Cedric the Entertainer

Cedric Antonio Kyles, better known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. He first gained popularity when he hosted BET’s ComicView during the 1993-1994 season and Def Comedy Jam in 1995. Cedric's most notable moments include co-starring with Steve Harvey on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, starring as Eddie Walker in Barbershop and hosting the 12th season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2013-14. His impressive career also spans voice work for popular animated films like Ice Age, Madagascar, and Charlotte's Web. Cedric's career launched when he adopted his stage name, inspired by an entertainer named Kodak. His path to becoming a full-time comedian involved a stint as a State Farm insurance adjuster and substitute high school teacher. His acting career gained momentum in 1995 when he landed the role of The Cowardly Lion in the Apollo Theater Revival of The Wiz. He continued earning acclaim in comedy as well as voice acting, sparking controversy via his Barbershop character, expanding his portfolio with a foray into auto racing, and publishing a book titled 'Grown-A$$ Man'. He has won several awards, was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame and has even tested his skills in wrestling. In 2018, he began playing the character of Calvin Butler in the television sitcom The Neighborhood.

Cedric was born on April 24, 1964, in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Rosetta (née Boyce), a schoolteacher, and Kittrell Kyles, an employee of The Missouri Pacific Railroad. He has a younger sister, Sharita Kyles Wilson, a communications professor at Pepperdine University. Cedric spent his early years in Caruthersville, Missouri, moving to Berkeley, Missouri, for junior high school. He graduated from Berkeley High School before studying mass communication at Southeast Missouri State University. Cedric maintains close ties with his high school by awarding an annual scholarship to a graduating senior through his charitable foundation. Personal triumphs include receiving an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University of Missouri in 2015, and having a street named in his honor in St. Louis in 2018.