I know I did the right thing by taking time off to raise my son. But it also came at a price. I turned down many opportunities over the years because I didn't want to leave him for long periods of time. And in Hollywood, as in any business, the calls stop coming when you don't answer.

Hall appeared as himself in Chappelle's Show in March 2004 when Chappelle was imagining "what Arsenio is doing right now" in a dinner scene. From January 2 1989 until May 27 1994 he had a Paramount contract to host a nationwide syndicated late night talk show The Arsenio Hall Show. Subsequently renamed The Late Show it featured several hosts including Ross Shafer Suzanne Somers Richard Belzer and Robert Townsend before it was cancelled in 1988.

He is best known for hosting The Arsenio Hall Show a late night TV talk show that ran from 1989 until 1994. Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the talk show Thicke of the Night. Arsenio Hall (born February 12 1956) is an American actor comedian and former talk show host.