The cast of The King of Queens made a fortune on the sitcom. The show ran for nine seasons and had several memorable moments, even off-camera with the like Patton Oswalt going completely off-script just for a laugh.The cast had a close relationship behind the scenes and that was especially true for Kevin James and Leah Remini. The two were almost like a couple behind the scenes, going through their ups and downs.In the following, we'll take a closer look Remini's relationship with James, and how the two got along with Jerry Stiller behind the scenes. Although Jerry's character of Arthur wasn't the easiest to deal with on the show, it was the complete opposite behind the scenes with his co-stars.
Kevin James And Leah Remini Had A Similar Dynamic Behind The Scenes Compared To Their Characters On King Of Queens
The King of Queens made its debut in 1998, going 9 seasons and 207 episodes. In truth, the show would not have lasted that long if not for the chemistry between Leah Remini and Kevin James, playing the role of Doug and Carrie Heffernan on the show.
According to Remini, the chemistry between the two was instant, from the very first read at the audition process.
“Sometimes you just have an instant connection with people," Remini said.
“What happened was I was just coming off of a show that got canceled, so I go in, I meet you, Kevin, and you immediately started making fun of me, going, ‘I’m sorry, were you busy collecting unemployment? I’m sorry, did we interrupt all that to offer you a job?’" Remini recalled.
"And immediately I was like I don’t even care what the script is, I just love this guy so much and I was like yes.”
Remini would also reveal that the two were very much like a couple behind the scenes, similar to the way they were on the show.
"We fought, like many married couples who were together every day for years," said Remini. "Yes, I treated Kevin just like I treated my husband, meaning I drove him crazy like any good wife would."
Looking back, it was a positive experience for both sides, and that also held true for their experience working alongside Jerry Stiller.
Jerry Stiller Was A Beloved Figure Behind The Scenes On The King Of Queens
Jerry Stiller played the role of Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens. His character on the show wasn't easy to handle, especially for Doug and Carrie. However, off-camera, it was a completely different dynamic. During the King of Queens reunion, Remini recalled her time alongside Stiller, how much of a class act he was behind the scenes.
“Jerry was very much the role behind the scenes. He was the dad, he was the one in his undershirt after the show wrapped. Jerry could have been in the first scene and they said, 'It's OK for you to go. You don't have to stay all night while we're filming,' and he would stay.”
Kevin James agreed, revealing that Jerry was the opposite of Arthur.
“He cared so much about you. I miss him so much, he's just the greatest," James added.
“Like Ben said in the (video), a lot of people see him how he acts, the cranky old man yelling and screaming, but it was the opposite of who he was. He's an angel. He was a great man.”
Clearly, the late Stiller made an impact on the cast for the right reasons.
Leah Remini Was Also Complementary Towards Kevin James And How Giving He Was Behind The Scenes
It was a positive experience for Remini on the set of The King of Queens. That was especially true when it came to her relationship alongside co-stars Jerry Stiller and Kevin James. Remini also had praise for James, and how he was always looking out for others, wanting to beef up their monologues on the sitcom.
“He is one of the rare, rare men in this town that I want to work with and I would do anything with," Remini said of James. "Kevin was always the man saying, give Leah more stuff, give Jerry more stuff, give them the laughs. That’s very giving.”
Although the show had a solid fanbase, it doesn't seem like a reboot is in the works. Nonetheless, the cast did reunite in honor or Jerry Stiller, and it just goes to show how much he meant to them.
