Ray Romano Biography

RAY ROMANO

Date of Birth: December 21, 1957

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Ray Romano originally planned to become an accountant, but started his career on stage as a stand up comic. After taking a chance in 1984, he found the stage experience addictive, and while doing odd jobs during the day, he would entertain at night. After 10 years on the circuit, he made his first television appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It was just the boost he needed.

While still touring the States, Ray returned to perform guest spots on The Tonight Show with Carson, followed by Jay Leno, and finally on David Letterman's late night show. Impressed with Romano's talent, Letterman had his production company help Ray create his own sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond. The sitcom, which began in 1996, revolved around a sportswriter and his family, who happen to live close to his extended family.

The popular show quickly made its way up the ratings and earned numerous awards and nominations from the Golden Globes and the Emmys, as well as the American Comedy Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

In 2002, with his show still going strong, Ray decided to work on other projects on the side, including voicing Manfred the Mammoth in the animated feature film Ice Age. His first starring role in a live action motion picture was in Welcome to Mooseport (2004). Unfortunately, the film was unsuccessful both with critics and the movie-going public and wasn't able to make its money back at the box office. He joined an all-star cast for his next film—the ensemble black comedy Eulogy (2004).

After Ray's popular series came to an end in 2005, he took on a role in the 2009 TNT series Men of a Certain Age. He has also continued his work in film with the 2008 romantic drama The Last Word alongside Winona Ryder and Wes Bentley as well as the three sequels Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), and Ice Age: Collision Course (2016). He also starred in the film Rob the Mob (2014), and can be currently seen in the dramedy The Big Sick (2017).

Romano, who won the People's Choice award for Favorite Male TV Performer three years in a row (2002-2004), lives with his wife and four children in Los Angeles.

Filmography:

The Big Sick (2017)
Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
Rob the Mob (2014)
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) (voice)
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) (voice)
The Last Word (2008)
The Grand (2007)
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006) (voice)
Grilled (2006)
Eulogy (2004)
Welcome to Mooseport (2004)
Ice Age (2002) (voice)
El Anima de Sayula (1982)