American actor and comedian Ray Romano became widely famous for his role in the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. Known for creating a humorous and insightful portrayal of a father navigating the everyday challenges of family life, he won the hearts of many Americans and earned devoted fans as well as critical acclaim for his wit and talent. Read on for more about this comedy genius on queenski.com.
Early Years
Raymond Albert Romano was born on December 21, 1957, in Queens, New York, to an engineer and real estate agent father and a piano teacher mother. He is of Italian descent. Raised in an atmosphere of lighthearted family humor, he grew up in a setting that would later become the trademark of his comedy.
Romano briefly studied accounting at Queens College. However, during his college years, he started performing in New York’s comedy clubs. In 1987, Romano turned to stand-up comedy full-time, gaining attention after winning a citywide comedy competition in 1989. A year later, Romano made his first national television appearance on MTV’s 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour.
Acting Career
Romano’s big break came in 1995 after appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman, the late-night CBS talk show hosted by television journalist David Letterman. The host was so impressed with Romano’s talent that he asked his production company to create a sitcom for him, which became Everybody Loves Raymond. The first episode of the sitcom aired in 1996 and quickly became one of the most popular shows on American television.
The storyline centers around a young couple who could have an idyllic life if they lived far from their relatives. Every day, Raymond Barone’s parents visit their son’s home, offering unsolicited advice, and the situation is further complicated by Raymond’s older brother, who lives nearby and struggles with Raymond’s success.
Romano took on the role of Raymond—a smart young man who works for a large company and is on a successful career path. He has a wonderful family—his charming wife, Debra, and three children: daughter Ally and twin sons Michael and Geoffrey. They live happily and in harmony, but only until his parents or brother visit. For this role, Romano won the 2002 Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. Everybody Loves Raymond continued for nine successful seasons.
From 2009 to 2011, Romano starred in and co-produced the comedy-drama series Men of a Certain Age, a show about three friends—Joe, Owen, and Terry—facing the challenges of middle age. Romano played Joe, a divorced father of two who owns a party supplies store and struggles with a gambling addiction.
In the 2004 dark comedy Eulogy, Romano played Skip Collins, a lawyer raising teenage children. The film follows three generations of a family who gather for their grandfather’s funeral, revealing a series of family secrets and hidden relationships. That same year, he also appeared in the political satire Welcome to Mooseport, a movie that humorously depicts small-town politics. Romano played hardware store owner Harold “Handy” Harrison, who competes against former U.S. President Monroe Cole for the role of mayor in Mooseport, only to learn that political machinations are out of place in a friendly small town.
In 2014, Romano played tabloid reporter Jerry Cardozo in the romantic crime comedy Rob the Mob, and in 2017, he appeared in the romantic comedy-drama The Big Sick, playing Terry Gardner, the father of Emily Gardner. The story follows a Pakistani comedian, Kumail Nanjiani, and his graduate-student girlfriend Emily, who fight to maintain their love amidst a clash of cultures.
In 2016, Romano joined HBO’s Vinyl, a Martin Scorsese-directed series about the New York music scene of the 1970s, playing music executive Zak Yankovich. In 2017, he appeared in Get Shorty, a series following Miles Daly, a hitman who tries to leave his life of crime behind and become a film producer. Romano played Rick Moreweather, a struggling film producer who becomes Miles’s guide to Hollywood.
In 2019, Romano launched Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner on Netflix and starred in the dramedy Paddleton, a film about two neighbors who embark on an unexpectedly emotional journey after one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Romano also joined the cast of Martin Scorsese’s mafia epic The Irishman (2019), playing lawyer Bill Bufalino. The movie follows Frank Sheeran, a hitman for a mafia group, who reflects on his violent past as he grows older.
Romano has also lent his voice to animated films, notably voicing Manny the woolly mammoth in Ice Age, a character who helps return a human child to its father.
Personal Life
In 1987, Romano married actress and cinematographer Anna Scarpulla. The couple, who met while working at a bank, has four children together. The Romano family has made several guest appearances on various shows, including Everybody Loves Raymond. In 2010, Anna overcame early-stage breast cancer, and Romano publicly shared her story two years later to encourage others. Their enduring marriage reflects his commitment and strong moral values.
5 Interesting Facts
- For his contributions to the entertainment industry, Ray Romano earned a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Romano has appeared as a guest on several popular podcasts, including WTF with Marc Maron, where he shared personal stories and humorous insights.
- He starred in a Super Bowl commercial, showcasing his wide appeal and humor.
- Known for his self-deprecating humor, Romano often jokes about his own flaws and quirks, connecting with audiences on a personal level.
- A golf enthusiast, Romano is frequently spotted at golf tournaments, indulging in his favorite sport.