10 TV Shows That Made Actors QUIT The Industry

8. Chappelle's Show - Dave Chappelle

Top Gear Matt LeBlanc
HBO

Love him or hate him, there's no denying that Dave Chappelle is one of the most popular and bankable comedians working today, yet Chappelle's career as an on-screen comedic actor ended overnight back in 2006.

Chappelle was riding high off the success of his sketch comedy series Chappelle's Show, which ran from 2003 to 2006, when he abruptly quit mid-way through production of its third season.

Over the course of the show's demanding production - sometimes requiring him to work 20-hour days - Chappelle suffered from burnout and felt frustrated at the series preventing him from his primary passion: performing stand-up comedy.

In the 16 years since, Chappelle has just a few scattered acting credits - namely in Spike Lee's Chi-Raq and Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born - and has trained his career focus back to stand-up comedy.

In 2016 he signed a six-special stand-up deal with Netflix, netting him a cool $20 million per special. Needless to say, Chappelle hasn't suffered from quitting movies and TV: he's doing just fine as a constantly in-demand stand-up performer both in-person and on streaming.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.