Leah Remini and Kevin James, the stars of the hit sitcom King of Queens, have remained close friends since the show ended in 2007. They have both spoken fondly of each other in interviews and on social media, and they have continued to spend time together and support each other’s careers.
Recently, Remini posted on Twitter that she went to Las Vegas with her family to watch James perform his stand-up comedy routine. She shared a photo and video of her, her family, and James backstage, with the caption, “Went with my family to Vegas to watch @KevinJames do his standup set.”
The Kevin Can Wait star also frequently posts about Remini on social media. For example, on her birthday in June 2023, he shared a photo of the two of them together and wrote,
“HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO THIS INCREDIBLE WOMAN! @leahremini You make me laugh like no other! Could not love you more! 🙏❤️😂”
In addition to their social media interactions, Remini and James have also spent time together in person in recent years. In 2021, the whole King of Queens cast reunited via Zoom to talk about the show and Jerry Stiller‘s legacy.
The close friendship between Remini and James is a testament to the strong bond that they formed while working together on King of Queens. The show, which ran for nine seasons on CBS, was one of the most popular sitcoms of its time. It followed the lives of Doug and Carrie Heffernan (James and Remini), a working-class couple from Queens, New York.
King of Queens was beloved by fans for its relatable characters and its heartwarming humor. Remini and James had great chemistry together on screen, and their friendship was evident in their performances.
In addition to James and Remini, King of Queens also starred Jerry Stiller as Doug’s overbearing father-in-law, Arthur Spooner. Stiller passed away in May 2020 at the age of 92.
Remini and James have both spoken about how much Stiller meant to them and to the show. In a social media post after Stiller’s death, Remini said,
“I was lucky enough to work with Jerry Stiller, playing his daughter for 9 years on The King Of Queens, but even luckier to know him, the man, the husband, the father, the grandfather. I am only comforted knowing that Anne & Jerry, the great comedy duo of Stiller & Meara are back together.”
Jerry’s wife and Ben Stiller‘s mom, actress Anne Meara, passed away five years ago in May 2015.
James also expressed his grief over Stiller’s passing in a social media post. He wrote, “One of the most kind, loving, and funny people to ever grace this earth,” the actor wrote via Instagram.
“Thank you for so many incredible memories. I love you and miss you. Requiescat in pace.🙏”
The impact of King of Queens on Remini and James’ careers cannot be overstated. The show made them both household names and helped them to launch successful careers in Hollywood.
Remini has gone on to star in her own talk show, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, a temporary co-host of Dancing With the Stars, and she has written a memoir about her experiences growing up in and leaving the Church of Scientology.
James has continued to act in sitcoms, such as Kevin Can Wait and Netflix’s The Crew. He has also starred in several films, including Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Here Comes the Boom, and Zookeeper.
Kevin James is currently on a multi-city comedy tour, which is scheduled to run through the end of 2023. The tour is called “Kevin James: The Irregardless Tour,” and it features James performing a mix of new and classic stand-up material.