Who is Kevin James’ Sister Leslie Knipfing?

Leslie Knipfing is the sister of two famous actors, Kevin James and Gary Valentine. The 49 year-old is also an American celebrity who organizes and manages charity events in collaboration with a good number of charity organizations. However, despite her busy career, she is best recognized as the sister of the popular Hollywood actor and comedian, Kevin James.

Leslie Knipfing grew up with her siblings, all of whom are well-known actors. Unfortunately, Retinitis Pigmentosa prevented her from pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

Kevin James’ career in Hollywood has seen him appear in a good number of movies and TV series, including but not limited to King of Queens and Hitch. It’s no surprise then that his sister, Leslie is in the spotlight as family members of celebrities are usually the subject of intense media scrutiny all in a bid to find out more about these celebrities. Here is everything you need to know about Leslie Knipfing.

Leslie Knipfing Was Born in Bismarck, North Dakota

Leslie Knipfing was born on November 17, 1974, under the sun sign of Scorpio. The 49-year-old celebrity sister was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States of America. However, her family moved to New York City when she was still a little girl and she proceeded to spend the majority of her childhood on Stony Brook, Long Island.

Knipfing was born to a mixed ethnic couple. Her father, Joseph Valentine Knipfing Sr., has a German family background, while her mother, Janet Knipfing comes from a Jewish family. Leslie Knipfing’s mother used to work in a chiropractor’s office before eventually settling into the role of a homemaker.

Her father on the other hand owned an insurance agency which he ran successfully before his death on January 30th, 2006, after a torrid battle with heart complications. He was 75 years old at the time of his passing.

Leslie Knipfing Is Kevin James Only Sister

Leslie Knipfing could just as easily have had a straightforward and ordinary existence but instead, she is somewhat of a celebrity thanks to her relationship with Hollywood star actor and comedian, Kevin James. The siblings are quite close to each other as Leslie sometimes partners with Kevin on a number of charities.

Furthermore, Kevin is not Leslie’s only claim to Hollywood celebrity status. She and Kevin both share an older brother named Gary Valentine. Born on November 22, 1961, as Gary Joseph Knipfing, Gary Valentine is the oldest of the Knipfing siblings and like his younger brother is also a comedian and an actor. He began his career in show business as a stand-up comedian before progressing to become a full-time actor.

He has made notable appearances in several Hollywood productions, including Stuck on You (2003), Men of a Certain Age (2009-2011), Wrong (2012), Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015), I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007), Kevin Can Wait (2016-2018), and The King of Queens (1999-2007). He has shared the screen with his younger brother Kevin James in TV series such as The King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait. Suffice to say that Leslie Knipfing is the baby sister of two Hollywood stars.

Leslie Knipfing’s Immediate Older Brother, Kevin James Is An Actor

As previously mentioned, Leslie’s career as an insurance agent and as a charity events manager wouldn’t really be a topic for conversation if not for her brothers’ more visible careers in the spotlight. She appears to be closer to her brother Kevin James who is regarded as one of the funniest actors in Hollywood.

Born Kevin George Knipfing on April 26, 1965, the actor also began his showbiz career as a standup comedian who made his debut at the East Side Comedy Club on Long Island. He would then go on to appear on a good number of TV talk shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show With David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee amongst several others.

He took up a career in the American film and TV industry when he started appearing on TV shows from 1991 onwards. Kevin James’ first TV show was as a prank-pulling actor on New Candid Camera. Other jobs such as Everybody Loves Raymond and The King of Queens soon followed. His excellent portrayal of the character Doug Heffernan on The King of Queens earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006.

Kevin James’ career on the silver screen continued to evolve and by the early 2000s, he had started making cameo appearances in feature-length movies. One of such movies was the 2004 rom-com 50 First Dates before his first starring role as Albert in the 2005 rom-com Hitch, where he shared the screen with stars like Will Smith and Eva Mendes in the process. He has acted in more than 40 other movies and TV series since his official debut in 1991.

And while Leslie Knipfing has an estimated net worth of around $1.5 million, that figure pales in comparison to that of her brother Kevin James’. The highly successful Hollywood entertainer is reportedly worth an estimated $100 million. The source of this primarily comes from his Hollywood engagements and a slew of other deals.

Leslie Knipfing Is Single

Leslie Knipfing might be approaching half a century age-wise, but the celebrity sister is currently unmarried and there are no verifiable records that show she ever was. There is also no record of past romantic involvements, making it crystal clear that Leslie Knipfing is not exactly chatty about her romantic relationships, past or present.

She is however a proud aunt to her brother, Kevin’s four children from actress Steffiana de la Cruz after the couple tied the knot on June 19, 2004, in a lavish 180-guests wedding ceremony in California. Leslie’s oldest brother, Gary Valentine is also married to a woman named Jackyline Knipfing. Unlike Kevin though, Gary and his wife do not have any children.

Leslie Knipfing Is Not Blind

The celebrity sister could also have been an actress, after all, she doesn’t just have the looks and body to achieve that, but also the pedigree of her older brothers as well. However, any chances of that happening were scuppered by the genetic condition she was born with. The rare condition known as Retinitis Pigmentosa causes temporary loss of vision but the potential for blindness is very rare.

Living with a condition like that is what has constantly driven Leslie to raise awareness about the illness with the unwavering support of her brother Kevin and several other charity foundations.

Leslie Knipfing’s Height Is Above Average

Leslie’s height of 5 feet 9 inches is well above the average height of a typical American female which is 5 feet 4 inches. Other known physical features include light brown eyes and a full head of blonde hair. There isn’t much information about her body weight or physical measurements.

Key Facts About Leslie Knipfing

How Old is Leslie Knipfing?

• Leslie Knipfing was born on November 17th, 1974 making her 49 years old

How Many Children Does Leslie Knipfing Have?

• Leslie does not have any children but is an aunt to Kannon Valentine, Sienna-Marie James, Sistine Sabella James and Shea Joelle James

What is Leslie Knipfing’s nationality and where is she from?

• She was born in New York City, United States of America and holds American citizenship by birth

Who are Leslie Knipfing’s siblings?

Leslie Knipfing is the sister of popular actors Kevin James and Gary Valentine.

Who are Leslie Knipfing’s parents?

• Leslie’s parents are Joseph Valentine and Janet Knipfing.