David A. Arnold

{{Short description|American stand-up comedian, sitcom writer, and actor (1968–2022)}}

{{Infobox comedian

| name = David A. Arnold

| image = David A. Arnold.png

| caption = Arnold in 2021

| pseudonym =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1968|3|15}}

| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

| origin =

| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2022|9|7|1968|3|15}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| medium = Comedy, television

| active = 1997–2022

| genre = Stand-up comedy

| spouse = {{marriage|Julie L. Harkness|2003}}

| children = 2

}}

David A. Arnold (March 15, 1968 – September 7, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian, sitcom writer, producer, and actor.

Stand-up comedy

Arnold began performing in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://rare.us/story/comedian-under-investigation-by-tsa-for-bad-check-to-pizza-hut-in-95|title=Comedian under investigation by TSA for bad check to Pizza Hut in '95|work=Rare|author=Kurt Wallace |date=April 27, 2007|accessdate=March 29, 2015}} He performed at the Canadian Montreal Comedy Festival, on Jamie Foxx Presents Laffapalooza (Comedy Central) with Jamie Foxx and Cedric the Entertainer, The Tom Joyner Show, Baisden After Dark, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, ComicView (BET), The Mo'Nique Show (BET), Entourage (HBO) and Def Comedy Jam.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1349088/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|title=IMDB Biography of David A. Arnold|website=IMDb |accessdate=March 29, 2015}}

Screenwriter and actor

Arnold served as writer and producer for the Netflix revival series Fuller House. He wrote episodes of several comedy shows, including Bigger (BET+), Meet the Browns (TBS),{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1319598/fullcredits|title=IMDB Credits Meet the Browns|website=IMDb |accessdate=March 29, 2015}} The Rickey Smiley Show (TV One),{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2390222/fullcredits|title=IMDB Credits The Rick Smiley show|website=IMDb |accessdate=March 29, 2015}} Raising Whitley (OWN),{{cite web|url=http://wmeclients.com/comedy/comedian/DAVID-ARNOLD|title=WME Clients|accessdate=March 29, 2015}} Tyler Perry's House of Payne (TBS),{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0773264/fullcredits|title=IMDB House of Pain|website=IMDb |accessdate=March 29, 2015}} and The Tony Rock Project (MyNetworkTV).{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1240537/fullcredits|title=IMDB The Tony Rock Project|website=IMDb |accessdate=March 29, 2015}}

In 2021, Arnold created the Nickelodeon show That Girl Lay Lay and served as showrunner for the series. He appeared in several television series including Meet the Browns, A Series of Unfortunate People{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899369/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2|title=IMDB Credits A Series of Unfortunate People|website=IMDb |accessdate=March 29, 2015}} and The Tony Rock Project.

Arnold had two stand-up comedy specials on Netflix, David A. Arnold: Fat Ballerina{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/title/81213900|title=David A. Arnold: Fat Ballerina|website=Netflix |accessdate=March 3, 2020}} and It Ain't For The Weak (July 2022).{{cite news |first=Nate |last=Jackson |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-09-07/comedian-david-a-arnold-dies-at-54 |title=Comedian David A. Arnold dies at 54 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=September 8, 2022 }}

Personal life

Arnold was married to Julie L. Harkness; the couple had two daughters, Anna-Grace (b. 2005) and Ashlyn (b. 2007).{{cite news |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title=David A. Arnold Dies: Netflix Comic, Writer, And Nickelodeon Showrunner Was 54 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/davida-arnold-deadi-netflix-comic-writer-nickelodeon-showrunner-54-obituary-1235110909/ |website=Deadline |date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=September 8, 2022}} He was of African-American ancestry.