A popular US comedian and actor, Dave Chapelle impressed a New Zealand based Samoan actor Pereline T Perelini. 

The actor took his nieces to the to the stand up comedy show held at Spark Arena on Saturday evening. 

"It was scheduled to start at 7.30pm. There were three acts before Chapelle, and all from the US too," he said.

"I went with my nieces who attend the University of Auckland. They thanked me for the tickets and were so impressed with the show saying that it was just so cool," he said. 

Perelini said one of Chapelle's jokes mentioned Samoans. 

"Dave Chapelle said that a Samoan family invited him to a luncheon. He loved the entire Samoan experience, but he said, the pork plate finished fast. He said thank you. This was one of his jokes. He was talking about the size two," he said. 

Perelini said the arena has a 12 thousand capacity area and was sold out. 

"They had a joke for everyone, Iraq, Chinese, African American, New Zealanders, whites. It was like a "Roast Master" special," he said.

Perelini said he appreciated the act because he himself is an actor and understands how hard it is to get people's attention. 

"An actor and artist is just a person who shares his entire life experience in broad day light, and it makes people react to it. You may find it funny, or not funny, that is what performers like Dave Chappelle do," he said.

"That's also why it is hard to be an actor," he said.

Perelini said he saw a lot of Samoans from Samoa at the show. 

"It was a great night. I love it when the acts from the US come our way because it is just surreal," he said. 

Mr Perelini left his career as an engineer to be an actor. While he finds it challenging he said that it makes him happy to pursue acts like Shakespeare plays, such as the Hamlet.

Perelini went to Samoa College and recalls his times as a young person in Samoa with fondness.