“I’m comfortable with a little uncertainty.”
That’s a frank statement from Eric Rhone, a man with nearly 40 years in the highly competitive entertainment business and a longtime close friend and business manager of Cedric the Entertainer. Rhone is president and CEO of A Bird and A Bear Entertainment LLC — the production company he co-founded with Cedric — and founder of Visions Management Group Inc., his talent management firm.
On any given day, Rhone is meeting with his team to assess current projects across television, film and new media — from CBS’ “The Neighborhood” to feature films, acquisitions of available intellectual property and emerging content opportunities. His role, he said, is less about micromanaging and more about stewardship.
“My personal role is to listen to my team and make the best decision for the team and the business,” Rhone said.
That approach — steady leadership in a constantly shifting industry — is one reason the St. Louis American Foundation selected Rhone as its 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year. Rhone, along with other honorees, will be recognized during the 24th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards and Networking Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 19, at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.
With that honor, Rhone is being recognized not only for his influence in entertainment, but also for the way he has quietly shaped deals, managed careers and helped build businesses behind the scenes.
Rhone said uncertainty is simply part of the job.
“The business is changing with new technology that we read about every day,” Rhone explained. “The way content is produced, how data is analyzed and how all that is consumed … all of our businesses are changing so, being a little uncertain in this business is a great characteristic.”
Humble beginnings, strong work ethic
Growing up in Normandy and Pine Lawn, Rhone was the son of a Bi-State bus driver and a city school district employee. In a 2022 interview with Ladue News, he spoke to the unlikelihood of his success.
“That’s what makes this country great, because only in America could a guy from Normandy High with humble beginnings — like most folks — make it,” Rhone said. “But if you work hard and get an education, the world can open up for you.”
Entrepreneurial friend James E. (Jimmy) Williams Jr., the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2024 Person of the Year and owner of 26 McDonald’s franchises in the Metro East and St. Louis areas, said Rhone’s work ethic has always stood out.
“Eric works like someone who knows where he came from. There’s no entitlement in him. Just preparation, consistency and accountability — every single day,” Williams said. “He grew up with parents who modeled dignity, reliability and the quiet power of showing up every day. No Hollywood shortcuts. No inherited advantages. Just faith, work ethic and an unshakable belief that preparation creates opportunity.”
Partnership with Cedric the Entertainer
Rhone’s biggest opportunity came through friendship.
In 1983, he met Cedric Kyles during their freshman year at Southeast Missouri State University. Their bond held after graduation, when both returned to St. Louis. They also shared an interest in entertainment. Kyles, now widely known as Cedric the Entertainer, was a budding comic. Rhone was business-savvy enough to help him land bookings at local clubs.
“We started doing little shows at places like Hunters, Sanford’s and other various clubs around at that time,” Rhone recalled. “Back then, we wore many hats, doing whatever it took to put those shows on — selling tickets, working the doors, seating people — everything.”
Both kept their day jobs. Rhone worked in administration at Monsanto. Kyles worked at State Farm as a claims adjuster.
Then came the breakthrough in the early 1990s. Cedric landed a spot on Russell Simmons’ HBO “Def Comedy Jam,” a show credited with launching the careers of numerous Black comedians, including Dave Chappelle, Bernie Mac, D.L. Hughley, Steve Harvey and Chris Tucker. Appearances on “It’s Showtime at the Apollo” in 1992 and BET’s “ComicView” in 1994 pushed the duo to a turning point.
“We knew it was time to decide if we would leave our corporate jobs and really commit to entertainment,” Rhone told Town & Country magazine in 2023. “We quit our jobs on the same day, we put our clothes in UPS boxes, shipped them to Los Angeles, and the rest you might say was history.”
Building a career across platforms
That nearly 40-year history includes Rhone navigating Cedric’s career across multiple platforms and formats — television commercials, sporting events, comedy specials and films such as “Barbershop,” “The Soul Man” and “The Honeymooners.” Cedric has also starred in projects that included “Cedric the Entertainer Presents,” game shows such as “It’s Worth What?” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and sitcoms including “The Steve Harvey Show” and CBS’ “The Neighborhood.”
One of Rhone’s most significant business milestones came behind the scenes with “The Original Kings of Comedy.” Rhone personally negotiated the deal, ensuring the comedians received millions of dollars more than originally structured. The film went on to become one of the highest-grossing comedy films of all time — a defining moment that cemented his reputation as a trusted advocate and strategist for talent.
On the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, Rhone produced “13 Days in Ferguson,” a CBS primetime special examining the protests and unrest, featuring Cedric and Capt. Ron Johnson.
Along the way, Rhone’s work has placed him in rooms with celebrities ranging from George Clooney, Bryan Cranston and Lucy Liu to Martin Lawrence, Mike Tyson and the late James Earl Jones.
Despite the accolades, Rhone said his career has not been without difficulties. The entertainment industry, he noted, mirrors the broader realities of American society — including racism, sexism and other systemic barriers.
“And like most of us,” Rhone said, “I lean on my faith, family, team members, experiences, friends and community to weather any challenges that may present themselves.”
A lot of blood, sweat, tears and uncertainty have gone into Rhone’s climb, but he said “fun” remains a prerequisite.
“Yes, it’s been fun,” Rhone admits, “because our permanent business is comedy — so you have to have fun with it.”
Civic involvement and narrative control
That sense of responsibility extends beyond entertainment. Rhone has served on the boards of several nonprofits and civic organizations, including the now-defunct St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, the Missouri Tourism Commission and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.
In a 2023 interview with Mike Claiborne in Town&Style magazine, Rhone said bringing opportunities to people is the most rewarding part of his work.
“There are so many people who want to be a part of this business, whether it’s in front of or behind the camera,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to help people pursue their dreams.”
Rhone said serving on boards and remaining active in the community is essential for anyone who has achieved success or influence.
“It’s not only important that our community benefits from our tax dollars,” Rhone said. “It’s also important that we control our own narratives. Controlling our own narrative for this generation and future generations is critical. Whomever controls the narrative controls reality.”
Williams said Rhone’s rise was no accident.
“While his friend Cedric was refining his comedic voice, Rhone was studying contracts, negotiating opportunities and building a long-term vision,” Williams said. “In an industry known for spectacle, Eric remains something far more powerful: steady, principled and deeply rooted.
“His story is not just about making it — but about making it matter.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.