Godfrey C. Danchimah, Jr, Nigerian America comedian and actor

I was watching BET yesterday when this comedian came on stage and introduced himself. He said "My name is Godfrey and I am 100% Nigerian. Nigerians don't even know I am Nigerian.".

I'd seen his movies, I mean who hasn't seen Soul Plane where he appeared alongside Snoop Dogg as the African pilot?, but I never knew he was Nigerian.
Read his bio...   
Courtesy: Linda Ikeji

Godfrey C. Danchimah, Jr, Nigerian American comedian and actor who has appeared on BET, VH1, Comedy Central, and feature films such as Soul Plane, Original Gangstas, Zoolander, and Johnson Family Vacation was born in Nebraska on July 21, 1969 to Nigerian parents.

Godfrey's parents fled to the United States from Nigeria to escape the Nigerian Civil War. The family settled in Chicago where Godfrey grew up. He attended Lane Technical College Preparatory High School and received an academic scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he majored in psychology. Here he tried out for and made the varsity football team, where he performed at a traditional talent show for new team members.

He stole the show performing impressions of his coaches and teammates and discovered his comedic talent. Godfrey honed his stand-up skills at the legendary All Jokes Aside Comedy Club in Chicago in the early 90's. In 1995, Godfrey made his New York debut at Caroline's Comedy Club and The Comic Strip Live and was soon signed by the William Morris Talent Agency. He began working regularly in television, first behind the cameras as a warm-up comedian for The Cosby Show and Soulman. His first on-camera appearance featured him performing stand-up comedy for NBC's Friday Night Videos, followed by more small television and film roles.



In 2000, Godfrey appeared in the Aspen Comedy Festival and on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. He also played a comical role in the urban movie Soul Plane, acting as an African pilot. He has also been in numerous episodes of BET's Comic View. He continues to do film and television work alongside his stand-up career in New York.