly-rated special "HBO Comedy Half-Hour: D L Hughley" (1994) and as a regular on the short-lived "Double Rush" (CBS, 1995).
The comedian segued nicely from harder-edged stand-up fare to his folksy series "The Hughleys". Though maintaining a good bit of edginess, and sometimes incorporating touchy racial issues, "The Hughleys" was first and foremost a family-driven program and in most ways a very traditional and entertaining sitcom. Written and created by, as well as starring Hughley, the series was based upon his own experiences moving into a predominately white suburb. Co-executive produced by fellow stand-up star Chris Rock, it proved a first-season success, gaining strong ratings and earning critical praise. Hughley's visibility skyrocketed with hosting duties on ABC's holiday special "New Year's Rockin' Eve '99" with co-star Elise Neal, as well as appearing as a presenter on several awards shows, which led to hosting gigs on TV specials such as "VH1 Big in 03" (2003) and the 2003 season of Comedy Central's "Premium Blend."
Hughley also enjoyed some crossover success in film, co-starring in the African American ensemble of the drama "The Brothers" (2001) and voicing the Gadgetmobile in the big screen adaptation of the cartoon detective "Inspector Gadget" (1999), along with supporting roles in "Chasing Papi" (2003), "Scary Movie 3" (2003) and "Soul Plane" (2004).
Profession(s):
Actor, comedian, telemarketer
Sometimes Credited As:
D.L. Hughley
Darryl Lynn Hughley
DL Hughley
2006 Cast in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," (NBC) as one of the stars of a late-night sketch comedy show
2004 Starred opposite Snoop Dogg in "Soul Plane," a comedy about the maiden flight of a black-owned airline
2004 Will guest host CBS' "The Late Late Show" to fill in for the departed Craig Kilborn
2003 Voice of the Gadgetmobile in "Inspector Gadget 2"
2003 Starred in the comedy "Scary Movie 3"
2001 Co-starred in the feature "The Brothaz"
2000 Featured in Spike Lee's concert film "The Original Kings of Comedy"
1999 Starred in own HBO comedy special "Going Home"
1998 Starred in the sitcom "The Hughleys", loosely based on his own experiences as a black man living in a predominently white neighborhood (ABC, 1998-2000; UPN, 2000- )
1995 TV Series debut as regular on the short-lived CBS comedy "Double Rush"
1994 Performed in the highly-rated "HBO Comedy Half-Hour: D L Hughley"
1975 - 1981 From the age of 12 to 18, was involved with the Bloods, a notorious Los Angeles gang (dates approximate)
Was a telemarketer for the Los Angeles Times
Worked the so-called 'Chitlin Circuit' performing his stand-up routines
Appeared on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam"
Served as host of BET's stand-up series "Comic View"
Participated in the "Kings of Comedy" tour