While studying acting in New York with drama teacher William Esper, Heaton made her Broadway debut in the gospel musical "Don't Get God Started". She and her fellow students then formed Stage Three, an acting company that produced plays Off-Broadway. They took one production, "The Johnstown Vindicator", to Los Angeles, where Heaton's performance caught the eyes of casting directors. Consequently, Heaton portrayed the producer/daughter in the television series Room for Two. Her additional television credits include a starring role in the series Someone Like Me, a regular role in CBS's Women of the House, and a recurring role on thirtysomething. She also starred in the highly rated CBS television movie Miracle in the Woods, with Della Reese. Her feature film credits include Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Beethoven, The New Age and Space Jam.

For her role in Everybody Loves Raymond, Heaton won an Emmy for Leading Actress in a Comedy Series. She was nominated for a l999 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and won the l998-99 Viewers for Quality Television Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Award.

Heaton was born in Cleveland and lives with her husband, David Hunt, and their four sons in Los Angeles.



Went to St. Raphael's Catholic grade School, Bay Village, Ohio. Her brother, Michael Heaton, writes columns for the Cleveland Plain Dealer under the heading of "Minister of Culture". Graduate of Bay High School class of 1976. Told "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) she was considering adopting a child. She already has four sons (none adopted). All four of her sons appear with her in the latest Jewel commercial when she's at home going over details of a party and her sons are all watching TV and checking off items she lists. [November 2001] Honorary Chair of Feminists for Life - a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, grassroots organization established 30 years ago which opposes domestic violence, child abuse, infanticide, and abortion - the cause to which she was most passionately drawn. Irish-American. Auditioned for the role as Elaine on "Seinfeld" (1990). According to Ray Romano, Patricia won the role of Debra on "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996) because she was the only actress willing to kiss him at the auditions. It actually came down to a draw between her and Jane Sibbett - CBS liked Sibbett, but Romano preferred Patricia, who was much closer to how he pictured Debra, and the producers backed him up. In a 2006 TV Guide/Bravo poll, she was named the TV personality who would make the best real-life housewife with 72% of the vote, far surpassing runner-up Teri Hatcher from "Desperate Housewives" (2004). Edited news film at ABC station Channel 5 (WEWS) in Cleveland, when she was in college as a summer intern in the late 1970s.