An Original King of Comedy

Background:

After a number of stage gigs, Cedric the Entertainer (born Cedric Kyles) went to the small screen and immediately won the audience’s heart. After taking home the 1994 Richard Pryor Comic of the Year from Black Entertainment Television, he won 4 NAACP Image Awards 4 years in a row, thanks to the brilliant portrayal of Coach Cedric Jackie Robinson in the sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show” (1996-2002). Another NAACP Image Award came after the comedian impressively voiced Bobby Proud in the animated series “The Proud Family” (2001-2005). Cedric, who gained nationwide fame through his live performance recorded in The Original Kings of Comedy (2000), was also praised for carrying out roles in the drama comedy Kingdom Come (2001), the self-created and produced sketch series, “Cedric The Entertainer Presents” (2002-2003), the sequel Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004, won a BET Comedy Award) and Be Cool (2005).

Outside the spotlight, Cedric is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. The comedian, who is known for his straw hat, is also the owner of the production company A Bird And A Bear Entertainment and The Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ Charitable Foundation, which helps to enhance the lives of inner-city youth and their families in his hometown.

The comedian is currently married to Lorna Wells, whom he wed in 1999. He is the father of three, a son and two daughters, one of whom is from a previous relationship.


Most Humorous

Childhood and Family:

Cedric the Entertainer was born Cedric Kyles, on April 24, 1964, in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Rosetta Kyles. He has a younger sister named Sharita Kyles.

Cedric, who was voted “Most Popular” and “Most Humorous” by his high school classmates, continued his studies at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, majoring in Mass Communication. After graduating from college, he worked for State Farm Insurance. Later, when his comedy career took off, Cedric added the title “The Entertainer” as a reference to the singing and dancing in his stand-up show.

As for his married life, the comedian walked down the aisle with Lorna Wells in September 1999. From the marriage, he has a son named Croix and a daughter named Lucky Rose (born in November 2003). Cedric is also the father of Tiara, his daughter from a previous relationship.


Cedric Robinson

Career:

Cedric the Entertainer made a move toward a professional career by winning several comedy contests and performing stand-up at many comedy clubs throughout the country. He was seen on the small screen by frequently appearing in the show “Def Comedy Jam” (1992), which was then followed with his first regular TV spot, as the host of “BET’s Comicview” (1993-1994).

In 1994, Cedric was given a Richard Pryor Comic of the Year from the Black Entertainment Television. He maintained the critical achievement by giving a witty portrayal of lovable coach Cedric Jackie Robinson in the Stan Lathan-helmed WB sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show” (1996-2002), starring comedian Steve Harvey. In the course of the show, the comedian won four consecutive NAACP Image awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Cedric became a headliner of the wildly successful “Kings of Comedy” national tour in 1997, along with D.L. Hughley and Bernie Mac. Later, in 2000, Spike Lee filmed the live performance under the title The Original Kings of Comedy. Following the tour gig, he soon set off to the big screen, where he first played Bo in the comedy movie Ride (1998). Two years later, he was seen in the Martin Lawrence-starring box office comedy Big Momma’s House (2000).

The comedian collected another NAACP Image award after impressively providing the voice for Bobby Proud, a character in the animated series “The Proud Family” (2001-2005). Taking the supporting role of Reverend Beverly H. Hooker in the drama comedy Kingdom Come (2001), Cedric received rave reviews and earned an NAACP Image nomination. The comedian also brought home several award nominations for his self-created sketch series, “Cedric The Entertainer Presents” (2002-2003, also executive produced), in which he appeared as the host and actor. For his work in the series, he was given a People’s Choice, a Teen Choice and an Image nomination. The same year, he was engaged in several movie projects, including the comedy Barbershop (2002, as Eddie) and the phenomenal animation Ice Age (2002, voiced Carl the Rhino).

Subsequent to his scene stealing turn as private investigator Gus Petch in Intolerable Cruelty (2003), Cedric came off with the reprised role of Eddie in the sequel Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) and won a BET Comedy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Box Office Movie. He also produced such movies as Johnson Family Vacation (2004, also starred as Nate Johnson/Uncle Earl) and the adaptation of the classic sitcom The Honeymooners (2005, also played bus driver Ralph Cramden, earned Black Movie nomination).

The host of the 2004 The Black Movie Awards, Cedric presented a BET-nominated supporting turn as producer Sin LaSalle in Be Cool (2005), voiced Maurice the Lemur in the animated feature Madagascar (2005) and guest starred in the sitcom “All of Us” (2006). The humorist, who in 2002 wrote the material for his stand-up performance called Cedric the Entertainer: Starting Lineup (TV), again created a stand-up live performance in Cedric: Taking You Higher (2006, TV).

Cedric’s upcoming movie is the family movie Charlotte’s Web (2006), where he lent his voice for Golly. In addition, he is set to star as the Maintenance Man in the musical project Caught on Tape (2006), portray Malcolm Crowley, an ex-gambler who went bankrupt, in the comedy Mr. Lucky (2006) and take a part in the remake of the 80s comedy, Back to School (2006).

Working with actors Lucy Liu, Nicollette Sheridan and Mark Dacascos, Cedric will play amnesiac janitor Jake in the action comedy Code Name: The Cleaner (2007). Cedric’s fans will also see him in the biopic of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph “Petey” Greene in Talk to Me (2007, as Waylon the hotdog guy) before hearing his voice in the sequel Madagascar 2 (2008).


Awards:

- BET Comedy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Box Office Movie, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, 2004
- NAACP Image: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, “The Proud Family,” 2003
- NAACP Image: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, “The Steve Harvey Show,” 2002
- NAACP Image: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, “The Steve Harvey Show,” 2001
- NAACP Image: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, “The Steve Harvey Show,” 2000
- NAACP Image: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, “The Steve Harvey Show,” 1999
- Black Entertainment Television: Richard Pryor Comic of the Year, 1994