|
Leah Remini
|
| Leah Remini | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leah Marie Remini June 15, 1970 Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse(s) | Angelo Pagan (2003–present) |
| Official website | |
Leah Marie Remini (born June 15, 1970) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.
Contents |
Early life
Leah Remini was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, the daughter of Vicki Marshall, a private school teacher, and George Remini, who owned an asbestos removal company.1 Her mother was of Austrian-Jewish background and her father was Sicilian.23 Remini has an older sister, Nicole Remini (born 1969), who was her assistant on The King of Queens. She also has four half-sisters: Christina (born 1969),4 Elizabeth (born 1976), Stephanie (born 1977), and Shannon (born 1984).citation needed
Remini moved to Los Angeles at the age of 13 with her mother.2 When Remini was 14, she left school and worked as a hostess at a restaurant while auditioning for acting jobs.5
Acting career
Remini's entrance into television came in the mid-'80s, when she got her first speaking line as an actress on an episode of Head of the Class. In 1989, she played the lead on Living Dolls, a short-lived spin-off from Who's the Boss?. In 1991, Remini appeared as Carla Tortelli's daughter, Serafina on Cheers (she later reprised the role in a 1993 episode). That same year, she had a recurring role as Stacey Carosi, a love interest of Zack Morris, on Saved by the Bell, and starred in the short-lived sitcom The Man in the Family.
Remini also appeared in an episode of Friends (The One with the Birth, original air date 11 May 1995, Season 1, Episode 23) as Lydia, the single (or not) mother that Joey befriends whilst the gang are in hospital for the birth of Ross and Carol's baby.
After appearing in two more short-lived series, First Time Out and Fired Up, Remini landed the role of Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens. During her time on the show, she had a supporting role in the comedy film, Old School (2003). The King of Queens ran for nine seasons, from September 21, 1998 to May 14, 2007. Since The King of Queens ended, Remini has starred in nine-episode webisodes of In the Motherhood, along with Chelsea Handler and Jenny McCarthy.6
Personal life
On July 19, 2003, Remini married actor Angelo Pagan who also appeared on The King of Queens as Rico and other various characters.7 On June 16, 2004, she gave birth to a daughter, Sofia Bella a day after her 34th birthday. Remini's pregnancy was chronicled on the VH1 documentary Inside Out: Leah Remini the Baby Special. Remini was also showcased on The Rachael Ray Show during a period of time she was trying to wean her child off pacifiers and drinking from a bottle.
Remini is a member of The Church of Scientology.3 In December 2005, she helped promote the gala opening of Church of Scientology's "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death" Museum.8 Responding to criticism of Scientology during an interview on CNN, Remini stated:3
| “ | If somebody is going to get turned off about something because of what they read or heard, then that person's not smart enough to even enter a church. If you're really against something, then know what you're against. | ” |
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Glory Daze | Theresa | |
| 1997 | Critics and Other Freaks | Actress at Audition | |
| 1998 | Follow Your Heart | Angie | |
| 2003 | Old School | Lara Campbell | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | Head of the Class | 1 episode | |
| 1989 | Who's The Boss? | Charlie Briscoe | 2 episodes |
| Living Dolls | Charlie Briscoe | 12 episodes | |
| 1990 | Normal Life | Carol | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Paradise | Rose | 1 episode |
| The Hogan Family | Joanne | 1 episode | |
| The Man In the Family | Tina Bavasso | 6 episodes | |
| Saved By the Bell | Stacey Carosi | 6 episodes | |
| 1991-1993 | Cheers | Serafina Tortelli | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Blossom | Ellen | 1 episode |
| Getting Up and Going Home | Stephanie O'Neil | Television movie | |
| 1993 | Evening Shade | Daisy | 3 episodes |
| Harlan & Merleen | Frankie | Television movie | |
| 1994 | The Commish | Gail Ross | 1 episode |
| Renegade | Tina | 1 episode | |
| 1994-1995 | Phantom 2040 | Sagan Cruz (Voice) | 8 episodes |
| 1995 | Star Witness | Television movie | |
| Diagnosis Murder | Agnes Benedetto | 1 episode | |
| Friends | Lydia | 1 episode | |
| First Time Out | Dominique Costellano | 12 episodes | |
| 1996 | Biker Mice from Mars | Carbine (Voice) | 2 episodes |
| NYPD Blue | Angela Bohi | 1 episode | |
| 1997-1998 | Fired Up | Terry Reynolds | 28 episodes |
| 1998-2007 | The King of Queens | Carrie Heffernan | 206 episodes |
| 2002 | Legend of the Lost Tribe | Koala (Voice) | Television movie |
| 2007-2008 | In the Motherhood | Kim | 8 episodes |
| 2009 | Married Not Dead | Jessica | Television movie |
References
- ^ "Leah Remini Biography (1970-)". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/47/Leah-Remini.html. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ^ a b Brady, James (2003-10-26). "Leah Rimini (TV and film actress)". http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2003/edition_10-26-2003/in_step_with_0. Retrieved 2000-06-15.
- ^ a b c Sieberg, Daniel (2001-04-20). "Leah Remini:Working hard as a queen among kings". CNN.com. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/CAREER/jobenvy/04/20/leah/index.html. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ^ The Bob Rivers Show: Leah Remini, star of 'King of Queens'
- ^ Michael A., Lipton (1999-03-29). "Tough Love". People (http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20127813,00.html) 51 (11).
- ^ Lynette, Rice (2009-03-25). "‘In the Motherhood’: Thanks, but no thanks, for your ideas, mommies!". ew.com. http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/03/25/in-the-mother-1/. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
- ^ "I Do, I Do, I Do!". People 60 (8). 2003-08-23. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20140871,00.html.
- ^ Vargas, Sibila (2005-12-20). "Showbiz Tonight". CNN. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/20/sbt.01.html. Retrieved 2006-06-08.
