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Kevin James is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer celebrated for his everyman humor and physical comedy. He gained nationwide recognition for portraying Doug Heffernan on CBS’s sitcom The King of Queens (1998–2007), a role that earned him an Emmy nomination and made him a household name in comedy. His television achievements catalyzed his move to Hollywood, where he became synonymous with family-friendly, lighthearted films.
After breaking through in sitcoms, Kevin James moved into major films, often collaborating with Adam Sandler on titles like Grown Ups, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and the animated Hotel Transylvania series, voicing characters. Though famed for comedy, he has tackled dramatic roles, displaying greater range. In the 2020s, James continues to work in stand-up, film, and TV, maintaining a strong influence in American comedy.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Kevin George Knipfing
- Stage Name: Kevin James
- Born: April 26, 1965
- Age: 61 years old
- Birthplace: Mineola, New York, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer
- Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)
- Parents: Janet Klein and Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr.
- Siblings: Gary Knipfing and Leslie Knipfing
- Spouse: Steffiana de la Cruz (M. 2004)
- Children: Sienna-Marie James, Shea Joelle James, Sistine Sabella James, Kannon Valentine James
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $100 million USD
Early Life and Education
Kevin James, born Kevin George Knipfing in Mineola, New York, is the son of Janet Klein (office worker) and Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr. (insurance agency owner). Of German descent, he was raised in a working-class family in Stony Brook, Long Island, with his elder brother, Gary (now a comedian/actor known as Gary Valentine), and his sister, Leslie.
James was passionate about sports, playing fullback and wrestling at Ward Melville High School, where he ranked above future WWE star Mick Foley until a back injury ended his season. He attended SUNY Cortland to study sports management and played football, but left before graduating to pursue comedy—motivated by improv with his brother and stand-up starting in 1989.
Career
James launched his career in the late 1980s doing stand-up in Long Island clubs, adopting his stage name after a favorite teacher. Early appearances included The New Candid Camera (1991), MTV’s SandBlast (announcer), and Star Search. Appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Just for Laughs (1996) led to recurring roles on Everybody Loves Raymond as Doug, the delivery guy. His major break came as Doug Heffernan on The King of Queens (1998–2007), which confirmed his status as a sitcom star.
James moved to film with Hitch (2005, opposite Will Smith) and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007), then starred in Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009, a box-office hit). Notable Adam Sandler pairings followed: Grown Ups (2010), Grown Ups 2 (2013), and Pixels (2015). He voiced characters in Monster House (2006), Barnyard (2006), and as Frankenstein in Hotel Transylvania (2012–2018).
His earlier credits include Zookeeper (2011, which he wrote and produced), Here Comes the Boom (2012), and dramatic roles in The Dilemma (2011), Little Boy (2015), and Becky (2020). He later led the sitcoms Kevin Can Wait (2016–2018) and The Crew (Netflix, 2021). Most recently, his projects include Home Team (2022, as Sean Payton), Guns Up, Playdate (2025), Solo Mio (2026), and stand-up specials such as Never Don’t Give Up (2018) and Irregardless (2024).
Awards and Nominations
- Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (The King of Queens, 2006).
- People’s Choice Award nomination for Favorite TV Actor (Kevin Can Wait, 2017).
- Teen Choice Award nominations (various, including for Grown Ups and Paul Blart films).
- Golden Raspberry Award nominations (for films like Grown Ups 2 and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2).
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: @kevinjamesofficial
- Twitter/X Handle: @KevinJames
- Facebook: Kevin James (official page)
Personal Life
Kevin James is known as a devoted family man who values privacy despite a public career. He met Filipina-American model and actress Steffiana de la Cruz on a blind date in 2001, and the two formed a strong connection. They moved in together soon after and married on June 19, 2004, in Dana Point, California. Their long-term partnership is grounded in family and faith.
They have four children: Sienna-Marie (born 2005), Shea Joelle (born 2007), Sistine Sabella (born 2015), and Kannon Valentine (born 2011). The family lives in California, where James actively practices Catholicism and keeps a low public profile. He credits his experiences as a husband and father for grounding his comedic work and helping him connect with life outside Hollywood.
Filmography
- Hitch (2005, as Lance)
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007, as Larry Valentine)
- Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009, as Paul Blart)
- Grown Ups (2010, as Eric Lamonsoff)
- Zookeeper (2011, as Griffin Keyes)
- Here Comes the Boom (2012, as Scott Voss)
- Grown Ups 2 (2013, as Eric Lamonsoff)
- Pixels (2015, as President Cooper)
- Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015, as Paul Blart)
- Home Team (2022, as Sean Payton)
- Becky (2020, dramatic role)
Television Series
- The King of Queens (1998–2007, as Doug Heffernan, lead)
- Kevin Can Wait (2016–2018, as Kevin Gable, lead)
- The Crew (Netflix, 2021, lead)
Voice Roles
- Monster House (2006)
- Barnyard (2006)
- Hotel Transylvania franchise (2012–2018, as Frankenstein)
Stand-up Specials
- Sweat the Small Stuff (2001)
- Never Don’t Give Up (2018, Netflix)
- Irregardless (2024, Prime Video)
Net Worth
Kevin James is an American comedian and actor with an estimated net worth of $100 million USD. His income derives mainly from high per-episode earnings on The King of Queens (exceeding $300,000 in later seasons), blockbuster films (Paul Blart: Mall Cop grossed over $219 million), Adam Sandler collaborations, Netflix and Prime Video specials, production credits, royalties, stand-up tours, and investments.
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