Kevin Hart’s Lil Kev—BET’s first animated series—is inspired by his childhood in 1990s North Philly. The show highlights Hart’s resilience and how his mother’s tough love shaped the man he is today. Given Hart’s stature now, it’s no surprise he enlisted comedy royalty to voice the characters, including Wanda Sykes, Cree Summer, and Deon Cole.

Let’s start with Wanda Sykes.

Sykes voices Kevin’s no-nonsense, devout mother, a hardworking ER nurse who juggles night shifts, parenting, and keeping the family afloat. With a long resume that includes Pootie Tang, Ice Age: Collision Course, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Black-ish, and numerous stand-up specials, Sykes brings both experience and depth to the role.

Somewhere along the way, she and Hart became friends—and she evolved into a mentor. When Hart faced backlash over resurfaced homophobic jokes that led to him stepping down from hosting the 2018 Oscars, Sykes offered critical guidance.

In a 2023 interview on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper, Hart revealed what she told him:

“There are people being hurt today because of comments like the ones you made then. And there are people saying it’s okay to make those comments now because of what you did then.”

Hart said she framed it in a way he couldn’t ignore and that her perspective helped him grow from that dark moment.

So it makes perfect sense that Sykes voices his mother in Lil Kev. Her trademark wit and unmistakable voice are essential to capturing the grit, humor, and heart (pun intended) of a working-class mom raising sons in a tough city.

Sykes has a knack for perspective. Here’s another moment—this time offering sharp, hilarious commentary to disheartened young voters after an election:

Lil Kev is now streaming on BET+.