Patricia Heaton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patricia Heaton
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![]() Heaton in 2021
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Born |
Patricia Helen Heaton
March 4, 1958 Bay Village, Ohio, U.S.
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Education | Ohio State University (BA) |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1987–present |
Television | |
Political party |
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Spouse(s) |
Constantine Yankoglu
(m. 1984; div. 1987)David Hunt
(m. 1990) |
Children | 4 |
Parent(s) |
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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.
Contents
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.

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
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 |
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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 ![]() |
TBA | Post-production |
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Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Television Shows
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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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 | ||||
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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
In Spanish: Patricia Heaton para niños