St. Louis’ own Cedric the Entertainer was honored with the 2,640th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Thursday.
“Much Love to all of you, for your acknowledgment of me receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to Today,” Cedric said via Twitter. “Your support of my work throughout the years is a big reason why this day has come. Thank you! And I’m only getting started!”
A graduate of Berkley High School and Southeast Missouri State University, Cedric made a name for himself on the St. Louis comedy scene. By the early 1990s, he was primed for the big time.
He became a household name when he was tapped to host the second season of BET’S Comic View – following in the footsteps of fellow future “King of Comedy” D.L. Hughley, who served as the hit urban comedy series’ inaugural host.
Soon after, he co-starred with fellow comic Steve Harvey on the hit WB sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show.” In 2000, Cedric starred alongside Harvey, Hughley and the late Bernie Mac in the record-breaking “Kings of Comedy” Tour, which also spawned a blockbuster film of the same name.
Cedric went on to film and television success in films such as “The Honeymooners,” the “Barbershop” franchise, “Johnson Family Vacation,” “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” and “Be Cool” to name a few.
He and fellow St. Louis native Niecy Nash (who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week) starred in the TV Land sitcom “Soul Man” for five seasons.
Cedric currently stars alongside Tracy Morgan in the TBS sitcom “The Last O.G” and is slated to star in the upcoming CBS comedy “The Neighborhood” this fall.
Basketball legend and business mogul Earvin “Magic” Johnson was one of the speakers to address the crowd during Cedric’s ceremony.
Johnson said that Cedric not only entertains – but uplifts the community.
He was still early in his career when he started his scholarship fund. Since its inception in 1996, the fund has provided nearly $200,000 to St. Louis area students who have attended colleges and universities across the nation. Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation has partnered with the United Negro College Fund since 2002.
Cedric also helped raise money for the Rosetta Boyce Kyles Women’s Pavilion at SSM Health in honor of his late mother – who was treated at SSM during her battle with cancer.
“People who don’t have a voice, you give them a voice,” Johnson said. “And you always support people no matter what their status is, no matter how much money they make, you use your platform to always uplift people.”
Source: Stlamerican.com
