Cedric the Entertainer

Cedric the Stand-up Comedian

One of “The Original Kings of Comedy,” Cedric the Entertainer is best known for his sidekick comedian roles in such movies as Johnson Family Vacation. Cedric the Entertainer, wearing his trademark fedora, will bring his special brand of stand-up comedy to The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center Friday, September 7 at 8 p.m. Cedric Antonio Kyles earned his moniker “the Entertainer” early in high school when he was voted “most popular” and “most humorous” by his classmates. Working as a stand-up comedian, Cedric realized he wanted pursue a career as a comedian when he won a comedy contest in St. Louis, declaring it the easiest money he ever earned.

In 1992, Cedric the Entertainer was “born” when he first appeared on TV in “It’s Showtime at the Apollo.” 1993 was a break out year for this entertainer – he appeared on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” and hosted BET’s “ComicView.” Cedric the Entertainer became part of history while touring with Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac and D.L. Hughley. As the most successful comedy tour in history, “The Kings of Comedy” and the subsequent film by Spike Lee helped launch Cedric’s career.

Cedric the Entertainer began to branch out around 2000. Playing the always affable comic relief, Cedric the Entertainer appeared in numerous films, television shows, wrote his own book and even starred in the popular Super Bowl bud light commercial on designating drivers. His television repertoire includes appearances on such popular shows as “The Tonight Show,” “The Chris Rock Show,” “Hollywood Squares” and “Mad TV.”

He’s most well known on “The Steve Harvey Show” where he nabbed an unprecedented 4 consecutive NAACP awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

On the big screen, Cedric has been in a string of comedy hits such as Big Momma’s House, Barbershop, and Be Cool. He has appeared alongside some of today’s premier actors like Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey, George Clooney and Tommy Lee Jones and he has lent his voice to a variety of cartoon animals in such hits as Madagascar, Ice Age, Charlotte’s Web and Doctor Dolittle 2.

Of course Cedric the Entertainer continues to do standup whenever he can. He had a sketch comedy show on Fox at one time called “Cedric the Entertainer Presents” that lasted a season. More recently, he has appeared in an HBO Comedy Special titled “Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ Taking You Higher.” During his outstanding career, Cedric the Entertainer has garnered some impressive awards, including the Richard Pryor Comic of the Year award in 1994 and the AFTRA Award of Excellence in Television Programming in 2002 for “Cedric the Entertainer Presents.” He has also hosted a variety of shows including the NAACP Image Awards, the Annual TV Land Awards, and the American Music Awards.

In his free time, Cedric the Entertainer is an avid golfer, even appearing in the Playstation 2 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004. He also founded The Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ Charitable Foundation, an outreach program for inner-city youth in his hometown, St, Louis, MO, that he hopes to expand nationally.

Don’t miss Cedric the Entertainer when he comes to Austin at The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center on Friday, September 7 at 8 p.m.