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EDEN — Chris Wiles has been vying for audience attention since he was about 5.

“I was the youngest boy out of seven children, so every night in the living room, I was striving to get noticed in a big household,” said the Winston-Salem native and Reidsville resident.

“I would also perform my 'Million Somersaults’ feat — which actually was only about six — across the floor,” Wiles said.

The first impression he did was of Jimmy Carter. Basically, he “just ran around the house yelling 'I’m Jimmy Carter’ and flashing a big Cheshire Cat grin.”

Although he long-since has outgrown his Carter impersonation, Wiles is still hamming it up on stages across the nation and on the high seas.

For two years, he has been working as a stand-up comedian for Carnival Cruise Lines, traveling mostly in the Caribbean Ocean. He is also the house emcee of the Comedy Zone in Greensboro.

On Friday night, Wiles will perform at High Rock Outfitters in Lexington, and on Saturday, he’ll be at The Vault, 100 S. Scales St., Reidsville.

Wiles is married to the former Melanie Paschal, a well-known dance instructor from Eden, and he moved to Reidsville when he married Paschal in 2003.

Since he has been traveling with Carnival Cruise Lines for the past three months, Wiles has been away from his emceeing job. He will return to the stage of the Comedy Zone on Oct. 14 and will continue for the rest of the month.

Wiles said he is fortunate in his career.

“Stand-up comedy in general is a dream job. Any job you can do and get paid to do it is a dream job,” he said.

While attending Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School in Kernersville, Wiles often starred in school productions. He also served as president of the Drama Club and wrote a one-act play performed by his peers. Although he frequently had leads in the school plays, Wiles directed the play he wrote, “Let Justice Be Served” and another play the same night.

During his junior year, Wiles began doing stand-up comedy.

Islands, a teenage club that opened in Winston-Salem, was seeking “actors, jugglers, comedians, etc.”

“I went in cold to audition as an actor,” Wiles said. “I spent about an hour with the owner doing various impressions — mainly a take-off of Billy Crystal’s 'Fernando.’

“The owner said 'You are really funny. Would you like to try stand-up comedy?’ I replied 'Yes. If you are going to put me on stage and pay me, the word is go.’ I actually got paid for my first gig.”

For two nights’ work, Wiles earned $50. He performed three, five-minute bits each night.

“I was hooked,” he said.

Wiles kept performing in talent competitions and would either win them or take second place.

“I had a big break when I was asked to host the Comedy Zone in Greensboro about 18 months after they opened,” he said.

While pursuing his career, Wiles has had “many jobs,” from selling cars to managing a pizza joint.

It was at the front door of The Comedy Zone 12 years ago that Wiles met Paschal, who was with a friend of his. When Wiles went out to meet Paschal, “It was love at first sight,” he said.

The couple has one son, Nathaniel, 4, who loves to watch his father perform. Wiles also has three other children, Kayla, Christopher and Tyler. All four children “are very funny,” their proud father said.

The children also provide “a ton of material.”

Paschal and the children often accompany Wiles on cruises.

In 2007, he was a finalist at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, and throughout his career, he has shared the stage with such acts as Pauly Shore, Norm McDonald and Chris Rock.

“I am enjoying making a living working roughly 10 to 12 days a month,” Wiles said.

Although he has no definite plans for the future, he does have a long-range goal. “I want to just keep making them laugh.”

Reidsville native Ann Fish has lived in Eden since 1979. Contact her at annsomersfish@yahoo.com.