Kevin James
Kevin James is an American comedian and Emmy Award-nominated actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of lead character Doug Heffernan on the television sitcom The King of Queens.
James was born Kevin George Knipfing in Mineola, New York to Janet Knipfing, who worked in a chiropractor's office, and Joseph Valentine Knipfing, who owned an insurance company. He was raised in the "S-Section" of Stony Brook, New York and graduated from Ward Melville High School in 1983, where one of his teammates on the wrestling team was professional wrestler Mick Foley. James has two siblings, Gary Joseph Knipfing, known as Gary Valentine, also a comedian, and Leslie Knipfing. Leslie Knipfing works for James, helping raise money through charity events for retinitis pigmentosa, with which she is afflicted, while Gary Valentine plays his cousin, Danny, on The King of Queens. James was a student at, but did not graduate from, the State University of New York at Cortland.
James began doing stand-up comedy, gaining popularity through numerous appearances on various talk shows, including Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Dennis Miller Live, The Late Late Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Live with Regis and Kelly. James was #89 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians. James has also done his stand-up routine on Just for Laughs, an annual comedy festival in Montreal.
In 2001, James did his own stand up special called Kevin James: Sweat the Small Stuff for Comedy Central. A close friend of Ray Romano, James guest-starred on a few episodes of the hit television show Everybody Loves Raymond. These appearances led to the development of his own sitcom, The King of Queens that debuted on September 21, 1998 and ended on May 14, 2007 with a one-hour series finale. James was cast as the lead character, Doug Heffernan. Leah Remini was cast as his sharp-tongued wife Carrie while Jerry Stiller was cast in the supporting role of Carrie's semi-psychotic father, Arthur Spooner, who lives in the Heffernans' basement. In 2006, Kevin James received his first Emmy Award nomination, as Outstanding Lead Actor in a television series. He has also appeared as a musical guest on "Just for Laughs".
James made his film debut in the 2005 romantic comedy, Hitch, alongside Will Smith and Eva Mendes. The film grossed more than $179 million in the United States.
In 2006, James starred with old friend Ray Romano in the comedy Grilled and voiced a character in the animated hit Barnyard. James also voiced a character in the 2006 movie Monster House. In 2007, he starred opposite Adam Sandler in the comedy film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. He is currently filming You Don't Mess with the Zohan in which Sandler also stars. He also had a small role as a factory worker in 50 First Dates.
James married model Steffiana de la Cruz on June 19 2004, after meeting her on a blind date. They have two daughters, Sienna-Marie, born September 30, 2005 and Shea Joelle, born on June 14, 2007.