Ray Romano

Ray Romano headlined 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' a sitcom that dominated television for nine seasons. He did not start stand-up comedy until his mid-twenties. He worked through New York clubs with a shambling, relatable style centered on marriage, parents, and the petty frustrations of life. That material became the bedrock of the show, which mined comedy from the quiet war between a sportswriter, his wife, and his intrusively loving parents across the street. Romano played the bemused, often hapless center of this storm with deadpan authenticity. The show's success made him one of television's highest-paid stars. He later proved his dramatic chops in projects like 'Men of a Certain Age' and lent his distinctive voice to the 'Ice Age' franchise. His legacy is tied to the perfectly observed chaos of the Barone household.