Many people have wondered if Larry Romano, the actor who played Richie Iannucci on the popular sitcom “The King of Queens”, is related to Ray Romano, the star of another hit comedy show “Everybody Loves Raymond”. The two actors share a similar last name, a heavy Italian-American accent, and a knack for making people laugh. But are they really family?
The Short Answer: No
According to various sources, including Wikipedia² and Married Biography¹, Larry Romano is not related to Ray Romano. They are both of Italian-American descent, but they have different parents and no known common ancestors. They have never worked together on screen, although they both appeared in different episodes of the police drama “NYPD Blue” in the 1990s.
The Long Answer: Who is Larry Romano?
Larry Romano was born on July 31, 1963, in Mount Vernon, New York. He studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, HB Studios, and Method and Miesner. He began his career in off-Broadway plays and small roles in movies such as “Black Rain”, “Lock Up”, and “Out for Justice”. He also appeared in Madonna’s music video for “Oh Father”.
He gained more recognition when he played Richie Catena, a mobster’s son, in five episodes of “NYPD Blue” from 1993 to 1994. He then landed a regular role as Richie Iannucci, a childhood friend of Doug Heffernan (Kevin James), on “The King of Queens” from 1998 to 2001. He left the show after the third season to pursue other projects.
He also starred in the short-lived sitcom “Kristin” as Aldo Bonnadonna, a loyal employee of Kristin Chenoweth’s character, in 2001. He had supporting roles in movies such as “City Hall”, “Sleepers”, “Donnie Brasco”, and “The Thin Red Line”. He wrote and directed his own movie, “Laugh Killer Laugh”, in 2015.
Besides acting, Larry is also a musician. He formed a rock band called DEFICIT with his friends from the Bronx in the early 1990s. He wrote and recorded the song “Rock in the Bronx”, which was aired by the local TV station Madison Square Garden Network. He also played guitar and sang vocals for another band called The Racketeers.
Larry is currently 57 years old and has an estimated net worth of over $1.2 million.
Conclusion
Larry Romano and Ray Romano are both successful actors and comedians who share some similarities, but they are not related by blood or marriage. They have different backgrounds, careers, and personal lives. They are both proud of their Italian-American heritage, but they are not part of the same family tree.
