 Comedian Dave Chappelle meets Mayor Rob Ford at Toronto City Hall on August 22, 2012. Chappelle showed up at the mayor's office to ask about the city's smoking bylaw. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MAYOR ROB FORD'S OFFICE)
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TORONTO – The jokers just keep showing up at Toronto City Hall.
Mayor Rob Ford got a surprise visit from U.S. comedian Dave Chappelle Wednesday.
His latest brush with Hollywood comes less than a month after Ford rubbed shoulders with two other U.S. comedians — Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis.
According to Ford's staff, Chappelle arrived at the mayor's office alone and unannounced looking for information about Toronto's smoking regulations.
Chappelle is in Toronto performing three pop-up shows at the Winter Garden Theatre.
"Mr. Chappelle came to City Hall. He was inquiring about our smoking bylaws," Ford's spokesman Isaac Ransom told reporters. "Our office assisted him and while he was here he met Mayor Ford."
Ransom posted a photo of Ford and Chappelle on Twitter. By the time the photo was posted online, Chappelle had left the mayor's office.
"He's in Toronto; he's visiting and we're excited to have him here performing tonight," Ransom said.
Chappelle had his own TV show and has starred in several movies including Half Baked, Con Air, You've Got Mail and Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
Ransom said Ford is a big Chappelle fan.
"He did (recognize him)," Ransom said. "I think the mayor was excited."
One of Ford's staffers asked Chappelle about the whereabouts of his entourage.
He joked, "I left them back in the States."
Later in the day, Ford's office confirmed they forwarded information to Chappelle about the province's smoking restrictions.
don.peat@sunmedia.ca
