Kevin James

Comic actor Kevin James first enjoyed critic-proof success as the lead in long-running sitcom "The King of Queens" (CBS, 1998-2007) before showing up in various Adam Sandler productions including "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" (2007), "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" (2009) and "Grown Ups" (2010).

Born in Mineola, NY in 1965. Kevin James was a keen sportsman in his teenage years, beating friend and future WWF star Mick Foley to pole position on his high school's wrestling team and then playing halfback at the State University of New York at Cortland's varsity football team. But after a back injury put paid to his sporting ambitions, James switched his attention to comedy, becoming a regular on the New York stand-up circuit.

He first appeared on screen showcasing his improv skills on "The All-New Candid Camera" (Syndication, 1991-92) and three years later was appointed the announcer of beach-themed game show "Sandblast" (MTV, 1994-96). After relocating to Los Angeles, James enjoyed several guest appearances on "Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS, 1996-2005), firstly as Ray's friend Kevin and then as parcel delivery guy Doug.

James reprised the latter character in his very own sitcom, "The King of Queens" (CBS, 1998-2007), starring alongside Leah Remini across nine seasons, receiving an Emmy nomination for his performance in the process. James reminded audiences of his stand-up talents with special "Sweat the Small Stuff" (Comedy Central, 2001) before voicing puppet master Mangiafuoco in Roberto Benigni's much-maligned "Pinocchio" (2002) and cameoing as a factory worker in "50 First Dates" (2004).

However, James' film career was truly kickstarted when he was coached by Will Smith's date doctor in rom-com "Hitch" (2005). Shortly after, he appeared alongside former co-star Ray Romano in "Grilled" (2006), a direct-to-DVD comedy about two door-to-door salesman who become embroiled in the underworld, voiced Police Officer Landers and laid-back cow Otis in animated hits "Monster House" (2006) and "Barnyard" (2006), respectively, and starred alongside Adam Sandler as two friends who pretend to be lovers for tax purposes in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" (2007).

James proved he could be a box-office draw entirely by himself when he assumed the role of Segway-riding mall patrolman in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" (2009), a critically-mauled comedy which nevertheless grossed $219 million worldwide. After sharing the screen with Sandler once again in hangout comedy "Grown Ups" (2010), James hosted the 2010 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, took top billing in family caper "Zookeeper" (2011) and appeared alongside Vince Vaughn in Ron Howard's misjudged relationship dramedy "The Dilemma" (2011).

James then played a biology teacher-turned-MMA fighter in "Here Comes the Boom" (2012) and voiced Frankenstein in another animated success, "Hotel Transylvania" (2012), later returning for its 2015 and 2018 sequels as well as second helpings of "Paul Blart" and "Grown-Ups." Following a rare detour into dramatic territory in widely panned faith-based WWII tale "Little Boy" (2015), James continued his affiliation with Sandler, playing the President of the United States in sci-fi comedy "Pixels" (2015), a novelist who becomes immersed in the espionage world in "True Memoirs of an International Assassin" (2016) and an aspiring ventriloquist in "Sandy Wexler" (2017).

By this point, James had also returned to the small screen to star as recently retired police officer Kevin Gable in the sitcom "Kevin Can Wait" (CBS, 2016-18) and was later given his second stand-up special, "Never Don't Give Up" (Netflix, 2018).