![]() As he established himself, he became a frequent late-night talk show guest, and was eventually invited to appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. James spent roughly 10 years refining and perfecting his act, and eventually transitioned to performing at venues in nearby New York City. ![]() To make ends meet, James worked at a local warehouse. His official comedy debut was a raging success, and he soon became a regular presence on the Long Island club circuit, where he befriended fellow up-and-comer Ray Romano. Minervini offered James a five-minute stand-up slot at the comedy club, and the aspiring comedian lept at the opportunity. At the club, he also forged a long-lasting friendship with actor and comic Mookie Barker.ĭuring his time with the troupe, he developed a friendship with club owner Richie Minervini and also adopted the stage name Kevin James as an homage to a favorite teacher. Instead, he spent time with his brother, Gary Valentine, whose improv group performed regularly at Long Island's now-defunct East Side Comedy Club in Huntington Station. Based on the strength of the audience's response and his burgeoning love of comedy, he chose not to return to college. James won the part and thrived in the role. Foray into ComedyĪt Cortland, a public speaking course awakened James's love of the stage, and while back home on Long Island, he auditioned for a comedic part in a Shoreham-Wading River Community Theater production. After graduating in 1983, he continued his football career at SUNY Cortland, where he majored in sports management. A sports fanatic and talented athlete, James excelled as a tailback on his football team. The Knipfing family relocated to Stony Brook in Long Island, New York, where James attended Ward Melville High School. Early LifeĪctor and comedian Kevin James was born Kevin George Knipfing on April 26, 1965, in Mineola, New York, the son of Janet and Joseph Valentine Knipfing. James later starred in such films as Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Here Comes the Boom, and returned to TV in 2016 with Kevin Can Wait. He first appeared as Doug Heffernan on The King of Queens in 1998, a role that would launch him to fame through the show's conclusion in 2007. He also found time for the stand-up tour that yielded Kevin James: Never Don't Give Up, a Netflix comedy special released in 2018.Born in 1965 in Mineola, New York, Kevin James pursued a burgeoning career in comedy while still in college. He also remained a favorite of fellow comedians like Adam Sandler, his collaborator on the box-office hits I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) and Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009).Ī sitcom in which James honored his Long Island roots, Kevin Can Wait became another television success for the comedian during its two-season run on CBS. The 2001 release of his first stand-up special Kevin James: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff proved that his TV success had done nothing to dull his wry take on life or his skills as a physical comedian. After its premiere in 1998, The King of Queens became one of television's top-rated comedies. Viewers of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien all got an early glimpse of his talents before his guest roles on friend Ray Romano's CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond led to his own show. In 2016, he returned to television to headline another hit sitcom, Kevin Can Wait, before bringing his career full circle with the live performances that led to Kevin James: Never Don't Give Up.īorn and bred in Long Island, Kevin James made his stand-up debut in 1989 before going on to score a breakthrough at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal in 1996. His further collaborations with his friend Adam Sandler include the 2017 Netflix feature Sandy Wexler and the Hotel Transylvania franchise. James also established himself as a major box-office draw thanks to such hits as I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and Paul Blart: Mall Cop. In the meantime the comedian and actor achieved success in TV shows and Hollywood movies, especially as the star of The King of Queens, the CBS sitcom that made the most of the easygoing charm and wry take on everyday hassles he demonstrated as a stand-up. The Netflix special was the first full-fledged showcase of James' stand-up talents since 2001's Sweat the Small Stuff. for his most extensive tour since receiving wide acclaim for 2018's Kevin James: Never Don't Give Up. One of America's favorite funnymen, Kevin James returns to venues across the U.S.
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