Celebrity Info
Comic actor Kevin James first found widespread success with audiences—critics be damned—starring as the lovable everyman in the long-running CBS sitcom The King of Queens, which aired from 1998 to 2007. And let’s be honest, Kevin James had a knack for making ordinary guys feel extraordinary on screen. Before he became a household name, though, Kevin was deeply involved in sports during his teenage years, growing up in Mineola, NY, where he was born in 1965. He even outperformed his high school classmate and future WWF legend Mick Foley to earn pole position on the wrestling team. Later, Kevin played halfback for the varsity football team at the State University of New York at Cortland.
But life had other plans. After a back injury ended his athletic dreams, Kevin James turned to comedy, diving headfirst into the stand-up scene in New York City. It wasn’t long before he started getting noticed. His early TV appearances included showcasing his improvisational flair on The All-New Candid Camera (Syndicated, 1991–92), and by 1994, Kevin landed the role of announcer on MTV’s beachy game show Sandblast, which ran until 1996.
Relocating to Los Angeles opened new doors. Kevin made several guest appearances on Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS, 1996–2005), first as Ray’s buddy Kevin, then as Doug, the easygoing parcel delivery guy. That character eventually evolved into the lead role in his own series—The King of Queens—where Kevin starred opposite Leah Remini for nine seasons. The show was a ratings hit, and Kevin earned an Emmy nomination, proving he wasn’t just funny—he had real staying power.
Even as his sitcom thrived, Kevin James stayed connected to his stand-up roots. He delivered laughs in his Comedy Central special Sweat the Small Stuff (2001), and took on voice work as Mangiafuoco in Roberto Benigni’s poorly received Pinocchio (2002). He also popped up in small but memorable roles, like the factory worker in Adam Sandler’s 50 First Dates (2004). But things really started heating up for Kevin when he appeared in the romantic comedy Hitch (2005), playing the friend coached by Will Smith’s character—a role that helped launch Kevin into leading man territory at the box office.
From there, Kevin’s film career gained momentum. He reunited with Everybody Loves Raymond co-star Ray Romano in the direct-to-DVD comedy Grilled (2006), lent his voice to both Police Officer Landers in Monster House and the chill cow Otis in Barnyard—both animated hits released in 2006—and then teamed up with Adam Sandler again in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007), playing two firefighters who fake a same-sex relationship for benefits.
Then came Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009), a movie critics didn’t love—but audiences did. Kevin James, as the Segway-riding security guard, proved he could carry a film on his own, with the movie raking in $219 million worldwide. Talk about a turning point.
He continued riding that wave, appearing once more alongside Sandler in the ensemble comedy Grown Ups (2010), hosting the 2010 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, and taking the lead in the family-friendly Zookeeper (2011). That same year, Kevin appeared with Vince Vaughn in Ron Howard’s The Dilemma, a dramedy that missed the mark critically but still showcased Kevin’s versatility.
In 2012, Kevin James showed off a different side—playing a biology teacher who becomes an MMA fighter in Here Comes the Boom. Around the same time, he voiced Frankenstein in the animated hit Hotel Transylvania, a role he’d reprise in the sequels of 2015 and 2018. He also returned to the Paul Blart and Grown Ups franchises for follow-ups, further cementing his place in mainstream comedy.
Kevin briefly stepped outside his comfort zone with the faith-based WWII drama Little Boy (2015), a film that drew criticism but revealed his willingness to try dramatic roles. Still, his true home remained comedy—especially alongside Adam Sandler. The duo teamed up again in Pixels (2015), where Kevin played the President of the United States in a sci-fi comedy, then in True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016), where Kevin starred as a novelist caught in a real spy thriller. He later played an aspiring ventriloquist in Sandy Wexler (2017), another Netflix collaboration with Sandler.
Meanwhile, Kevin returned to television, starring as Kevin Gable, a recently retired police officer, in the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait (2016–18). And in 2018, Netflix released his second stand-up special, Never Don’t Give Up, reminding fans that behind all the blockbuster roles, Kevin James is, at heart, a stand-up comedian who just happens to be really good at making people laugh—on stage, on screen, and pretty much everywhere in between.
When it comes to Kevin James’s film career, there are definitely some standout moments—and a few that didn’t quite hit the mark. One of the highlights, without a doubt, is Monster House from 2006, which remains Kevin James’s highest-rated movie to date. The animated film was praised for its creativity and voice performances, and Kevin James’s contribution added a lot to its appeal. On the other end of the spectrum, The True Memoirs of an International Assassin, released in 2016, ended up being Kevin James’s lowest-rated film. While it had its moments, critics and audiences alike weren’t as impressed. Still, through highs and lows, Kevin James continues to be a recognizable figure in comedy and film.
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