Godfrey (comedian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Godfrey
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Godfrey at a party after the American Music Awards in 2007.
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Godfrey C. Danchimah Jr.
July 21, 1969 Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Years active | 1995–present |
Godfrey C. Danchimah Jr. (born July 21, 1969), known to fans simply as Godfrey, is an American comedian and actor. You might have seen him on TV channels like BET, VH1, and Comedy Central. He has also acted in movies, including Soul Plane, Zoolander, and Johnson Family Vacation.
Godfrey was the face of 7 Up during its popular "7up yours" commercials. He was also a regular performer at the famous Comedy Cellar comedy club in New York City. Many people know him as the voice of Mr. Stubborn and Mr. Tall in the cartoon The Mr. Men Show. He also hosted the FOX game show Bullseye.
Today, Godfrey hosts his own popular podcast called In Godfrey We Trust. He often works with social media stars like King Bach and Destorm Power.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Godfrey's parents came to the United States from Nigeria to escape the Nigerian Civil War. They are part of the Igbo ethnic group. Godfrey is the nephew of a famous Nigerian musician named Sonny Okosun.
Godfrey was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, but he grew up in Chicago. He was a very good student and went to Lane Technical College Preparatory High School. He earned a scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he studied psychology.
While in college, Godfrey played on the university's football team. At a talent show for new players, he performed comedy and discovered his love for making people laugh.
A Career in Comedy
In the early 1990s, Godfrey started performing stand-up comedy at a club in Chicago. By 1995, he moved to New York City and began performing at famous clubs there. Soon, he was signed by a major talent agency.
His career in television started behind the scenes. He was a "warm-up" comedian for shows like Cosby. A warm-up comedian tells jokes to the live studio audience before the show starts to get them excited.
Soon, Godfrey was appearing on camera. He performed on NBC's Friday Night Videos and acted in small roles in TV shows and movies. In 2000, he performed at the famous Aspen Comedy Festival and on Comedy Central's Premium Blend.
Over the years, Godfrey has starred in his own comedy specials. His first one, "Godfrey: Black by Accident," was filmed in 2011. He has also been a popular performer at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, Canada.
Famous Roles and Shows
Godfrey has appeared in many movies and television shows. Instead of a long list, here are some of his most well-known roles that you might recognize.
Movies
- Original Gangstas (1996) - He played Marcus.
- Zoolander (2001) - He had a funny role as a janitor.
- Soul Plane (2004) - He played the pilot, First Officer Leslie Gaemon.
- Johnson Family Vacation (2004) - He appeared as a motorcycle cop.
- A Dennis the Menace Christmas (2007) - He played both Santa and an angel named Bob.
- The Binge (2020) - He played Hags' Father.
- The Perfect Find (2023) - He played Jimmy.
Television
- The Mr. Men Show (2008–09) - He was the voice of Mr. Stubborn and Mr. Tall.
- 30 Rock (2009) - He guest-starred as a character named Rick.
- Steven Universe (2014–16) - He was the voice of Kofi Pizza, the father of Kiki and Jenny.
- Bullseye (2015) - He was a co-host of this fun game show.
- Our Cartoon President (2018) - He provided the voices for cartoon versions of Barack Obama and Cory Booker.
- Wild 'n Out (2021–22) - He was a cast member on this popular comedy show.
- My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023) - He voiced the character Ja Boluu.
See also
- List of Igbo people
