Leah Remini's Full Biography
Leah Remini is a multi-talented actress, producer, author, and activist know for not only her sitcom roles, but her exposure of Scientology.
She’s written a book about her experience being raised in, leaving, and life after, scientology, and produced a documentary series for A&E taking viewers inside the experience.
She’s also performed in movies, and done a stint as talk show host.
Remini’s breakthrough role was almost her first role – as Charlie Briscoe in a few episodes of the sitcom “Who’s The Boss?” Prior to that, she had made a single appearance on “Head of the Class.”
However, those two “Who’s The Boss” episodes spiraled into a spin-off, “Living Dolls,” and from there, Remini scooped up role after role, eventually also moving into producing, and into releasing her own story.
Early Life And Education
Leah Marie Remini was born on June 15, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in a working-class neighborhood, with her parents, Vicki Marshall and George Remini. Her father owned a company that did asbestos removal.
When she was 8, her mother joined the Church of Scientology. When she was 13, her mother enrolled her in the Sea Organization, a paramilitary formation within Scientology, where she was ordered to work for her room and board. However, within a year her mother changed her mind and withdrew her.
That doesn’t mean they left the religion though – they continued to work to afford scientology courses, and to pay off the ‘debt’ that the organization imposes on its adherents.
Career
1980s
In 1988, teenaged Leah made her first television appearance, on an episode of “Head Of The Class.”
She followed it up with two appearances on “Who’s The Boss” in 1989.
This led to a spin-off, starring Remini as Charlie Brisco, a teenager who joins a modeling agency, in “Living Dolls.”
1990s
Remini went on to make single appearances on several shows before landing recurring roles on “The Man In The Family,” and “Saved By The Bell.:
She continued making guest appearances on shows including “Blossom,” “Cheers,” and “Friends.”
She also made her first appearances in movies, including “Glory Daze” and “Star Witness.”
In 1997, she landed another starring role, as Terry Reynolds in “Fired Up.”
That show ran for two seasons, and in the next year, she grabbed her longest-running role yet, as Carrie Hefferman in “King Of Queens.”
2000s
Remini would continue on “The King Of Queens” through its end in 2007.
She also involved herself in other projects, joining Kirstie Alley for an episode of “Fat Actress,” appearing in a few tv movies, and even trying out voice acting on animated movies, including voicing Vixen in “Hooves Of Fire.”
2010s
Remini continued making television and movie appearances, including voicing a “Phineas & Ferb” character and starring in the tv series “The Exes.
In 2014, she produced her own reality series called “Leah Remini: It’s All Relative,” and later had another starring sitcom role in “Kevin Can Wait.”
However, around this point she also left Scientology, and decided it was time to share her own experience with the world.
In 2015, she released a tell-all memoir called “Troublemaker,” exposing life inside Scientology. It became a bestseller, revealing to outsiders the world of an already-controversial and somewhat secretive religion.
After that, she turned her experience into a television documentary series called “ Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” which would run through 2019.
The documentary series received a long list of awards, including multiple Emmys, awards for Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming, a Truth to Power award, and a Gracie for Non-Fiction Entertainment, among others.
2020s
Remini’s latest projects have included production on television series including “Darkness To Light” and “People Puzzler.”
Personal Life
Relationships
Remini is married to Angelo Pagan, and they have a daughter together. Pagan also has 3 sons from previous relationships.
Religion
Raised in Scientology, Remini escaped it in the mid 2010s, and began to expose the inner workings to the world. In its place she embraced the Catholic faith, and has baptised her daughter into it.
Health and Pregnancies
Remini’s pregnancy and the birth of her daughter were documented in her reality series, “Inside Out: Leah Remini.”
Net Worth
Remini has an estimated net worth around $25 million.
Jobs
She continues to act and produce for film and television.
Activism
Remini is involved in support for a long list of causes.
Her primary cause, of course, is exposing Scientology and helping others who are victims of predatory religious groups.
However, she also is involved in support of, donations to, and fundraising for, a long list of charities, including The Aftermath Foundation, which offers support to those leaving Scientology, Domestic Shelters, and Stand Up For Kids.
Others on her list include several charities that help military veterans, deployed service members, and military families, programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals find work and reintegrate into society, medical organizations, and organizations to help children.
She offers a full list on her website.
Controversies
Remini has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. She says that because she spoke out against the organization and about the harm it did her, she has suffered a harassment campaign, defamation, and intimidation.
According to CNN, she released a statement in August 2023 along with the filing of the lawsuit, saying, ““For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have subjected me to what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, significantly impacting my life and career. I believe I am not the first person targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I intend to be the last.”
