Some actors and comedians from the King of Queens cast are still huge stars to this day, while others have played notable supporting roles on other TV shows. Styled as a modern-day take on the classic Jackie Gleason sitcom The Honeymooners, The King of Queens told the story of a childfree middle-class couple living in New York. The show ran for nine seasons on CBS from 1998 to 2007, airing a total of 207 episodes. Over the course of its run, The King of Queens was a ratings success and earned positive reviews from critics. Much of the critical acclaim focused on the hilarious work of the series’ all-star cast.
From standup comics like Kevin James and Patton Oswalt to legendary sitcom staples like Jerry Stiller, the King of Queens cast is full of gifted comedic performers bringing the show’s zany characters to life. Most of the award nominations received by The King of Queens were in acting categories. James was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, while his co-star Victor Williams was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the NAACP Image Awards. Many King of Queens cast members are still big stars today, with high-profile film and television roles.
Kevin James (Doug Heffernan)
James led the King of Queens cast as wisecracking IPS driver Doug Heffernan. James is a frequent collaborator of Adam Sandler’s, having played President Will Cooper in Pixels, Eric Lamonsoff in the Grown Ups movies, and Larry in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, and voiced Frankenstein in the Hotel Transylvania franchise. He’s also played such film roles as Albert Brennaman in Hitch, Griffin Keyes in Zookeeper, Nick Brannen in The Dilemma, and the title character in Paul Blart: Mall Cop and its sequel. James later returned to TV to star as retired cop Kevin Gable in the sitcom Kevin Can Wait.
Leah Remini (Carrie Heffernan)
Leah Remini co-starred with James as Doug’s wife, Carrie Heffernan. In addition to her role in the King of Queens cast, Remini has appeared in the movie Old School as Lara Campbell and hosted the game show People Puzzler. As the author of Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, the co-host of the podcast Scientology: Fair Game, and the star of the documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, Remini has become an outspoken critic of the Church of Scientology. Remini reunited with James when she joined the main cast of Kevin Can Wait in season 2 to play Kevin’s business partner and former rival on the force, Vanessa Celluci.
Jerry Stiller (Arthur Spooner)
Carrie’s father Arthur Spooner, who lives in the basement of Doug and Carrie’s house, is played by Stiller. Besides his role in the King of Queens cast, Stiller is best known for playing George Costanza’s quotable father Frank on Seinfeld. In the 1970s, Stiller played such movie roles as Sam in Airport 1975 and Lt. Rico Patrone in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He appeared alongside his son Ben Stiller when he played Maury Ballstein in Zoolander and Doc Cantrow in The Heartbreak Kid. Sadly, Stiller passed away on May 11, 2020. Reprising his role as Maury in Zoolander 2 marked the veteran actor’s final film role.
Victor Williams (Deacon Palmer)
Williams appeared in the King of Queens cast as Doug’s best friend and co-worker, Deacon Palmer. In 2012, Williams appeared as a pitchman in TV commercials for Verizon Fios. Williams has played such movie roles as Russell in Cop Land, Mr. Broadus in November Criminals, and the voice of Dan in The Animatrix. Since his tenure on The King of Queens, Williams has played the recurring TV roles of Richard in Sneaky Pete season 1, Police Officer West in Flight of the Conchords season 2, and Detective Jeffries in The Affair seasons 1, 2, and 4. He also played Gerald in the main cast of Happy Together.
Patton Oswalt (Spencer “Spence” Olchin)
Doug’s nerdy friend Spencer Olchin, nicknamed “Spence,” is played by Oswalt. Oswalt has since played Principal Ralph Durbin in A.P. Bio and the narrator of the sitcom The Goldbergs as adult Adam Goldberg. On the big screen, Oswalt has voiced the lead character of Remy in Pixar’s Ratatouille and played Matt Freehauf in Young Adult. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Oswalt has played the Koenigs on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Pip the Troll in Eternals. Oswalt is also renowned for his standup comedy. He won an Emmy for his 2016 Netflix special Talking for Clapping and a Grammy for its accompanying album.
Gary Valentine (Daniel “Danny” Heffernan)
Doug’s cousin, Danny Heffernan, is played by Gary Valentine. Valentine is James’ older brother and has frequently co-starred with him in his film and television projects. Appearing in many of James’ movies, he played real-life character Mitch Bizone in Home Team, Eric Voss in Here Comes the Boom, Karl Eisendorf in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, a karaoke singer in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and a pizza guy in Zookeeper. He has also played Wes in Stuck on You, Dallas in Jack and Jill, Deputy Knudsen in Fargo season 1, and Kyle Gable, the older brother of James’ character, in Kevin Can Wait.
Nicole Sullivan (Holly Shumpert)
Holly Shumpert, the dog-walker who was hired by Doug and Carrie to take Arthur for regular walks, was played by Nicole Sullivan. Sullivan is best known as one of the original cast members on MADtv. She stayed on the show’s roster for six seasons before leaving in 2001. Sullivan also played the recurring role of Jill Tracy on Scrubs and voiced Mira Nova on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Shego on Kim Possible, and Muriel Goldman on Family Guy. Between 2012 and 2013, she played Lynn Mettler, the therapist of Courteney Cox’s character Jules, on Cougar Town. From 2014 to 2022, Sullivan played the Johnsons’ next-door neighbor, Janine, on Black-ish.
Larry Romano (Richard “Richie” Iannucci)
Doug’s friend Richie Iannucci, who lived with Doug before he married Carrie, was played by Larry Romano. Richie was quietly written off The King of Queens in season 3 so that Romano could take the role of Aldo Bonnadonna on a different sitcom, Kristin. In addition to his TV work, Romano has played such film roles as Tommy Ruggiero in Donnie Brasco and Private Mazzi in The Thin Red Line. In 2019, Romano appeared in two critically acclaimed crime movies: he played Phil Testa in Martin Scorsese’s mob epic The Irishman and Cousin Larry in HBO’s public school embezzlement drama Bad Education.
