Born:
December 21, 1957
in
New York
Best Known For:
Sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.
Early-life:
Raymond Albert Romano was born on December 21, 1957, in New York. One of Ray's classmates at school was actress Fran Drescher, and he later had a guest role on her sitcom The Nanny. He made his acting debut in a church play in 1975. On leaving high school, he planned to become an accountant and worked in a bank before trying stand-up comedy.
Career:
In 1989, Romano won a talent contest run by a local radio station, which landed him a manager. He made his TV debut that year in The Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search. Appearances on The MTV Comedy Half-Hour and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson helped boost his profile. Guest roles in animated sitcom Dr Katz, Professional Therapist, proved he could act. He won a regular role in NewsRadio in 1996, but turned it down to launch Everybody Loves Raymond. It proved a wise move. The show ran for nine years, was hugely popular and made Romano a major US star. He's since appeared in the movie Welcome to Mooseport and lent his voice to animated film Ice Age and its sequels. He was last seen in the comedy drama Men of a Certain Age and the sitcom Parenthood.
Quote:
"Everyone should have kids. They are the greatest joy in the world."
Trivia:
Romano has competed a number of times in the World Series of Poker.