Kevin James

Kevin George Knipfing (born April 26, 1965), better known by his screen name Kevin James, is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for playing Doug Heffernan on the hit CBS sitcom The King of Queens (1998–2007) and Kevin Gable in the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait (2016–18).

He is the brother of a co-cast member Gary Valentine.

Early life
Kevin James was born Kevin George Knipfing in Mineola, New York, and was raised from a young age in Stony Brook, both on Long Island. He is the second son of Janet, a homemaker who also worked in a chiropractor's office, and Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr., who owned an insurance agency. He has an elder brother, Gary Joseph Knipfing, known as Gary Valentine, who is also a comedian and actor, and one sister, Leslie Knipfing. Leslie works for James and helped raise money through charity events for retinitis pigmentosa, with which she is afflicted.

James graduated from Ward Melville High School. While there, he reached the number one spot on the wrestling team, just ahead of friend and WWE star Mick Foley. Both wrestled at 145 lb weight class. A season-ending back injury to James resulted in Foley taking over the first string position. James, as well as Foley, went on to study at the State University of New York at Cortland, where he played halfback on the varsity football team until another back injury permanently ended his sporting hopes.

Personal life
On June 19, 2004, James married actress Steffiana de la Cruz in California. They have four children are Sienna Marie (b. 2005), Shea Joelle (b. 2007), Kannon (b. 2011) and Sistine Sabella (b. 2015).

James is the younger brother of comedian Gary Valentine (born Gary Knipfing), who played Doug's cousin Danny Heffernan on King of Queens. Kevin and his siblings were raised in the Catholic faith, which, Kevin stated in 2012, he continues to practice.