Cedric the Entertainer is one of the most popular and successful comedians and actors in the entertainment industry. He has been making audiences laugh with his hilarious stand-up routines, TV shows, movies, and hosting gigs for over three decades. He is also one of the Original Kings of Comedy, along with Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. But how much does Cedric the Entertainer make from his diverse and impressive career? What is the net worth of Cedric the Entertainer in 2023?
Early Life and Career
Cedric the Entertainer was born as Cedric Antonio Kyles on April 24, 1964, in Jefferson City, Missouri. His mother, Rosetta, was a schoolteacher, and his father, Kittrell, was an employee of The Missouri Pacific Railroad. He has a younger sister, Sharita Kyles Wilson, who is a communications professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
Cedric was raised in Caruthersville, Missouri, and moved to Berkeley, Missouri, after finishing junior high school. He attended Berkeley High School and then graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in communications. Before pursuing a full-time career in comedy, Cedric worked as a State Farm insurance claims adjuster and a substitute high school teacher.
Cedric’s stage name came about when he felt that his real name sounded too formal. Inspired by an entertainer named Kodak, he came up with the name “Cheerio”, but received a cease and desist letter from General Mills over their cereal Cheerios. He settled on his stage name when someone introduced him as “an entertainer, Cedric the Entertainer” and the name stuck.
Cedric started performing stand-up comedy at local venues in Washington, DC. He entered a talent competition in 1987 and decided to pursue comedy as a full-time career. He moved to New York City in 1992 and appeared on the TV show An Evening at the Improv.
He met Steve Harvey at Caroline’s Comedy Club and became his opening act. He also joined Harvey’s sitcom The Steve Harvey Show as his friend Cedric Jackie Robinson. He won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for writing for The Chris Rock Show.
TV Shows and Movies
Cedric the Entertainer has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies throughout his career. Some of his notable roles include:
- The Original Kings of Comedy (2000): A documentary film directed by Spike Lee that featured Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac as four of the most successful African-American comedians of their time.
- Barbershop (2002), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016): A comedy film series that starred Ice Cube as Calvin Palmer Jr., the owner of a barbershop in Chicago. Cedric the Entertainer played Eddie Walker, a veteran barber who often gives his opinions on various topics.
- Madagascar (2005), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008), Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012), and Penguins of Madagascar (2014): An animated film series that featured Ben Stiller as Alex, a lion who lives in a zoo with his friends Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer), and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith). Cedric the Entertainer voiced Maurice, a lemur who is King Julien’s (Sacha Baron Cohen) advisor.
- The Soul Man (2012-2016): A TV Land sitcom that starred Cedric the Entertainer as Boyce “The Voice” Ballentine, a former R&B singer who becomes a minister in St. Louis. He also served as an executive producer for the show.
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2013-2014): A syndicated game show that featured Cedric the Entertainer as the host for its 12th season. He replaced Meredith Vieira, who had hosted the show since 2002.
- The Neighborhood (2018-present): A CBS sitcom that stars Cedric the Entertainer as Calvin Butler, a proud and opinionated owner of an auto repair shop who lives in Los Angeles with his family. He has to deal with his new neighbors Dave Johnson (Max Greenfield) and Gemma Johnson (Beth Behrs), who are white and from Michigan.
Some of the other movies that Cedric the Entertainer has appeared in include:
- Ride (1998): A comedy film that starred Malik Yoba as Leta Evans, a magazine editor who takes a group of aspiring artists on a bus trip to Miami for a music video shoot. Cedric the Entertainer played Bo, a bus driver who has a crush on Leta.
- Serving Sara (2002): A romantic comedy film that starred Matthew Perry as Joe Tyler, a process server who is hired to serve divorce papers to Sara Moore (Elizabeth Hurley), a wealthy socialite. Cedric the Entertainer played Ray Harris, Joe’s boss and friend.
- Intolerable Cruelty (2003): A crime comedy film that starred George Clooney as Miles Massey, a successful divorce lawyer who falls in love with Marilyn Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a gold-digger who is seeking revenge on her cheating husband. Cedric the Entertainer played Gus Petch, a private investigator who works for Miles.
- Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004): A fantasy comedy film that starred Jim Carrey as Count Olaf, a villainous actor who schemes to inherit the fortune of the Baudelaire orphans. Cedric the Entertainer played Constable, a police officer who is oblivious to Olaf’s plots.
- Be Cool (2005): A crime comedy film that starred John Travolta as Chili Palmer, a former mobster who becomes a music producer. Cedric the Entertainer played Sin LaSalle, a rap mogul who has a dispute with Chili over money.
- The Proud Family Movie (2005): An animated film based on the Disney Channel series The Proud Family. Cedric the Entertainer voiced Bobby Proud, Penny Proud’s uncle and Oscar Proud’s brother.
- Charlotte’s Web (2006): A live-action film based on the classic children’s book by E.B. White. Cedric the Entertainer voiced Golly, a goose who lives on Zuckerman’s farm with Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider.
- Code Name: The Cleaner (2007): An action comedy film that starred Cedric the Entertainer as Jake Rodgers, a janitor who wakes up with amnesia and believes he is an undercover agent. He teams up with Gina (Lucy Liu), a waitress who claims to be his girlfriend, to find out his true identity.
- Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008): A comedy film that starred Martin Lawrence as Roscoe Jenkins, a successful talk show host who returns to his hometown in Georgia for his parents’ 50th anniversary. Cedric the Entertainer played Clyde Stubbs, Roscoe’s cousin and rival.
- The Haunted House (2013) and The Haunted House 2 (2014): A horror comedy film series that parodied various horror films. Cedric the Entertainer played Father Williams, an exorcist who tries to help Malcolm Johnson (Marlon Wayans) deal with his haunted houses.
Net Worth and Salary
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cedric the Entertainer has an estimated net worth of $25 million as of 2023. He has earned his wealth from his various endeavors in the entertainment industry, such as writing, producing, acting, and performing.
Cedric the Entertainer’s salary for his TV shows and movies is not publicly disclosed, but it is likely that he commands a high pay rate for his talents and experience. He also earns money from his stand-up comedy tours and specials, such as Cedric the Entertainer: Taking You Higher (2006) and Cedric the Entertainer: Live from the Ville (2016).
Cedric the Entertainer is one of the most respected and admired comedians and actors in the business. He has proven his versatility and skill in various genres and mediums. He has also used his platform to advocate for causes such as education, health care, and social justice. He is a trailblazer and a role model for many aspiring comedians and performers.
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