Leah Remini

Leah Marie Remini is an American actress, television personality, and author born on June 15, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York City. She is best known for her starring role as Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens and as Vanessa Celluci on Kevin Can Wait, appearing opposite Kevin James in both series. She is also prominent for her memoir, media projects, and public advocacy regarding Scientology.

Remini was raised in Bensonhurst by her parents, Vicki Marshall and George Remini. Baptized Catholic as an infant, she was raised in the Church of Scientology after her mother joined when Remini was eight years old. At age 13, she spent time in Scientology's Sea Organization before moving to Los Angeles with her family, where she worked regular jobs during her teenage years to pay off debts and fund Scientology services. She left Scientology in 2013 and later embraced Catholicism.

Her acting career began with early television roles, including Who's the Boss? and its 1989 spin-off Living Dolls. Throughout the 1990s, Remini appeared in series such as The Man in the Family, Saved by the Bell, Evening Shade, Cheers, First Time Out, and Fired Up. She also appeared in an episode of Friends and the film Follow Your Heart. Her breakthrough came in 1998 when she was cast as Carrie Heffernan on The King of Queens, a role she played for nine seasons until 2007.

During and after her time on The King of Queens, Remini appeared in commercials and films such as Old School, Handsome, and Second Act. She co-hosted the first season of the daytime talk show The Talk, competed on Dancing with the Stars, and created, produced, and starred in the reality series Leah Remini: It's All Relative. She later reunited with Kevin James on Kevin Can Wait, hosted the game show People Puzzler, served as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, and co-hosted the podcast Scientology: Fair Game. In August 2026, her addition to the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was announced.

Following her departure from Scientology, Remini released her 2015 memoir Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, which reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller list. From 2016 to 2019, she co-produced and hosted the A&E documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, focusing on the experiences of former Scientologists. The series earned two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special. In 2023, Remini filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and leader David Miscavige.

In her personal life, Remini married actor Angelo Pagán in July 2003, and they have a daughter named Sofia, born in 2004. In August 2024, Remini announced that she and Pagán were divorcing, and the divorce was finalized in October 2024.