Cedric the Entertainer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric in 2023
Born	Cedric Antonio Kyles (1964-04-24) April 24, 1964 (age 61) Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.
Education	Southeast Missouri State University (BA)
Occupation	Comedian actor television host producer
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Lorna Wells ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	3
Awards	Six NAACP Image Awards One Gotham Award Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Comedy career
Genres	Observational comedy, surreal humour, insult comedy
Subject(s)	Everyday life, pop culture, self-deprecation

Cedric Antonio Kyles (born April 24, 1964), known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is a famous American comedian, actor, and TV host. He is known for his funny stand-up shows and for starring in popular TV series and movies.

Cedric became famous co-starring with Steve Harvey on the TV show The Steve Harvey Show. He was also one of the four comedians in the hit comedy tour The Original Kings of Comedy. Many people know him as the funny barber Eddie Walker in the Barbershop movies.

He has also been the voice of characters in animated movies like Maurice the aye-aye in the Madagascar series and Carl the rhino in Ice Age. He currently stars in the CBS television show The Neighborhood. In 2019, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early Life and Education

Cedric was born on April 24, 1964, in Jefferson City, Missouri. His mother, Rosetta, was a schoolteacher, and his father, Kittrell, worked for a railroad company. He has a younger sister named Sharita.

He grew up in Missouri and went to Berkeley High School. After high school, he studied mass communication at Southeast Missouri State University. Before becoming a full-time comedian, he worked for an insurance company and as a substitute teacher.

Career Beginnings

Finding His Stage Name

Cedric felt his real name, Cedric Kyles, was too serious for a comedian. At first, he wanted to be called "Cheerio," but the company that makes Cheerios cereal asked him not to use it. He finally got his stage name when an announcer introduced him as "an entertainer, Cedric the entertainer." The name stuck, and he has used it ever since.

Rise to Fame

Cedric's career took off in the 1990s. He hosted the comedy shows ComicView and Def Comedy Jam. His big break in acting came when he played Cedric Jackie Robinson, the best friend of Steve Harvey's character on The Steve Harvey Show.

He also toured the country with comedians Steve Harvey, D. L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac as part of The Original Kings of Comedy. The tour was a huge success and was later turned into a movie directed by Spike Lee.

Movie and Television Star

Cedric at the premiere of Get Smart in 2008

Cedric has appeared in many movies. Some of his most famous roles are in the Barbershop films, Johnson Family Vacation, and Be Cool. He also lent his voice to many animated characters. He was Maurice in the Madagascar movies, Carl in Ice Age, and Golly the gander in Charlotte's Web.

In the first Barbershop movie, his character made some jokes about historical figures that some people found upsetting. The jokes were part of the movie's script, but they caused a public discussion.

Over the years, Cedric has hosted several TV shows, including the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for its 12th season. From 2012 to 2016, he starred in the TV series The Soul Man. Since 2018, he has played the main character, Calvin Butler, on the popular CBS show The Neighborhood.

In 2025, Cedric appeared on the TV show The Masked Singer as the character "Honey Pot."

Awards and Honors

Cedric has won many awards for his work in comedy and acting. He has received four NAACP Awards for his performances.

In 2008, he was given a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame to honor his connection to the city. In 2018, a street in St. Louis was renamed Cedric The Entertainer Way. In 2019, he received one of the highest honors in Hollywood: a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal Life

Cedric is married to Lorna Wells. They have two children, a son named Croix and a daughter named Lucky Rose. He also has an older daughter, Tiara, from a previous relationship.

He gives back to his community through his Cedric the Entertainer Charitable Foundation. The foundation gives a scholarship each year to a student from his old high school.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of Cedric the Entertainer's most well-known movies and TV shows.

See also

In Spanish: Cedric the Entertainer para niños