D.L. Hughley

Biography: A veteran stand-up comic who inspires both admiration and ire with his brutally honest, unabashedly liberal humor, this Los Angeles native ran with gangs as a teen until his cousin's murder prompted him to clean up his act. While working as a telemarketer, he met his future wife, who encouraged him to embark on an entertainment career. Hughley's autobiographical routines made him a hit on the comedy circuit, which led to frequent appearances on Def Comedy Jam and a spot as the host of BET's Comic View. In 1998 he created and starred in the family-friendly sitcom The Hughleys, based on his own experience of moving from the inner city to the suburbs. During his tenure, his career got a big boost from the Spike Lee-directed concert film The Original Kings of Comedy. Though The Hughleys ended in 2002, Hughley kept busy with a variety of hosting gigs and frequent talk-show appearances, notably on Real Time with Bill Maher. In 2005, he hosted a late night talk show on Comedy CentralA veteran stand-up comic who inspires both admiration and ire with his brutally honest, unabashedly liberal humor, this Los Angeles native ran with gangs as a teen until his cousin's murder prompted him to clean up his act. While working as a telemarketer, he met his future wife, who encouraged him to embark on an entertainment career. Hughley's autobiographical routines made him a hit on the comedy circuit, which led to frequent appearances on Def Comedy Jam and a spot as the host of BET's Comic View. In 1998 he created and starred in the family-friendly sitcom The Hughleys, based on his own experience of moving from the inner city to the suburbs. During his tenure, his career got a big boost from the Spike Lee-directed concert film The Original Kings of Comedy. Though The Hughleys ended in 2002, Hughley kept busy with a variety of hosting gigs and frequent talk-show appearances, notably on Real Time with Bill Maher. In 2005, he hosted a late night talk show on Comedy Central called Weekends at the D.L. A year later, he landed a part as a late-night sketch-comedy star on Aaron Sorkin's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but the series never gained an audience and was canceled. He quickly moved on to the HBO stand-up special D.L. Hughley: Unapologetic (2007), and did an Unapologetic stand-up tour. In 2008, CNN made him the host of a show, D.L. Hughley Breaks the News, which ended when he opted to be closer to his family. He stayed on CNN as a contributor, and began hosting a morning radio show on the New York station KISS-FM.… Expand