After this husky voiced, Brooklyn-accented beauty dropped out of school at 14, she worked a series of unglamorous jobs before finally catching a break with a recurring role as a tough-talking gal on
Who's the Boss?. Although her character earned her own spin-off,
Living Dolls, about a teen modeling agency, it was short-lived, as were many of Remini's subsequent sitcoms. But recurring roles on two popular shows —
Saved by the Bell and a hilarious turn as the rebellious daughter of Rhea Perlman's character on
Cheers — kept her in the public eye. In 1998, Remini finally signed on to a hit, albeit a sleeper one, when she became the wisecracking wife on
King of Queens. While it wasn't the kind of part that earned awards, her down-to-earth performance and her off-screen frankness — after the birth of her daughter, she openly griped about her weight — turned her into a talk-show favorite.
Leah Remini Fast Facts:
- After dropping out of school at 14, she worked as a waitress, cashier and bill collector.
- Auditioned for the role of Monica on Friends.
- Regularly contributed to the nationally syndicated Don and Mike radio show; cohost Don Geronimo appeared as a guest on her sitcom King of Queens.
- Member of the Church of Scientology.
- Leah Remini Relationships:
- Angelo Pagan - Husband
- George Remini - Father
- Nicole Remini - Sister
- Sofia Bella Pagan - Daughter
- Vicki Marshall - Mother
