Cedric the Entertainer

Cedric Antonio Kyles (born April 24, 1964) better known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and game show host. He hosted BET's ComicView during the 1993–94 season and Def Comedy Jam in 1995. He is best known for co-starring with Steve Harvey on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, as one of The Original Kings of Comedy, and for starring as Eddie Walker in Barbershop. He can also be seen starring on the CBS show “The Neighborhood”. He hosted the 12th season of the daytime version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2013–14 and starred in the TV Land original series The Soul Man, which aired from 2012 until 2016. He has also done voice work for Ice Age, the Madagascar film series, Charlotte's Web, Planes and Planes: Fire and Rescue. In 2019, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[2]

Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric in May 2013
Birth name	Cedric Antonio Kyles
Born	(1964-04-24) April 24, 1964 Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.
Medium	Film, television, stand-up
Alma mater	Southeast Missouri State University[1]
Years active	1987–present
Genres	Comedy
Spouse	Lorna Wells ( m. 1999)
Children	3
Website	www.iamcedric.com

Early life

Cedric Antonio Kyles was born on April 24, 1964 in Jefferson City, Missouri, the son of Rosetta (née Boyce), a schoolteacher, and Kittrell Kyles, an employee of The Missouri Pacific Railroad.[3][4] His only sibling is his younger sister, Sharita Kyles Wilson, a communications professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.[5][6]

Cedric was raised in Caruthersville, Missouri, but after junior high school he moved to Berkeley, Missouri. He is a graduate of Berkeley High School in St. Louis's northern suburbs.[7]

Cedric earned a degree in communications from Southeast Missouri State University.[1]

Career

In 1995, Cedric moved into acting, auditioning and receiving his first-ever role as The Cowardly Lion in the 1995 Apollo Theater Revival of The Wiz. He then expanded his career by aptly playing Steve Harvey's friend Cedric Jackie Robinson on the sitcom The Steve Harvey Show. He then began appearing in films, including Barbershop, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Ride, Serving Sara, Johnson Family Vacation, Intolerable Cruelty, Man of the House, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted and Be Cool. Cedric was the subject of controversy when his Barbershop character made unpopular remarks about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.[8] These comments were spoken in character, were part of the script, and he has never apologized for them. In the 2005 animated film Madagascar, Cedric voiced Maurice the aye aye. In October 2005, Cedric joined the Champ Car auto racing series as a part owner. Cedric appeared in the movie Charlotte's Web as the voice of Golly the gander. While his acting career grew, Cedric continued stand-up and traveled the country as one of the Kings of Comedy headliners, with Steve Harvey, D. L. Hughley and Bernie Mac. The act was later made into a film by Spike Lee, The Original Kings of Comedy. Cedric briefly had his own sketch comedy show, Cedric the Entertainer Presents, but it was canceled after one season. The show had been renewed for a second season, but Fox canceled it before the season began. He took time to pen his book, Grown-A$$ Man.[9] He then appeared in the 2003 video game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004. His most recent HBO Comedy Special was Cedric The Entertainer: Taking You Higher. Two of the background dancers from the special were Kamilah Barrett and Sandra Colton, who were also finalists in Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. He also recorded comedic interludes on two multi-platinum selling albums, Nelly's Country Grammar (2000) and Jay-Z's The Black Album (2003).

In the 2007 comedy film Code Name: The Cleaner, Cedric plays Jake, a janitor with amnesia who may be a secret undercover government agent involved in an illegal arms conspiracy. He then starred in the 2008 films Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins and Street Kings.

Cedric at the June 2008 premiere of Get Smart

Cedric appeared as the lead comedian at the White House Correspondents Dinner but jokingly remarked that he was unprepared because he thought that he would follow a humorous speech by President George W. Bush but instead followed First Lady Laura Bush, who said he was "hilarious" and "probably the funniest person" she had ever met.

Cedric has won many awards throughout his career beginning with early victories in winning $500 in the Johnny Walker National Comedy Contest in 1990 and coming in first place in the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Contest in 1993.[10] BET named him Richard Pryor Comic of the Year. [11] He has also won four NAACP awards.[12]

Cedric was inducted to the St. Louis Walk of Fame on June 7, 2008. His star is at 6166 Delmar.[13]

Cedric was the special guest host for WWE Raw on September 21, 2009, in Little Rock, Arkansas. During the show, he participated in a wrestling match, defeating Chavo Guerrero by pinfall. The match also featured Santino Marella as a guest referee. Cedric also got help from an unknown wrestler dubbed The Sledge Hammer (played by Imani Lee) and Hornswoggle.[14][15]

In March 2010, Cedric made his directorial debut with Dance Fu, produced and funded independently by his company Bird and a Bear Entertainment with producer Eric C. Rhone. The film starred comedian Kel Mitchell. Cedric made a cameo appearance in the film as a Homicide detective. It was released straight-to-DVD on October 4, 2011.

Cedric appeared in the Broadway revival of David Mamet's "American Buffalo," the story of three small-time crooks who come to blows during a plot to steal a valuable coin collection.[16]

In a June 21, 2011 interview, Cedric confirmed that his latest reality game show, It's Worth What?, was going to air on July 12, 2011 on NBC,[17] but the start date was delayed by one week to July 19. Starting in 2012, Cedric played the main character in the TV Land original series, The Soul Man, featuring Niecy Nash. The series ran for five seasons and ended in 2016.[18]

Cedric was the host of the classic American TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire beginning with its 12th season in national syndication, which premiered on September 2, 2013. "With his deep roots as a legendary stand-up comedian and actor, Cedric will bring his fresh approach and unpredictable fun to the show," said Janice Marinelli, president, Disney-ABC Domestic Television.[19] On April 30, 2014, Cedric announced that he was leaving Who Wants to Be a Millionaire after the 2013–14 season to focus on his busy schedule.[20] Terry Crews took over as host on September 8, 2014.[21]

Personal life

Cedric is married to Lorna Wells. They have two children, Croix (born 2000) and Lucky Rose (born 2003); Cedric also has a daughter Tiara from a previous relationship.

He continues his involvement with his high school by awarding a scholarship each year to a graduating senior through his Cedric the Entertainer Charitable Foundation Inc. The foundation's motto is, "Reaching Out...Giving Back." Cedric majored in Mass Communication at Southeast Missouri State University and worked as a State Farm insurance claims adjuster, and substitute high school teacher before becoming a full-time comedian. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. In May 2015, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Fine Arts and Humanities from Lincoln University of Missouri (his parents' alma mater). In 2018, St. Louis honored him by renaming the street in front of the Kappa Alpha Psi Alumni House as Cedric The Entertainer Way.[22][23]

Filmography

Cedric at the premiere of Johnson Family Vacation in March 2004

List of film performances

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Ride	Bo
2000	Big Momma's House	The Reverend
2000	The Original Kings of Comedy	Himself	Also writer Documentary
2001	Kingdom Come	Rev. Beverly H. Hooker
2002	Serving Sara	Ray Harris
2002	Barbershop	Eddie Walker
2002	Ice Age	Carl	Voice only
2003	Intolerable Cruelty	Gus Petch
2004	Barbershop 2: Back in Business	Eddie Walker
2004	Johnson Family Vacation	Nate Johnson	Also producer
2004	Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events	Constable
2005	Be Cool	Sin LaSalle
2005	Madagascar	Maurice	Voice
2005	Man of the House	Percy Stevens
2005	The Honeymooners	Ralph Kramden	Also executive producer
2006	Charlotte's Web	Golly the Gander / Golly the Male Goose	Voice
2007	Code Name: The Cleaner	Jake Rogers	Also producer
2007	Talk to Me	"Nighthawk" Bob Terry
2008	Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins	Clyde Stubbs
2008	Street Kings	"Scribble" (Winston)
2008	Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa	Maurice	Voice
2008	Cadillac Records	Willie Dixon
2009	Un-broke: What You Need To Know About Money	Himself	TV film
2009	Merry Madagascar	Maurice	Voice TV film
2011	Dance Fu	Detective	Also executive producer
2011	Larry Crowne	Lamar
2012	Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted	Maurice	Voice
2013	A Haunted House	Father Doug Williams
2013	Madly Madagascar	Maurice	Voice
2013	Planes	Leadbottom	Voice
2014	A Haunted House 2	Father Doug Williams
2014	Planes: Fire & Rescue	Leadbottom	Voice
2014	Top Five	Jazzy
2016	Barbershop: The Next Cut	Eddie Walker
2016	Why Him?	Lou Dunne
2017	First Reformed	Pastor Joel Jeffers	as Cedric Kyles
TBA	Son of the South	Reverend Ralph Abernathy	Post-production
TBA	The Opening Act	Billy G	Post-production

List of television performances

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	It's Showtime at the Apollo	Himself
1993–1994	ComicView	Himself	Host
1995	Def Comedy Jam	Himself	1 episode
1996–2002	The Steve Harvey Show	Cedric Jackie Robinson	Main role
2001–2005	The Proud Family	Bobby Proud (voice)	Semi-regular, 14 episodes
2002–2003	Cedric the Entertainer Presents	Himself	Main role
2006	Wild 'n Out	Himself	Episode: "Cedric the Entertainer"
2007	The Boondocks	Cousin Jericho Freeman (voice)	Episode: "Invasion of the Katrinians"
2009	WWE Raw	Himself	Special guest host, 1 episode
2011	It's Worth What?	Himself	Host
2011	Take Two with Phineas and Ferb	Himself	Episode: "Cedric the Entertainer"
2011, 2014	Hot in Cleveland	Reverend Boyce Ballentine	Episodes: "Bridezelka" and "Stayin' Alive"
2012–2016	The Soul Man	Reverend Boyce Ballentine	Main role, 54 episodes
2012	2 Broke Girls	Darius	Episode: "And the Pre-Approved Credit Card"
2013	Real Husbands of Hollywood	Himself	Episode: "Blackstabbers"
2013–2014	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire	Himself	Host
2014–2020	Power	Croop	Recurring
2015, 2020	Whose Line is It Anyway?	Himself	Season 11 Episode 1, Season 16
2015	Cedric's Barber Battle	Himself	Host
2016	Another Period	Scott Joplin	Episode: "Joplin"
2017	Master of None	Kenny the Magnificent	Episode: "Door #3"
2017	Drop the Mic	Himself	Episode: "Niecy Nash vs. Cedric the Entertainer / Liam Payne vs. Jason Derulo"
2017	Nightcap	Himself	Episode: "Spinster Code"
2017	The Comedy Get Down	Himself	Main role
2017	Superior Donuts	Reggie Wicks	2 episodes
2018	The Last O.G.	Miniard Mullins	Main cast
2018	Summer Camp Island	The Moon (voice)	6 episodes
2018–present	The Neighborhood	Calvin Butler	Main character
2019-2020	Power	Croop	3 episodes
2020	The Greatest #StayAtHome Videos	Himself	Host
2020	The Greatest #AtHome Videos	Himself	Host
2020	The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder	Bobby Proud	Voice role, upcoming series[24]

References

1. King, Lynnea Chapman (October 10, 2014). The Coen Brothers Encyclopedia. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-8108-8577-6. The New York Times characterized Cedric's performance [in Intolerable Cruelty (2003)]] as one in which he "delivers the crassest lines with what can only be called hammy understatement; his years of stand-up have taught him that less is all."
2. Andreeva, Nellie (July 28, 2015). "'The Soul Man' Picked Up For Fifth & Final Season By TV Land". Deadline.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
3. "Cedric The Entertainer Biography (1964?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
5. "Cedric 'The Entertainer' Scores in Commercials, TV and Film with Down-Home Comedy", Jet, March 12, 2001. Accessed on December 29, 2009.
6. "Local News: Cedric "The Entertainer," to be pararde marshal (10/19/07)". seMissourian.com. October 19, 2007. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
7. "Cedric the Entertainer : Biography". IMDb.com. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
8. Munoz, Lorenza; Braxton, Greg. "Black Leaders Angered by Scene Say 'Barbershop' Needs a Trim". LATimes.com. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
9. Christian, M. A. (2003), "Cedric the Entertainer shares views on his rising stardom, being black in Hollywood, and what he learned from Barbershop", Jet, 103 (18): 58–62
10. Stanton, L. (2004). "Cedric the Entertainer". Current Biography. 65 (2): 3–6.
11. Who's Who in America (70th ed.). New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who's Who LLC, 2016. 2016.
12. "Cedric the Entertainer". Contemporary Black Biography. 60: 35–37. 2007.
13. St. Louis Walk of Fame. "St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees". stlouiswalkoffame.org. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
14. Archived September 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
15. "The Masked Man from Cedric's RAW Revealed, WrestleMania in Atlanta?". Wrestlescoop. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
16. "Revival of Mamet's American Buffalo Finds a Broadway Home". Playbill.com. August 19, 2008. Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
17. Cedric the Entertainer prepares for Nashville and NBC The Tennessean. Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
18. Andreeva, Nellie (July 28, 2015). "'The Soul Man' Picked Up For Fifth & Final Season By TV Land". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
19. "Cedric 'The Entertainer' to host 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'". WABC TV. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
20. "Cedric the Entertainer to leave 'Millionaire'". Usatoday.com. April 30, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
21. "Terry Crews Named New 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' Host". hollywoodreporter.com. May 7, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
22. Hoskins, Kelley (December 15, 2018). "Cedric the Entertainer has a street named in his honor in north St. Louis". Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. which owns KTVI. Retrieved February 25, 2020 – via FOX2now.com. The unveiling ceremony of Cedric The Entertainer Way was held Saturday morning at the corner of Olive Street and Vandeventer Avenue in front of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Alumni House [38°38′29″N 90°14′21″W] as Mayor Lyda Krewson proclaimed it Cedric The Entertainer Day!
23. STL TV (January 17, 2019), Cedric the Entertainer Street Renaming Ceremony, retrieved February 25, 2020, ...Cedric The Entertainer Way really suits him, because Cedric did it his way...
24. Swift, Andy (February 27, 2020). "The Proud Family Revival Ordered at Disney+ With Original Cast — First Look". TVLine.

External links

• Cedric the Entertainer Official Website
• Cedric the Entertainer on IMDb
• Cedric the Entertainer interview on the Tavis Smiley show
• Cedric the Entertainer profile on Living St. Louis.
• Bill Bellamy and Cedric The Entertainer Headline Ccgi 2009

Preceded by Brad Garrett	Host of TV Land Awards 2005	Succeeded by Megan Mullally