Bio
Cedric the Entertainer is an American actor and comedian best known as the co-star of the sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, as Eddie in the Barbershop films, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy.
As lovable and loving-to-eat Coach Cedric Robinson on the long-running The Steve Harvey Show, popular, versatile comedian Cedric the Entertainer won three NAACP Image Awards for his portrayal.
He also headlined a variety show, Cedric the Entertainer Presents on Fox. He also serves the series as executive producer. He was also the voice of Bobby Proud on Disney Channel's hit animated series The Proud Family.
He was heard as Rhino in the animated blockbuster feature film Ice Age with Ray Romano. He can also be seen on the big screen in Servicing Sara with Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley, and Intolerable Cruelty with George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
With his clean, observational wit, Cedric established a broad audience base with several television appearances, including those on The Tonight Show, The Chris Rock Show, Politically Incorrect, Hollywood Squares, It's Showtime at The Apollo (where he made his television debut in 1992), HBO's Def Comedy Jam and BET's ComicView (where he eventually served as the series' host during the 1994-1995 season).
In 1994, Cedric received the Richard Pryor Comic of the Year award from BET. He also generated laughs traveling across the country from 1997-2000 as one of the headliners of the record-breaking Kings of Comedy Tour, sharing the marquee with fellow funnymen Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Bernie Mac.
That tour spawned the high-grossing Spike Lee film Original Kings of Comedy.
Cedric made his feature film debut in the 1996 comedy Ride, and also appeared in Big Momma's House with Martin Lawrence, Kingdom Come with Whoopi Goldberg, and was heard as a zoo bear in Dr. Dolittle 2 with Eddie Murphy.
A native of St. Louis, the performer – who sang, danced and performed comedy – added the moniker The Entertainer so he would be known as more than a comic.
Yet he began his career in comedy, competing in the Johnny Walker National Comedy Contest in Chicago. That opportunity led to club engagements and, later, the top prize at the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Search.
Setting out on a major national tour, he wound up – in the audience – at a comedy club in Dallas owned by Steve Harvey. When the headlining act bombed, the resourceful Cedric asked Harvey if he could take over...for free. His routine won a standing ovation. Harvey later brought Cedric back to headline on his own – and a lifelong friendship was formed.
As an advertising pitchman, Cedric starred in Budweiser's hit Super Bowl XXXV commercial, The Date, prompting USA Today to dub him Madison Avenue's Most Valuable Player at the time.
Bud Light subsequently launched additional spots featuring him and sponsored 2001's The Bud Light Cedric The Entertainer Comedy Revue.
Beyond his career success, he founded The Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation, Inc., contributing thousands of dollars to inner-city communities in his hometown of St. Louis through scholarships and outreach programs that enhance the lives of youth and families.
He is married to Lorna Wells and they have two children, Croix and Lucky Rose, and an older daughter Tiara from a previous relationship.