Summary
- "King of Queens" is hailed as one of the best sitcoms thanks to its respectful and adoring relationship between the main characters, unlike some other outdated shows.
- Kevin James, the executive producer of the show, shines with his impeccable timing and physical comedy, reminiscent of "The Honeymooners."
- The cast of "King of Queens" has continued to find success in their careers, with projects ranging from TV series to voice acting, and even big-screen appearances.
Not all sitcoms from the 1980s and 1990s age as equals, with outdated jokes and offensive setups that make the shows unwatchable as culture evolves. King of Queens remains one of the best sitcoms of all-time, with the relationship between Doug (Kevin James) and Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini) being one of mutual adoration and respect, unlike some of its predecessors, like Everybody Loves Raymond or Married... with Children. They have a unique relationship in real life.
James served as executive producer on the CBS series, which premiered in 1998 and ran nine seasons. At times, the show feels like an homage to The Honeymooners, focusing on a working-class couple and their entertaining shenanigans. Timing and physical comedy are James' greatest assets as he leads the cast, featuring comedic legend Jerry Stiller, Patton Oswalt, Victor Williams, Lou Ferrigno, and more.
Here is what the cast of The King of Queens is up to today.
Updated October 2023: Since 'The King of Queens' ended in 2007, most of the main cast and guest stars on the show went on to have successful careers. Some even worked together again nearly a decade later on yet another successful comedy, 'Kevin Can Wait'.
The bulk of the resumes of those on 'The King of Queens' were for TV series or voice acting. However, a few lucky ones were able to parlay their talent to make a name for themselves on the big screen as well. Not only did this up their exposure, but it made their bank accounts fatter in the process.
With many of the cast having projects in various stages of production, fans will be able to see them on the silver screen and in the privacy of their own homes as these series and films become completed and are released in 2024 and beyond.
15 Kevin James Frequently Collaborates With Adam Sandler And Starred In Another CBS Sitcom
The collaborative love affair between Adam Sandler and James found its stride after 2007's I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Since then, James appeared in five other Sandler productions. He starred in Paul Blart: Mall Cop and went on to star in the sitcom Kevin Can Wait in 2017.
Most recently, James starred in the series, The Crew as well as Home Team, portraying Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints when he was suspended from the NFL.
14 Leah Remini's Career Moved In A New Direction After Leaving The Church Of Scientology
Leah Remini gained recognition after a recurring role on Saved by the Bell. After nine seasons on The King of Queens, the actress served as co-host of The View for 135 episodes.
Remini also has appeared in small roles, served as host and executive producer to an A&E documentary series, and starred alongside James again in Kevin Can Wait.
Most recently Remini was in the spotlight as a result of the Danny Masterson abuse case as a supporter to the victims of Masterson's crimes.
13 Jerry Stiller's Final Acting Role Was Alongside His Son Ben Stiller
A moment of silence for the late comedic legend, Jerry Stiller. He had a long and notable career before appearing on The King of Queens until 2007. Some of the show's best lines came from Arthur.
Stiller's final roles were voice-over work, lastly being Zoolander: Super Model, an animated film in 2016 with son Ben Stiller.
12 Victor Williams Remains On The Silver Screen Fifteen Years After The Show Ended
While Victor Willimas may be best known for his role as Deacon Palmer on The King of Queens, he's maintained an active career since the show went off the air in 2007.
Williams appeared in guest spots on shows The Good Wife, The Black List, High Maintenance, and as a series regular for the one season of Happy Together.
Currently, Williams is starring in Justified: City Primeval.
11 Patton Oswalt Remained On TV And Branched Into Voice-Over Work
Patton Oswalt made his acting debut on an episode of Seinfeld and hasn't stopped acting since. He appeared regularly on television, in comedies like Community and Parks and Recreation.
In addition, Oswalt did voice-over work for Kim Possible and voiced Remy in the Pixar film Ratatouille.
Oswalt also penned a memoir and most recently has been working as a voice actor for shows like The Ghost and Molly McGee and Adventures in Wonder Park.
10 Merrin Dungey Appears On Brooklyn Nine-Nine As Sharon Jeffords
After playing Kelly Palmer for nine seasons on The King of Queens, Merrin Dungey has remained a mainstay on television. Her most prominent jobs are a recurring role as Sharon Jeffords on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Dungey's most recent appearances include American Horror Story, Shining Vale, and Star Trek: Lower Deck.
9 Larry Romano Mostly Made One-Off Appearances After Leaving The King Of Queens
After forty-three episodes on The King of Queens, Larry Romano left without much fanfare or any acknowledgment in Season Four. It mirrors his career after the sitcom, where he's done a few one-off roles and movie appearances.
While Romano does have a project that is in pre-production currently, he has virtually fallen off the acting map since his appearance in The Irishman in 2019.
8 Gary Valentine Collaborates Regularly With Younger Brother Kevin James
Gary Valentine, real last name Knipfing, is James' older brother. He got his start in stand-up comedy, before appearing as Doug's cousin Danny Heffernan on The King of Queens. After the show ended, he appeared in films alongside his brother and Adam Sandler.
Valentine and James reunited in 2016 appearing on Kevin Can Wait together and most recently, Valentine was in the film, Grumpy Old Santa.
7 The King Of Queens Set Lou Ferrigno On The Path Of Cameoing As Himself
When Lou Ferrigno joined The King of Queens' cast, he was most famous for his bodybuilding days and for playing the Incredible Hulk in the CBS series for five seasons from 1977 to 1982.
After appearing on The King of Queens, Ferringo went on to do cameos of himself in other shows, most recently being Con Man and Velvet Prozak in 2021.
Ferringo starred in the miniseries, The Offer in 2022 and has a project that is currently in production, likely to be released in 2024.
6 Ray Romano Shifted Gears With Appearances In Dramas
After a successful stand-up career, his own network sitcom, and appearances on The King of Queens, Ray Romano voiced Manny the Mammoth in the Ice Age franchise, appeared in Parenthood for three seasons as Hank Rizzoli, and co-starred in The Big Sick.
Most recently, Romano starred in the TV series, Get Shorty, made an appearance in Bupkis in 2023, and has a project in post-production, which looks to put Romano on the big screen.
