Cedric Kyles better known as Cedric The Entertainer, one of the original Kings of Comedy, has made quite a few detours from the stand-up stage to the movie screen in recent years. His latest venture, "Larry Crowne" directed by and starring Tom Hanks, just started filming this week with Julia Roberts and Taraji P. Henson .

"I play Lamar Johnson," said Cedric from the movie set just days before arriving in Atlanta for a Friday performance at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center. "I like to do films like this and stretch. This is a dramedy. Even though my character is funny, he’s going through some serious times."

Film, he said, is a bit different than being on the stand-up circuit. “When you do a film you have the room to develop out of character. You don’t have to deliver jokes, you can deliver personality." Which of course, the comedian who earned the nickname "Ceddy Bear" has in spades.

Cedric took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to chat with us about the state of stand-up and why it's important.

Q: Who are some of the comedians that have influenced you over the years?

A: I am greatly influenced by Eddie Murphy. But my greatest influence that inspired me to ever do comedy was the late Robin Harris. He never made big stardom, but I remember seeing him and getting the fact that he was a regular guy. He didn't wear leather suits or have pretty hair. He just made you feel like he was your cousin or your uncle. People feel like they know me for some reason. And sometimes that is not a good thing. I have to tell them to scoot back.

Robin Williams and Billy Crystal were also guys who influenced me with their comedy and ability to write comedy. Right now, I am influenced by Bill Maher, Chris Rock and Steve Harvey. They are all friends, but I admire what they do.

Q: Some people have said that young comedians have little respect for the art and history of stand-up comedy. What are your thoughts on that?

A: Comedy has changed in the sense that even when I was coming up even when you thought you were funny... you wanted to develop the comedy and take the steps it took to be a great comedian. Now it is a microwave society we live in. Flash drive I call it, just load it up. If you get one hit show... you think you are supposed to be on TV. At the same time, there is a great crop of young comedians out there who work hard and have been doing it for a while and they haven't had the chance to be seen.

Q: What is the least funny thing that has ever happened to you at a show?

A: One time I had to deal with a racist in the audience. That was a bad time. I was performing and the guy was drunk and started yelling racial epithets and you think, ‘this person was put in the crowd to be a heckler.' We did the back and forth thing for a minute, but it got to the point where I was mad and ready to fight and I came off the stage. I thought I was right, but the club owner told me I should never leave the stage and he would not hire me again. It was one of those racial epithets where you think you are going to have to call your cousins.

Comedy Preview

Cedric Live in the ATL. 8 p.m. Friday, April 23. $57 -- $143. The Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. www.atlantaciviccenter.com . 404-523-6275.