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Leah Remini Profile |
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Birth Date: June 15, 1970
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Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Birth Name: Leah Remini
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Height: 5'3"
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Biography |
A proud Brooklynite through and through, Leah Remini was
born in the New York City borough on June 15, 1970. Her
Sicilian father and Jewish mother, who hails from Monaco,
encouraged Leah to stick to academics, but she dropped out
of high school at the age of 14.
Lured by the Hollywood opportunities of Los Angeles -- her
home since her teenage years -- Remini saw acting as her
salvation. Her mother, a guiding force in her life to this
day, encouraged this pursuit, knowing that it would lead to
great achievements despite her daughter's lack of proper
education. Before Hollywood really lured her in, Remini
worked as a car insurance salesman, waitress and
telemarketer.
This tough, stubborn beauty (she was advised to drop her
Brooklyn accent, but refused) finally got her first role in
a 1988 episode of Head of the Class. Now closer to
adulthood, she was able to take more control of her career's
direction and doggedly went to every audition possible. Her
persistence paid off when she landed the role of Samantha
Micelli's (Alyssa Milano) friend in two episodes of Who's
the Boss? and landed a recurring role as part of the cast of
Living Dolls, a spin-off of Who's the Boss?, in 1989.
More small-time work molded Remini into the comedian she is
today: she played Carla's (Rhea Perlman) daughter in Cheers
and starred in the short-lived sitcom, First Time Out.
Though a big opportunity seemingly passed her by after
Remini didn't get the role of Monica in the soon-to-be huge
show Friends (of course, Courteney Cox Arquette landed the
gig), she continued to work hard in episodes of The Commish,
Diagnosis Murder and the 1996 film Glory Daze, with Ben
Affleck. And even though the casting directors of Friends
overlooked her, she was called in to make a guest appearance
in the first season of the "Must-See TV" sitcom.
After doing a spot on NYPD Blue, Remini felt it was about
time a consistent role came her way. Her wishes came true
when, in 1997, she got a lead role alongside Sharon Lawrence
in NBC's Fired Up. Unfortunately, the string of unsuccessful
programs that Remini was involved with continued after the
sitcom was canceled in 1998.
Her career finally showed promise later that year, when she
was cast to play Carrie Heffernan opposite accomplished and
rotund comedian Kevin James in the then-new CBS sitcom, The
King of Queens. With a great supporting cast, including
Jerry Stiller, the show flourished and so did Remini. She
was recognized as much for her comedy as her beauty, and
remains one of the reasons The King of Queens continues to
thrive.
In addition to this success, Remini has captured many men's
attention in FHM and Stuff spreads and cracked people up in
the 2003 film Old School. Though it took a while for her to
get established in television, she is finally reveling in
the limelight of success. And by the looks of it, Remini
will be TV royalty for a long time. |
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Other
Information |
Auditioned for the role of Monica on "Friends" (1994).
(Although she didn't get the role, she later guest-starred
in one episode: "The One with the Birth" (episode # 1.22))
Once worked as a telemarketer.
Worked with personal trainer Gina Lombardi to lose 20 pounds
for her role in "Fired Up" (1997).
Described by Kevin James as having "the mouth of a
construction worker in the body of a model."
Dating singer Angelo Pagan. [2001]
May 2002: Has joined the nationally syndicated Don and Mike
radio show.
Announced engagement to longtime boyfriend Angelo Pagan.
[January 2003]
Her wedding to longtime boyfriend Angelo Pagan was featured
in the February 2004 issue of InStyle Magazine.
16 June 2004 - gave birth to 6 lb 7.4 oz daughter, Sofia
Bella, a day after her 34th birthday.
Her father is Sicilian and her mother is Austrian.
Ranked #19 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the
World" (2002).
Moved to Los Angeles with her mother and sister at the age
of 13, and left school at 14.
Shares birthday with Neil Patrick Harris, Helen Hunt, Shane
Stanley, Ice Cube and Courteney Cox.
Wore a two-piece Les Habitudes ensemble that included a
duchesse satin bustier with silver beads and ivory pearls,
and an organza skirt consisting of five layers in her July
2003 wedding to Angelo Pagan. |
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