One of the most valuable qualities a person may have is the capacity to make others laugh. I suppose it’s either in your blood or not, which is why not every actor can be a comedian. Although many actors are capable of playing any character in almost any genre, humor is a completely separate world.
Kevin James is one of the best comedians we’ve ever seen. We all knew he was bound for great things in the film industry ever since he earned the role of Doug, an average parcel delivery man with a smart-aleck disposition, in the hit series The King of Queens.
His celebrity, on the other hand, did not come to him on a silver platter. James performed as a stand-up comedian for around ten years before getting into movies. He was doing comedy club gigs on Long Island while also working part-time at an industrial supplier’s warehouse to pay the bills.
His career took a turn for the better once he was handed his first solo performance at the East Side Comedy Club. He appeared on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show as well as other late-night talk shows, and he became close friends with comic legend Ray Romano. After seeing James in numerous episodes of the successful program Everybody Loves Raymond, Romano believed he’d make a great actor.
The King of Queens was the next film, and James was the leading man, even if he didn’t feel like it at the time.
He told Philly Voice, “I was clearly the weak link for sure as far as acting was concerned on the show.” “Leah (Remini) and Jerry (Stiller) had accomplished a great deal. Leah has accomplished so much. It was my very first job. It taught me a great deal.
“I recall thinking that Ray (Romano) would be terrible in a sitcom. He isn’t a performer. He was amazing as a stand-up comedian, in my opinion. His stand-up is fantastic. This individual is not a performer. James said, “He’s going to be terrible.”
“I told him I didn’t think he’d be able to achieve it. I didn’t believe he was capable of performing in that manner, and I was utterly incorrect. His distinct stand-up approach was what set him apart in that presentation. That taught me a lot, to be honest. I basically kind of watched his program, which debuted two years before my own, and I went to school on it. He astounded everyone. In the beginning, it was clumsy. He did things his own way.”
James was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Doug.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Grown Ups, Zookeeper, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop followed, as did Hitch, in which he co-starred with Will Smith. All of these roles, it goes without saying, solidified James’ standing in Hollywood.
In 2001, James met Steffiana de la Cruz, a model and actor. In 2004, they married and had four children together. He’s not only a fantastic performer, but also a wonderful father and husband.
James has always been a large guy when he first started performing. At his heaviest, he weighed 290 pounds and has always been overweight. That changed when he was cast in the film Here Comes the Boom as a science teacher who switched to martial arts in order to save the school budget.
James needed to be fit for the part, and once he set his mind to losing weight and becoming in shape, he completely altered his body. James shed 80 pounds for the film. But it didn’t happen immediately; it took a lot of work, including running, push-ups, and squats, as well as a healthier diet.
With the support of MMA trainer Ryan Parsons, who pushed James to his limits, James was able to achieve his goal.
“For anyone, that is the key to a great workout,” Parsons told Men’s Health. “If you don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing and have a goal in sight, it’s far too simple to give up.”
He continued, “Kevin wanted to be treated like a fighter, so that’s what we did.” “It didn’t matter to these people that he was a movie star. They swarmed him. He even punched out a guy.”
James also worked on his boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu techniques. People didn’t identify him once the movie aired.
Staying in shape is just as difficult as losing weight, and James is well aware of this. He intends to return to working out now that he has gained a few more pounds.
He told Twin Cities, “I was in such fantastic shape for the movie, for me — shedding 80 pounds — that I was able to execute all of those scenes in the ring without suffering any injuries.” “However, now that I’m out of shape, I threw my back out getting into a car two days ago. Throw me around in the Octagon and I’ll be fine, but ask me to move my head while getting into a car and I’ll pass out.”
“I’m desperate to get back in shape. James said, “I felt better, my clothes fit better, and my thinking was clearer.” “However, it’s a difficult thing to maintain.” When I was getting ready for the movie, I was constantly working out.”