Kevin James facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin James
James in 2011
Born	Kevin George Knipfing (1965-04-26) April 26, 1965 (age 60) Mineola, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Comedian actor screenwriter
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Steffiana de la Cruz ​ (m. 2004)​
Children	4
Relatives	Gary Valentine (brother)

Kevin James (born Kevin George Knipfing on April 26, 1965) is a well-known American comedian and actor. He started his career doing stand-up comedy in clubs. He became famous for playing Doug Heffernan in the TV show The King of Queens. This show ran from 1998 to 2007.

Kevin James has also starred in many popular movies. Some of his most famous films include Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown Ups, and Pixels. He has also lent his voice to animated movies like Hotel Transylvania.

About Kevin James's Early Life

Kevin George Knipfing was born in Mineola, New York, on April 26, 1965. He grew up in Stony Brook, New York. His father worked in insurance, and his mother was an office worker.

Kevin has an older brother, Gary, and a sister, Leslie. His brother Gary also became a comedian and actor, known as Gary Valentine. The family was raised Catholic.

High School and Sports

Kevin James went to Ward Melville High School. He was a very good wrestler there. He was even the top wrestler on his team. His friend, Mick Foley, who later became a famous professional wrestler, was also on the team.

Kevin played football in college at the State University of New York at Cortland. However, he had a back injury that stopped him from playing sports professionally.

Kevin James's Career Journey

Kevin James started his career in comedy and acting in the late 1980s. He has worked in stand-up, television, and movies.

Starting with Stand-Up Comedy

Kevin James began doing stand-up comedy in 1989. His first show was at a club on Long Island. He chose "James" as his stage name to honor a favorite teacher.

He became popular by appearing on many talk shows. These included The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman. Comedy Central even listed him as one of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians.

Kevin James has also released his own stand-up specials. These include Kevin James: Sweat the Small Stuff (2001), Kevin James: Never Don't Give Up (2018) on Netflix, and Kevin James: Irregardless (2024) on Amazon Prime Video.

Television Roles and Success

Kevin James's first TV job was on The New Candid Camera in 1991. He used his comedy skills to play jokes on people. He also appeared on the MTV sports game show SandBlast.

Later, he moved to Los Angeles and became friends with Ray Romano. He appeared as a guest on Romano's TV show, Everybody Loves Raymond. These appearances helped him get his own show.

Starring in The King of Queens

Kevin James became very famous for his show The King of Queens. It aired on CBS from 1998 to 2007. In the show, he played Doug Heffernan, a parcel delivery man.

Doug was married to Carrie (Leah Remini). Carrie's funny and sometimes strange father, Arthur (Jerry Stiller), lived with them. For his role, Kevin James was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2006.

Kevin James also starred in the sitcom Kevin Can Wait from 2016 to 2018. In 2021, he had a new show on Netflix called The Crew. He is also set to play golfer John Daly in an upcoming TV series.

Big Screen Film Appearances

James on the set of Paul Blart: Mall Cop in 2008

Kevin James made his first movie appearance in 50 First Dates in 2004. His first starring role was in the romantic comedy Hitch (2005), with Will Smith.

He often works with actor Adam Sandler. They have starred together in movies like I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) and Grown Ups (2010). Grown Ups was so popular it had a sequel in 2013.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Voice Acting

One of his most famous movies is Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009). He played the main character, Paul Blart, a mall security guard. This movie was a big hit, earning over $200 million.

Kevin James has also done voice work for animated films. He voiced characters in Monster House and Barnyard (both 2006). He also voiced Frankenstein in the Hotel Transylvania movie series.

In 2020, he took on a dramatic role in the thriller film Becky. In 2022, he played NFL coach Sean Payton in the movie Home Team.

Other Projects and Activities

Kevin James has been the grand marshal for NASCAR races several times. He did this to promote his movies like I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and Grown Ups.

He also has a YouTube channel. He started it in 2017 and began posting more videos in 2020. His channel features short films that are often funny and thoughtful.

Kevin James's Personal Life

James' wife Steffiana de la Cruz in 2011

Kevin James met actress Steffiana de la Cruz on a blind date. They got married on June 19, 2004. They have four children together. The family lives in California.

Kevin James is a big fan of the New York Mets baseball team. He even threw out the first pitch at one of their games in 2024.

He was raised in a Catholic home and continues to be a devout Catholic. In 2019, he hosted a Catholic retreat.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stand-up specials

Awards and Nominations

Kevin James has been nominated for several awards throughout his career.

Teen Choice Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards

Golden Raspberry Awards

People's Choice Awards

See also

In Spanish: Kevin James (actor) para niños