Donnell Rawlings
Encyclopedia
Donnell Rawlings is an American comedian and actor.
, as well as making a guest appearance in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2
and a cameo appearance in the music video for Jim Jones' "We Fly High
" (Ballin' Remix). He was a regular on The Ricki Lake Show mostly as a Judge on Various challenge episodes.
Rawlings is most notable for frequently appearing in sketches on Chappelle's Show and hosting the third season along with Charlie Murphy
. His catchphrase on the show was "I'm rich, biaaaaach!" (which is played at the end of every episode as part of Dave Chappelle
's vanity card
) as well as frequently adding "Son!" at the end of each sentence.
Rawlings was removed from his morning show post at Power 105's Ed Lover
Show with Egypt and Ashy for a controversial comment the comedian made during the aftermath of the Don Imus
controversy, responding to Ed Lover's comment "That's a cheap black man, Nickel-Black" with "that's a Jewish black guy."
Rawlings learned to speak broken Korean
while serving in the United States Air Force
when he was stationed in South Korea
. He demonstrates the language in the Chappelle's Show sketches "Player Hater's Ball" and "The Time Haters", the latter of which was featured in the "Failures" episode. Rawlings reprises his role as the hater "Beautiful", known for wearing a Jheri curl
and a suit similar to ones that Little Richard
has worn. In the sketches, he responds to the comments of Korean hater "Mr. Roboto
" with insults in Korean.
Rawlings also made an appearance on the HBO drama The Wire
playing Damien Lavelle 'Day-Day' Price, an ex-convict who is hired as a legislative aide and driver for corrupt state senator Clay Davis
. Price's character appears unrefined on several occasions contemplating heists in public and stating things in the court room such as "Y'all tryin' to 'criminate me" while on the stand. Davis coincidentally enough is played by Chappelle's Show co-star Isiah Whitlock, Jr.
Rawlings stars in a series of sketch comedy clips portraying his character Ashy Larry, from Chappelle's Show, on heavy.com called "From Ashy to Classy". Ashy Larry dreams of how his life would be if he were classy, and dreams up a character who he calls Ashford Lawrence, a supposed reporter for heavy.com. Ashy Larry goes to different high class establishments posing as a reporter, where eventually his girl comes and pulls him out at the end of each clip.
In summer 2007, Rawlings was featured on the cover of the one-year anniversary issue of Beyond Race magazine.
Rawlings was also a contestant in the Comedy Central
show Reality Bites Back
.
Rawlings appeared in sketches on D.L. Hughley Breaks the News
and in Howard Stern
's Howard TV On Demand original series, Show in the Hallway.
In July 2009, Rawlings recorded a clip imitating Stephon Marbury
crying on his live webcast.
Rawlings was a co-host on the Big Tigger Morning Show on Washington, D.C.'s radio station WPGC 95.5
from April 2010-January 2011.
in Washington, D.C. in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Career
Notable roles include appearing in Chappelle's ShowChappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedian Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various skits. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22,...
, as well as making a guest appearance in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
and a cameo appearance in the music video for Jim Jones' "We Fly High
We Fly High
"We Fly High" is the lead single from Jim Jones' third album, Hustler's P.O.M.E. . The song is Jim Jones' highest-charting single to date charting at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It is the only single by Jim Jones ever to not have any featured guests. It was produced by Zukhan-Bey who...
" (Ballin' Remix). He was a regular on The Ricki Lake Show mostly as a Judge on Various challenge episodes.
Rawlings is most notable for frequently appearing in sketches on Chappelle's Show and hosting the third season along with Charlie Murphy
Charlie Murphy
Charles Quinton "Charlie" Murphy is an American actor, comedian, and writer notable as being a cast member and writer on the Comedy Central sketch-comedy series Chappelle's Show...
. His catchphrase on the show was "I'm rich, biaaaaach!" (which is played at the end of every episode as part of Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle
David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, and artist. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His...
's vanity card
Production logo
A production logo, vanity card, vanity plate, vanity logo or vogo is a logo used by movie studios and television production companies to brand what they produce. Vanity logos are usually seen at the beginning of a theatrical movie , or at the end of a television program or TV movie...
) as well as frequently adding "Son!" at the end of each sentence.
Rawlings was removed from his morning show post at Power 105's Ed Lover
Ed Lover
James Roberts , better known as Ed Lover, is an African-American rapper, actor, musician, radio personality, and former MTV VJ.-Biography:...
Show with Egypt and Ashy for a controversial comment the comedian made during the aftermath of the Don Imus
Don Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
controversy, responding to Ed Lover's comment "That's a cheap black man, Nickel-Black" with "that's a Jewish black guy."
Rawlings learned to speak broken Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
while serving in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
when he was stationed in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. He demonstrates the language in the Chappelle's Show sketches "Player Hater's Ball" and "The Time Haters", the latter of which was featured in the "Failures" episode. Rawlings reprises his role as the hater "Beautiful", known for wearing a Jheri curl
Jheri curl
The Jheri curl is a hairstyle that was common and popular in the African American community especially during the 1970s and 1980s . Invented by and named for Jheri Redding, the Jheri curl gave the wearer a glossy, loosely curled look...
and a suit similar to ones that Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
has worn. In the sketches, he responds to the comments of Korean hater "Mr. Roboto
Mr. Roboto
"Mr. Roboto" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and performed by the band Styx on their 1983 concept album Kilroy Was Here. In Canada, where they were always more popular than in their native U.S., it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart, becoming their third single to top the charts in...
" with insults in Korean.
Rawlings also made an appearance on the HBO drama The Wire
The Wire (TV series)
The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
playing Damien Lavelle 'Day-Day' Price, an ex-convict who is hired as a legislative aide and driver for corrupt state senator Clay Davis
Clay Davis
State Senator R. Clayton "Clay" Davis is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Davis is a corrupt Maryland State Senator with a reputation for pocketing bribes...
. Price's character appears unrefined on several occasions contemplating heists in public and stating things in the court room such as "Y'all tryin' to 'criminate me" while on the stand. Davis coincidentally enough is played by Chappelle's Show co-star Isiah Whitlock, Jr.
Isiah Whitlock, Jr.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is an American actor.He is most famous for his role on the HBO television series, The Wire as corrupt state senator Clay Davis. He also is notable for appearing in Spike Lee films She Hate Me and 25th Hour as Agent Amos Flood...
Rawlings stars in a series of sketch comedy clips portraying his character Ashy Larry, from Chappelle's Show, on heavy.com called "From Ashy to Classy". Ashy Larry dreams of how his life would be if he were classy, and dreams up a character who he calls Ashford Lawrence, a supposed reporter for heavy.com. Ashy Larry goes to different high class establishments posing as a reporter, where eventually his girl comes and pulls him out at the end of each clip.
In summer 2007, Rawlings was featured on the cover of the one-year anniversary issue of Beyond Race magazine.
Rawlings was also a contestant in the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
show Reality Bites Back
Reality Bites Back
Reality Bites Back is a reality show hosted by Michael Ian Black that parodies various reality show formats. It premiered July 17, 2008 on Comedy Central. The name is derived from the 1994 film Reality Bites.- Premise :...
.
Rawlings appeared in sketches on D.L. Hughley Breaks the News
D.L. Hughley Breaks the News
D. L. Hughley Breaks the News was a comedy news show that aired on CNN from October 25, 2008 to March 2009, hosted and head written by comedian D. L. Hughley. On March 9, 2009, CNN announced that Hughley would be ending the show due to a desire to work in Los Angeles and be closer to his family...
and in Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
's Howard TV On Demand original series, Show in the Hallway.
In July 2009, Rawlings recorded a clip imitating Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Xavier Marbury is an American professional basketball player.The , point guard was selected out of the Georgia Institute of Technology by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Minnesota Timberwolves.He was an NBA...
crying on his live webcast.
Rawlings was a co-host on the Big Tigger Morning Show on Washington, D.C.'s radio station WPGC 95.5
WPGC-FM
WPGC-FM is one of the most popular among Washington, D.C.'s urban format radio station's, and has been ranked as one of its top rated radio stations for over 20 years, according to the Arbitron ratings. It has a city of license of Morningside at the 95.5 MHz frequency on the FM dial...
from April 2010-January 2011.
Personal life
Rawlings attended T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He served as Military Police on Bolling Air Force BaseBolling Air Force Base
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
in Washington, D.C. in the late 1980s and early 1990s.