Kevin James (b. 1965)

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Biography

Kevin George Knipfing, known professionally as Kevin James, is an American comedian and actor. James began his career as a stand-up comedian on Long Island in the late 1980s before rising to prominence for playing Doug Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens (1998–2007), for which he received the nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006.

In Their Own Words (4)

When you're big you don't need a reason to sweat. You don't, right? My friends cannot grab a hold of this concept. They come up to me all the time like "Jeez! What have you been doing? What are ya jumpin rope in the attic?!" "Well, I peeled an orange.. about an hour ago. Why, what's up?"

Sweat the Small Stuff (2001) , 2001

This annoyed me: I was on the phone with somebody today tryin to get a phone number from that person and write it down, but they didn't have phone number rhythm and that pissed me off. You know what I'm talkin about? Phone number rhythm. Especially if there's like an area code involved, like 'two one two - bum bum buh - bum buh bum buh!' That is the rhythm I think we're all familiar with. This guy had no clue! I was like "Okay, Hank. Gimme the number." He's like "Alright. It's two one two nine - fifteen eight eleven six [mumbling incoherently] fou.. tw.. five.. eight.. seven.. two." "Did you throw in your zip code? Cause I got a lot of extra numbers over here. I have extra. I can almost start a new number! What do ya got?! Start again from the top!" They really screw you up on the last four numbers. That's where they get ya. "Five five five - six.. teen forty one" "Dude, I already wrote the six! I made the dash too close, I can't shimmy the one in there now! Forget you!"

Sweat The Small Stuff (2001) , 2001

How big are muffins going to get before we all join hands across America? Have you seen them? They're huge. You walk in, "Yeah, I'll take a coffee and... Oh my God! Yeah, I'll take the bean bag chair with raisins. Wooh! Yeah! Alright, can't believe this is fat-free! Hey, you wanna help me out to the trunk of my car? No, leave the Saran Wrap on it I'll use it to cover my pool, this is good."

Sweat the Small Stuff (2001) , 2001

I'm not a gay man, but I will say this: I get it now. I know what all the hype is about.

after filming multiple takes of an on-screen kiss with actor Will Smith in the film Hitch

Timeline

The story of Kevin James, told in moments.

1965 Birth

Born Kevin George Knapp in Mineola, New York. Played fullback on his college football team at SUNY Cortland. Started doing stand-up comedy on Long Island after graduating.

Did playing fullback teach you anything about comedy timing? Was stand-up on Long Island the real education? How did Kevin Knapp become Kevin James?

1998 Event

Created and starred in The King of Queens on CBS. Played a delivery driver from Rego Park. The show ran nine seasons and 207 episodes. His chemistry with Jerry Stiller drove the comedy.

Was Doug Heffernan just you in a delivery truck? Did nine seasons with Jerry Stiller feel like a gift? What made King of Queens work for 207 episodes?

2005 Event

Starred in Hitch with Will Smith. His physical comedy style translated to film. Paul Blart: Mall Cop followed in 2009 and grossed $183 million against a $26 million budget.

Was Paul Blart grossing $183 million vindication for physical comedy? Did Hitch with Will Smith change how Hollywood saw you? Is physical comedy undervalued?

2015 Life

Became a regular in Adam Sandler's Happy Madison ensemble. Appeared in Grown Ups, Pixels, and multiple Netflix films. Critics panned them. Audiences watched anyway.

Does being in Adam Sandler's ensemble feel like home? Do critics panning your films while audiences watch feel familiar? Has the audience ever been wrong about you?