Kevin James Biography
Kevin was born April 26, 1965 to Janet and Joseph Valentine Knipfing. He attended Cortland University where he played fullback on the football team while majoring in sports management. He realized after 3 years that this wasn't the path for him. After returning home, he decided to go back home and to break up the monotony of the summer, he joined a community theater. During a play in which he had a comedic role, he so enjoyed the crowd reaction, that he joined his brother's (comedian
Gary Valentine) improv group. He began going to clubs with Gary and realized he, too, had the knack for comedy. He has performed standup up for about 11 years. It was on the comedy circuit that he met
Ray Romano. While Ray was getting a big break with his own sitcom, Kevin was getting recognition on
Star Search. After appearing on
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, his big break came at the 1996 "Just for Laughs" Montreal Comedy Festival. Afterward he landed a recurring role on Ray's sitcom,
Everybody Loves Raymond. He has since received his own sitcom
The King of Queens.
Salary
The King of Queens (1998): $500,000 an episode for the 2006-2007 final season.
Trivia

April 2000 - lives in an L.A. bachelor pad with his brother,
Gary Valentine, who is also a stand-up comedian.

He was raised in Stony Brook, NY and graduated from Ward Melville High School (Long Island, New York) in 1983. One of his wrestling teammates at Ward Melville High School was future WWE star and author
Mick Foley ("Mankind"). He also attended Cortland University with
Mick Foley.

His big break came in 1996 when he won at the "Just for Laughs" Montreal Comedy Festival.

In June 1999 and 2000, he hosted the Florida Sports Awards, the official sports award show for the state of Florida, in Jacksonville, Fla. This event raises funds for the Otis F. Smith Foundation.

He met his wife on a blind date arranged by his interior decorator.

19 June 2004 - He married his longtime girlfriend, model
Steffiana De La Cruz, before 180 friends - including
Ray Romano - and family members in Dana Point, California.

Is a New York Jets and a New York Mets fan.

His wife, Steffiana gave birth to their first child, Sienna-Marie on Friday September 30, 2005.

Is an avid golfer and an avid fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Attended Cortland University, along with former wrestler and current best selling author
Mick Foley (whom he also attended high school with).

His now-wife
Steffiana De La Cruz appears in 4 episodes of his sitcom
The King of Queens (in small roles).

Daughter, Sienna-Marie.

One of his teammates on the wrestling team at Ward Melville High School was future WWE star and author
Mick Foley.

Born to Janet and Joseph Valentine Knipfing.

Kevin and Steffiana became the parents of a second girl, Shea Joelle James, on June 14, 2007 in Los Angeles.
Source provided by imdb (Copyright) - The Internet Movie Database.