 Ray Romano admits that he always knew he could make his
friends laugh, but he never really gave stand-up comedy any serious thought
until one fateful open-mic night at a New York comedy club in 1984. He did well,
the bug bit hard, and Ray Romano was smitten. After stints at odd jobs,
including futon mattress delivery boy and bank teller by day, and journeyman
comedian by night, he decided to leave the 9-5 ranks and pursue comedy
full-time, eventually winning a stand-up comedy competition sponsored by a major
New York radio station that same year.
Following that success, he continued to regularly appear at
comedy clubs throughout the country, leading to appearances on “The Tonight Show
with Johnny Carson” and then with Jay Leno. He was eventually invited to appear
on “Late Night with David Letterman.” That night, Letterman, recognizing
something very unique in Ray Romano’s persona, offered him a development deal
with his production company, Worldwide Pants. Through that association, the CBS
hit, “Everybody Loves Raymond” was born.
Ray Romano has not only gone on to star in his own television
series, but to perform at the White House Correspondents Dinner for President
Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, and headline the Toyota Comedy Festival
at Carnegie Hall. Among his numerous television appearances, he has hosted
“Saturday Night Live,” and appeared on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” winning
$125,000 for charity. Ray Romano’s additional television credits include, “HBO
Comedy Half-Hour: Ray Romano,” “The HBO 15th Annual Young Comedians Special” and
“Dr, Katz: Professional Therapist.” Ray Romano recently made his big screen
debut as the voice of “Manny” the wholly mammoth, in the 20th Century Fox smash
hit, “Ice Age.” Ray Romano also stars in the features “Eulogy,” and “Welcome To
Mooseport,” with Gene Hackman.
After being nominated in 1999, 2000, and 2001, Ray Romano won
an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2002. Ray Romano
has also been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a
Comedy Series (2000 and 2001), a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for Outstanding
Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series (2000), a People’s Choice Award
for Favorite Male TV Performer (2000, 2001, 2003), and an AFI Actor of the Year
Award for Male in a Series (2002). Ray Romano recently won a People’s Choice
Award for Favorite Male TV Performer 2004, 2003, 2002), a TV Guide Award for
Actor of the Year in a Comedy Series (2001), the Funniest Male Lead in a TV
Series at the 14th Annual American Comedy Awards (2000) and the Television
Critics Association Award For Outstanding Individual Achievement in Comedy
(1999). Ray Romano’s comedy album “Live at Carnegie Hall,” was nominated for
Best Spoken Comedy Album at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards (2002). “Everybody
Loves Raymond” won an Emmy Award in 2003 for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Ray Romano is also the author of the New York Times
best-selling book based on his comedy, “Everything And A Kite.” He
has also written a children’s book along with his brothers, Richard and Robert,
entitled, “Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers,”
released in March 2005.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four children.
|
