Patricia Heaton
Actress Patricia Heaton Honored With
Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored actress Patricia Heaton with a star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, May 22, at 6533 Hollywood Boulevard in front of The Hudson Apartments. Emcee Leron Gubler, President/CEO of Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, speakers Ray Romano and Neil Flynn, and guests Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts and Atticus Shaffer helped Patricia unveil the 2,472nd star in the category of Television. “I am overwhelmed. When I moved to Los Angeles 20 some years ago, I didn’t have an agent and I was 30 years old which is equivalent to Seabiscuit. I want to thank the writers, the crew, make up artists etc. Actors cannot do it without these people,” said Heaton. “I also want to say that I have the three best husbands which makes me an honorary Mormon!”
Born in Bay Village, Ohio, Patricia Heaton attended Ohio State University and graduated with a B.A. in drama. In 1980, Heaton moved to New York City to study with drama teacher William Esper. She made her first Broadway appearance in the chorus of Don’t Get God Started (1987), after which she and fellow students created Stage Three, an Off Broadway acting troupe. When Stage Three brought one of their productions to Los Angeles, Heaton caught the eye of a casting director for the ABC drama thirtysomething. Other TV guest appearances followed including Alien Nation, Matlock, Party of Five, The King of Queens, and many others.
Heaton is perhaps best known for her role as Debra Barone on the award-winning series Everybody Loves Raymond. She won two Emmy® Awards for the role and was nominated seven times. In addition to her Emmy® wins, Heaton is also the recipient of the Best Comedy Actress Award from the Viewers for Quality Television, a Screen Actors Guild Award and three nominations in the Best Actress category for her work on Raymond.
Patricia Heaton currently stars as Frankie Heck – an overstressed wife and mother of three who works tirelessly to maintain her family, and her sanity, on a daily basis – in Warner Bros. Television’s hit comedy The Middle. A solid performer on ABC’s Wednesday night – comedy block, the series has earned itself a fourth season, thanks a great deal in part to Heaton’s performance, which has garnered rave reviews from both critics and viewers throughout the season. The show’s season finale airs Wednesday, May 23, at 8 p.m. PST.
Recent television credits include starring opposite Kelsey Grammer in FOX's critically acclaimed comedy series Back to You. She also starred in the Hallmark Hall of Fame film, Front of the Class. Her other television credits include prominent roles in the series Room for Two, Someone Like Me and Women of the House, as well as the CBS television films A Town Without Christmas and Miracle in the Woods.
In 2001, Heaton co-founded FourBoys Films, whose recent productions include the documentary feature film The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania and the critically acclaimed film Amazing Grace, directed by Michael Apted, in conjunction with Bristol Bay Productions. She also produced and starred in the TNT/Fourboys Films production The Engagement Ring. She also starred in the TNT/Neil Simon production of The Goodbye Girl and ABC’s The Path to 9/11. Her feature film credits include Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Beethoven, New Age, and Space Jam.
In addition to her acting and producing credits, Heaton is a bestselling author whose book Motherhood and Hollywood – How to Get a Job Like Mine was on the New York Times best-sellers list.
Heaton is very active in a number of charity organizations. She has long supported Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and was a Big Sister herself in her 20s in New York. She has worked with the TS Alliance for nearly a decade, participating in their annual fundraiser, “Comedy for a Cure” to raise money for research and treatment for Tuberous Sclerosis. She supports the Lighthouse Medical Mission and recently travelled to Sierra Leone with the relief organization. And she has spent time preparing care packages for our troops overseas with Operation Gratitude. She also gives generously to Reece's Rainbow, an organization that assists in the adoption of children with Down Syndrome and other special needs.
For more information and to view who shares a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, visit www.walkoffame.com
ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME – www.WalkOfFame.com
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an internationally-recognized Hollywood icon. With approximately 24 star ceremonies annually broadcast around the world, the constant reinforcement provided to the public has made the Walk of Fame a top visitor attraction. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce continues to administer the Walk of Fame as the representative of the City of Los Angeles. The Walk of Fame is a tribute to all of those who worked diligently to develop the concept and to maintain this world-class tourist attraction. The Walk of Fame is open to the public. No paid admission or assigned seating at star ceremonies.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Sign are registered trademarks of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.