Ray Romano, know widely for his role in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” started off as a stand up comic before making it big on the small screen. The versatile actor and comedian have won an Emmy Award and have been nominated for the Golden Globe. Apart from his role in the popular sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond,” his other highly applauded roles are; Manfred "Manny" the Mammoth (“Ice Age, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and Handy Harrison (Welcome to Mooseport).

Romano was on born December 21, 1957 in Queens, New York to Italian American parents. Right from childhood Romano had a knack for tickling the funny bones of his family and friends. He aspired to become a stand up comic and had even started a comedy group called "No Talent" when he was 16 years old. Things changed and his ambition was kept in the back burner as he entered Queens College as an accountants major after graduating high school in 1975.He did odd jobs as he honed his stage skills on the late-night comedy circuit, then started Romano's long struggle to stardom, he worked as a standup by night while holding a more reliable day job. He won the N.Y.C. radio station-sponsored comedy contest and hired a manger for himself; it was his first step towards fulfilling his dream. He had long hoped to perform in front of the popular late-night television host Johnny Carson, and his dream became a reality in 1991. His appearance in the show gave him national exposure and it seemed he was steadily climbing the success ladder. He appeared in many more television shows, and he was also featured on the Late Night With David Letterman. Letterman was highly impressed with Romano's talent so much so that he thought of developing a sitcom with Romano. He popular Everybody Loves Raymond was telecast for the first time on September 13, 1996. The show that dealt with quirky domestic observations became an instant hit both with the audience as well as the critics. The show became so popular that it was nominated many times for many awards such as; Emmy and Golden Globes. The sitcom also found acceptance in the new millennium.

Apart from making people laugh Romano also authored the book Everything and a Kite, which made it to the New York Times bestseller list. He also appeared in other television shows such as; Hollywood Squares, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and a somber turn in America: A Tribute to Heroes. All these increased the popularity of Romano with the masses and soon he entered the silver screen. On the silver screen too he made his presence felt with his maiden movie where he was the voice of the wooly mammoth in the animated "The Ice Age" (2002). He can also be seen in movies such as; "Welcome to Mooseport," and "Eulogy."