Carrie Heffernan
Encyclopedia
Carrie Spooner Heffernan (played by Leah Remini
) is a fictional character on the American sitcom The King of Queens
. She appears in all of the show's nine Seasons and is one of the show's three central characters.
as Simone Spooner on June 19, 1970) is the sharp-tongued wife of Doug Heffernan
(Kevin James). Her father, Arthur Spooner
(Jerry Stiller
), lives in the couple's basement after losing his home in a fire. Carrie was born Simone Spooner but when she was a child, Arthur lost her name in a poker game and she had to switch names with her cousin Carrie. Carrie's mother, Sophia, insisted on having "mother to Simone" engraved on her tombstone. Carrie originally had a sister (or probably, and more specifically, a paternal half-sister named) Sara (Lisa Rieffel
) who moved in along with Arthur, but after the first season, the character was dropped. Little is known about Carrie's mother Sophia, except that she died during Carrie's teenage years, leaving Carrie in a state of confusion.
After difficult teenage years Carrie met her future husband Doug Heffernan
at a bar where she originally meant to spend the night with his friend Richie Ianucci (Larry Romano
) but ended up with Doug instead. Carrie's best friend is Kelly Palmer (Merrin Dungey
), the wife of Doug's best friend Deacon Palmer
(Victor Williams
). At the end of the series the couple decide to adopt after struggling to conceive a child, having miscarried earlier in the series. In the season finale China Syndrome
Doug and Carrie decide to split up but eventually reunite after adopting a Chinese baby girl. The same day, Carrie discovers she is pregnant.
Carrie is a fierce person, and is frequently deemed as scary by other characters, particularly by Doug and the family dog walker Holly (Nicole Sullivan
). She is a legal secretary and works at a variety of firms throughout the show before leaving to pursue a similar line of work at a real estate company.
and Michael J. Weithorn
. The show was originally created around the character of Doug Heffernan after Kevin James' successful guest appearances on popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond
. The King of Queens was partly inspired by the classic television sitcom The Honeymooners
. Carrie Heffernan is based on the character of Alice Kramden, with similar mannerisms and deadpan expressions.
The role was almost accepted by Megan Mullally
who turned it down at the last minute to take a role in Will and Grace. When Remini's short lived TV series Fired Up
was cancelled in February 1998 she was subsequently offered the role of Carrie due to her promising comedic performance.
Carrie Heffernan is a popular character in sitcom history. Examiner.com named her the 9th most memorable television wife.
Leah Remini
Leah Marie Remini is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens and as Stacey Carosi on the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell...
) is a fictional character on the American sitcom The King of Queens
The King of Queens
The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007.This show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions , CBS Paramount Television ,and CBS Television Studios in association with Columbia TriStar Television , and Sony Pictures...
. She appears in all of the show's nine Seasons and is one of the show's three central characters.
Character Profile
Carrie Heffernan (born in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
as Simone Spooner on June 19, 1970) is the sharp-tongued wife of Doug Heffernan
Doug Heffernan
Douglas Steven "Doug" Heffernan is a fictional character in the American situation comedy The King of Queens. The character has also appeared in Everybody Loves Raymond, Becker, and Cosby....
(Kevin James). Her father, Arthur Spooner
Arthur Spooner
Arthur Eugene Spooner is a fictional character played by Jerry Stiller on the sitcom The King of Queens. He lives with his daughter Carrie and her husband, Doug Heffernan.-Biography:...
(Jerry Stiller
Jerry Stiller
Gerald Isaac "Jerry" Stiller is an American comedian and actor.He spent many years in the comedy team Stiller and Meara with his wife Anne Meara...
), lives in the couple's basement after losing his home in a fire. Carrie was born Simone Spooner but when she was a child, Arthur lost her name in a poker game and she had to switch names with her cousin Carrie. Carrie's mother, Sophia, insisted on having "mother to Simone" engraved on her tombstone. Carrie originally had a sister (or probably, and more specifically, a paternal half-sister named) Sara (Lisa Rieffel
Lisa Rieffel
Lisa Rieffel is an American singer, musician, and actress.Rieffel was born in Denville, New Jersey. She is a founding member and lead singer of the Los Angeles-based alternative rock band Killola, and has been a singer/actress since childhood...
) who moved in along with Arthur, but after the first season, the character was dropped. Little is known about Carrie's mother Sophia, except that she died during Carrie's teenage years, leaving Carrie in a state of confusion.
After difficult teenage years Carrie met her future husband Doug Heffernan
Doug Heffernan
Douglas Steven "Doug" Heffernan is a fictional character in the American situation comedy The King of Queens. The character has also appeared in Everybody Loves Raymond, Becker, and Cosby....
at a bar where she originally meant to spend the night with his friend Richie Ianucci (Larry Romano
Larry Romano
Lawrence John Romano better known as Larry Romano, is an American film and television actor.Born on July 31, 1963 in Staten Island, New York, he was a regular on NYPD Blue and the sitcom The King of Queens, on which he played "Richie Iannucci". He also played First Base in the motion picture Lock...
) but ended up with Doug instead. Carrie's best friend is Kelly Palmer (Merrin Dungey
Merrin Dungey
Merrin Dungey is an American film and television actress, best known for her roles on the television series The King of Queens, Alias and Summerland.-Early life:...
), the wife of Doug's best friend Deacon Palmer
Deacon Palmer
Deacon John Palmer is a fictional character on TV's The King of Queens. The character is played by Victor Williams.Deacon is best friends with Doug Heffernan . He and Doug both work at IPS . They work for Supervisor Patrick O'Boyle .Deacon is married to Kelly Palmer...
(Victor Williams
Victor Williams
Victor L. Williams is an American actor.He is best known as Doug Heffernan's best friend Deacon Palmer onThe King of Queens, and he stands 6' 6" tall...
). At the end of the series the couple decide to adopt after struggling to conceive a child, having miscarried earlier in the series. In the season finale China Syndrome
China Syndrome
The term China syndrome describes a nuclear reactor operations accident characterized by the severe meltdown of the core components of the reactor, which then burn through the containment vessel and the housing building, then notionally through the crust and body of the Earth until reaching...
Doug and Carrie decide to split up but eventually reunite after adopting a Chinese baby girl. The same day, Carrie discovers she is pregnant.
Carrie is a fierce person, and is frequently deemed as scary by other characters, particularly by Doug and the family dog walker Holly (Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
). She is a legal secretary and works at a variety of firms throughout the show before leaving to pursue a similar line of work at a real estate company.
Development and Impact
The character of Carrie was created by David LittDavid Litt
David Litt is a television writer and producer based in Southern California. Litt was the co-creator of The King of Queens . Litt wrote 86 episodes of the comedy that aired from 1998 to 2007...
and Michael J. Weithorn
Michael J. Weithorn
Michael J. Weithorn, born December 17, 1956, is a director and writer known for his works including King of Queens.Weithorn's first major writing opportunity was an episode of the television series Benson in 1981, entitled "Stress". From there he moved on to several other scripts...
. The show was originally created around the character of Doug Heffernan after Kevin James' successful guest appearances on popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of lead actor Ray Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff...
. The King of Queens was partly inspired by the classic television sitcom The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
. Carrie Heffernan is based on the character of Alice Kramden, with similar mannerisms and deadpan expressions.
The role was almost accepted by Megan Mullally
Megan Mullally
Megan Mullally is an American actress and singer.After working in the theatre in Chicago, Mullally moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and began to appear in supporting roles in film and television productions. She made her Broadway debut in Grease in 1994 and she has since appeared in several Broadway...
who turned it down at the last minute to take a role in Will and Grace. When Remini's short lived TV series Fired Up
Fired Up (TV series)
Fired Up is a short-lived 1997–1998 situation comedy airing on NBC. It lasted for two seasons and 28 episodes. The series, the first from Grammnet Productions, starred Sharon Lawrence and Leah Remini. The series was about a self-centered promotions executive and her mouthy assistant...
was cancelled in February 1998 she was subsequently offered the role of Carrie due to her promising comedic performance.
Carrie Heffernan is a popular character in sitcom history. Examiner.com named her the 9th most memorable television wife.