Newsday (Nassau Edition) from Hempstead, New York • 33

alA New day Long produced Islander of by the the Century Newsday is a daily Marketing promotional Department feature Long Islander your another. Monday Long nominee. Islander Thursday of Later the this Newsday Century year, vote presents choices. for "Century Kevin James MILESTONES The King of Queens Hails from Long Island in the life of Kevin James 1965 Born in Mineola on April 26 DO 1983 Graduates from Ward Melville High School 1989 Makes stand-up comedy debut at the East Side Comedy Club in Huntington 1996 Is cast in CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" 1998 Writes, produces and stars in CBS comedy series "The King of Queens" 2000 Appears at the Westbury Music Fair in "An Evening with Kevin James" FLASHBACK "It's like being shot through a cannon," actor Kevin James once commented about his sudden fame. "Everybody's comin' at you.

It's just like a whirlwind that makes time go fast." de James has been caught in that whirlwind ever since he became one of television's newest, brightest stars. The Stony Brook native got his first big break playing Ray Romano's best friend on the CBS hit "Everybody Loves Raymond." Since 1998, he has been the star of his own CBS comedy series, "The King of Queens." In it, he plays Doug Heffernan, a package deliveryman whose life largely centers around television- especially sports. But while his character lives in Queens, James' humor is based on Long Island. "I definitely built my jokes on where I grew up," he once told Newsday. "That Long Island family and lifestyle kind of thing is something I built on." to 1965 the Photo: CBS James, born Kevin Knipfing, graduated from Ward Melville High School in East Setauket.

Kevin James is born After leaving college, he began going to clubs with his brother, stand-up comic Gary Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov is the Valentine, and discovered he, too, had a feel for first man to take a walk in outer space comedy. He soon began performing in Long Island comedy clubs. James credits Richie The Playhouse Theatre in Bellmore feaMinervini, then owner of the East Side tures "Dr. Strangelove" starring Peter Comedy Club in Huntington, with giving him Sellers and George C. Scott his first big break.

While that break led to a successful television "Get Smart" premieres on NBC career in Los Angeles, James still misses his home. James Brown wins the Grammy for best "I love the different towns, I love the Long Recording for "Papa's Got a Brand Island beaches and the water, I miss driving on New Bag" the parkways," James said. "I miss driving on the State, the trees, the leaves. There Mineola Bicycle advertises Northern a 10-speed are some great places in L.A. and I do like it, but Huret racer for $39.95 there's nothing like Long Island and the city." -Cynthia Blair Long Century Islander NE NEWSDAY NAME GAME Play the Newsday Name for your chance WIN $2000 Every Sunday look in Newsday for the week's official entry blank.

Fill it out on Sunday or look for the answers throughout the week A new game, another chance to win $2,000, begins every Sunday! THURSDAY'S Name the astronaut from Babylon who was the first American commander of the international space station. QUESTION See tomorrow's Long Islander of the Century profile for the answer. 08ZOOAN9 see complete PURCHASE contest NECESSARY. rules, available Each at week, the long Newsday Island Store, Newsday 235 will Pinelawn ask 5 Road, questions Melville, on NY notable 11747. Long This Islanders week is and Name the Queens Game Edition Contest will ask 5 questions relating to landmarks in New York City.

All entries will be combined and one correct entry will be randomly selected to win $2000. For details.