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Patricia Heaton
PatriciaHeaton2021.png
Heaton in 2021
Born
Patricia Helen Heaton

(1958-03-04) March 4, 1958 (age 67)
Education Ohio State University (BA)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active 1987–present
Television
Political party
  • Republican (before 2021)
  • Independent (2021–present)
Spouse(s)
Constantine Yankoglu
(m. 1984; div. 1987)

David Hunt
(m. 1990)
Children 4
Parent(s)
  • Chuck Heaton (father)

Patricia Helen Heaton (born March 4, 1958) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in popular TV shows like Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle. She has won several awards for her acting, including two Emmy Awards.

Early Life

Patricia Heaton was born in Bay Village, Ohio. Her father, Chuck Heaton, was a sportswriter. When Patricia was 12, her mother passed away. Patricia was the fourth of five children and was raised in the Catholic faith.

She has three sisters, Sharon (who is a nun), Alice, and Frances. Her brother, Michael, who was also a writer, passed away in September 2022.

Career

Starting Her Acting Journey (1987–1995)

Patricia Heaton studied drama at Ohio State University and later moved to New York City to continue her acting training. She made her first appearance on Broadway in 1987. With some fellow students, she helped create an acting group called Stage Three.

In 1989, Patricia auditioned for a role on the famous TV show Seinfeld. Her acting group brought a show to Los Angeles, where a casting director noticed her. She was then cast in the ABC drama series Thirtysomething, appearing in six episodes as a doctor. She also had guest roles in other TV shows like Alien Nation and Matlock.

PatriciaHeatonHWOFMay2012
Patricia Heaton at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in May 2012.

In 1992, Patricia Heaton appeared in her first major movies: Memoirs of an Invisible Man and the family comedy Beethoven. She then starred in a few TV sitcoms that didn't last very long, including Room for Two (1992–1993), Someone Like Me (1994), and Women of the House (1995).

Becoming a TV Star: Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle (1996–2018)

In 1996, Patricia Heaton got the role of Debra Barone in the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, starring alongside Ray Romano. This show became very popular and was often ranked among the top ten TV shows. It also won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series.

For her role as Debra, Patricia Heaton was nominated seven times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She won this award twice, in 2000 and 2001. She was the first actor from the show to win an Emmy. She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award with the rest of the cast in 2003. Everybody Loves Raymond finished in 2005 after nine successful seasons.

While working on Everybody Loves Raymond, Patricia Heaton also starred in several TV movies. These included Miracle in the Woods (1997), the Christmas drama A Town Without Christmas (2001), and The Goodbye Girl (2004). She also starred in and produced the romantic comedy-drama The Engagement Ring in 2005.

Patricia Heaton also appeared in commercials for grocery stores like Albertsons and for Pantene hair products. She helped produce a documentary called The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania (2005), which was directed by her husband, David Hunt. She was also a producer for the historical drama Amazing Grace (2006).

In 2006, she played Ambassador Barbara Bodine in the miniseries The Path to 9/11, which was about the events leading up to September 11, 2001. She also starred in a TV pilot about a mother who joins the PTA. In 2007, Patricia Heaton returned to the stage in the play The Scene in New York City. From 2007 to 2008, she starred with Kelsey Grammer in the Fox comedy series Back to You. In 2008, she starred in the movie Front of the Class, which was based on the true story of a mother raising a son with Tourette syndrome.

In 2009, Patricia Heaton began her role as Frankie Heck in the ABC comedy series The Middle. This show was very popular with critics and ran for nine seasons, with 215 episodes. She was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011. In May 2012, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her production company is called FourBoys Entertainment. She also starred in and produced the 2014 comedy film Moms' Night Out.

From 2015 to 2016, Patricia Heaton hosted her own cooking show on Food Network called Patricia Heaton Parties. The show featured recipes for parties and tips for entertaining at home. It won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Culinary Program in 2016. She also lent her voice to animated films like The Star (2017) and Smallfoot (2018).

Recent Projects (2019–Present)

In 2019, Patricia Heaton returned to TV in the CBS comedy series Carol's Second Act, where she played the main character, Carol Kenney. The show ran for one season. In 2020, she wrote a book titled Your Second Act: Inspiring Stories of Transformation.

It was announced that Patricia Heaton was cast in a role for an upcoming show where she would play the host of a fancy lifestyle show who goes to prison. After two years, she gets out and moves to Tennessee to live with her sister.

In 2022, Patricia Heaton starred with Brian Cox in the drama film Mending the Line, which received good reviews. It was released in a limited number of theaters in June 2023. She also starred in the drama film The Unbreakable Boy. In 2023, she was cast in the main role for the psychological horror-thriller film The Beldham. In 2024, she appeared with Al Pacino in the horror film The Ritual, which was released in 2025. She also had a recurring role in the second season of the Paramount+ series Frasier.

Personal Life

PatriciaHeaton IndyParade2008 crop
Patricia Heaton and family in the Indianapolis 500 Parade, May 2008

Patricia Heaton has been married to English actor and director David Hunt since 1990. They have four sons. As of 2002, they split their time between Los Angeles and Cambridge, England. In 2002, she published her memoir, Motherhood and Hollywood: How to Get a Job Like Mine.

After her first marriage ended, Patricia Heaton returned to practicing her Catholic faith.

Views and Activities

Patricia Heaton's political views have been described as conservative. Until 2021, she was a registered Republican. In 2016, she expressed her disapproval of her party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump. She later said she had "given up politics" after that election, but continued to admire Mitt Romney. Following some national events, she decided to leave the Republican Party and become an independent voter. However, in early 2025, she spoke positively about Donald Trump.

She has also spoken out on international issues, supporting Israel.

Filmography

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Memoirs of an Invisible Man Ellen
Beethoven Brie Wilson
1994 The New Age Anna
1996 Space Jam Woman Fan
2006 Amazing Grace N/A Producer
2014 Moms' Night Out Sondra Also executive producer
2017 The Star Edith (voice)
2018 Smallfoot Mama Bear (voice)
2022 Mending the Line Dr. Burke
2023 Unexpected N/A Producer
2024 The Beldham Sadie
2025 The Unbreakable Boy Marcia
The Ritual Mother Superior
TBA Merv Not yet released 0TBA Post-production
Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television Shows

List of Patricia Heaton television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Alien Nation Amanda Russell Episode: "The Red Room"
1989–1991 Thirtysomething Dr. Silverman Recurring role
1990 Shattered Dreams Older Dotti TV movie
Matlock Ellie Stanford Episode: "The Brothers"
1991 DEA Paula Werner Episode: "The Fat Lady Sings Alone"
1992–1993 Room for Two Jill Kurland Main role
1994 Someone Like Me Jean Stepjak
1995 Women of the House Natalie Hollingsworth
1996 Party of Five Robin Merrin 2 episodes
1996–2005 Everybody Loves Raymond Debra Barone Main role
1997 Miracle in the Woods Wanda Briggs TV movie
1999 The King of Queens Debra Barone Episode: "Dire Strayts"
2001 A Town Without Christmas M.J. Jensen TV movie
2004 The Goodbye Girl Paula McFadden
Danny Phantom Lunch Lady Ghost (voice) Episode: "Mystery Meat"
2005 The Engagement Ring Sara Rosa Anselmi TV movie
2006 Untitled Patricia Heaton Project Janet Daily Pilot
2006 The Path to 9/11 Ambassador Bodine Miniseries
2007–2008 Back to You Kelly Carr Main role
2008 Front of the Class Ellen Cohen TV movie
2009–2018 The Middle Frances “Frankie” Heck Main role
2011 Easy to Assemble Mrs. Hullestaad 3 episodes
2015–2016 Patricia Heaton Parties Herself Host
2019–2020 Carol's Second Act Carol Kenney Main role
2024 Frasier Holly 3 episodes

Awards and Recognitions

Critics Choice Television Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
2011 The Middle Best Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
Christopher Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
2008 Amazing Grace Feature Films Won
Daytime Emmy Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
2016 Patricia Heaton Parties Outstanding Culinary Program (Executive Producer) Won
Outstanding Culinary Host Nominated
Online Film & Television Association
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
2000 Everybody Loves Raymond Best Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2000 Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2001 Best Actress in a Comedy Series
2001 Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2002 Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2003 Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
1999 Everybody Loves Raymond Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2000 Won
2001
2002 Nominated
2003
2004
2005
Satellite Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
2007 Back to You Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
1999 Everybody Loves Raymond Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
2000
2002 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2003 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
2003 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
2004 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2005 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
The Goodbye Girl Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2006 Everybody Loves Raymond Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
TV Guide Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
2001 Everybody Loves Raymond Actress of the Year in a Comedy Series Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
1997 Everybody Loves Raymond Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated
1998
1999 Won
2000
Walk of Fame
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref
2012 N/A Television – 653 Hollywood, Blvd. Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Patricia Heaton para niños

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