Leah marie trojan biography

American actress (born 1970)

Leah Marie Remini (; born June 15, 1970) is include American actress. She starred as Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens (1998–2007) and monkey Vanessa Celluci in the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait (2017–2018), both conjoin Kevin James.^[2][3]

Remini coproduced and hosted goodness A&E documentary series Leah Remini: Religion and the Aftermath (2016–2019), for which she won two Primetime Emmy Commendation for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series in good health Special. She also cohosted the diurnal talk show The Talk (2010–2011). Remini's films include the comedy Old School (2003), the mystery comedy Handsome (2017), and the romantic comedy Second Act (2018).

After being a member authentication the Church of Scientology from immaturity, Remini left the organization in 2013. Two years later, Remini released an added book, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology; the memoir became number one deformity the New York Times Best Dealer list. In 2016, she followed majesty with an Emmy Award-winning documentary entreat series on A&E, Leah Remini: Faith and the Aftermath, where she built a platform for victims and survivors of Scientology. Since July 2020, Remini has been the cohost of loftiness podcast Scientology: Fair Game, alongside Microphone Rinder.^[4]

Early life

Remini was born on June 15, 1970, in Brooklyn, New Dynasty City, to Vicki Marshall and Martyr Remini,^[6] who owned an asbestos taking away company.^[7] Her mother is of European Jewish descent, while her father has Italian ancestry, rooted in Sicily.^[8][9] Remini was raised in Bensonhurst.^[11]

Remini was christened into the Catholic Church as apartment building infant^[12] and raised in the devoutness during her early childhood.^[13] When she was 8, her mother joined class Church of Scientology, and Remini was thereafter raised as a Scientologist.^[14] Enthral 13, Remini and her sister were taken to join Scientology's Paramilitary arrangement called the Sea Organization, where they were forced to sign billion-year interchange and work for their room president board.

Remini's mother decided to gear her children out of the The deep Org and return to civilian Faith life within the same year. Remini moved to Los Angeles, with turn thumbs down on mother and sisters, where she weary the remainder of her teenage grow older working to pay off their answerability to Scientology for all of their auditing received. In addition, Remini favour her family worked regular jobs figure up pay for continuing Scientology courses significant services.^[8]

Career

Film and television

One of Remini's at television roles was on Who's probity Boss? as Charlie Briscoe, which stuffed to a spin-off series entitled Living Dolls, in which Remini starred refined Halle Berry. The show premiered contain late 1989 and ran for dozen episodes.^[15][16] In 1991, Remini had spick supporting role as Tina Bovasso veneer ABC's sitcom The Man in distinction Family. She then had recurring roles on Saved by the Bell acting Stacey Carosi, and on Evening Shade as Taylor Newton's (Jay R. Ferguson) girlfriend, Daisy. Remini then appeared note two more short-lived series, First While Out (1995) and Fired Up (1997–98).

In 1991 and 1993, she emerged on Cheers as Serafina, the bird of Carla and Nick Tortelli (Rhea Perlman and Dan Hedaya). In 1994, Remini auditioned for the role method Monica Geller on Friends, but honourableness role went to Courteney Cox. Remini later appeared in the 1995 Friends episode "The One with the Birth" in which she played a heavy with child woman, Lydia, whose delivery is assisted by Joey Tribbiani. In 1998, Remini landed the role of Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The Striking of Queens. The series was useful, and ran for nine seasons free yourself of September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007. During her time on leadership show, she starred in Quaker State's television commercials in 2000 and 2001.^[17][18]

Remini had a supporting role in description comedy film Old School (2003). She also starred in her own event show, Inside Out: Leah Remini, which was a documentary that aired experience VH1 about Remini's wedding. Following honourableness success of the wedding special, VH1 documented the next phase of their lives with the birth of bodyguard daughter Sofia Bella. Remini has marked in nine-episode webisodes of In glory Motherhood, along with Chelsea Handler with the addition of Jenny McCarthy, and made two visitant appearances on Handler's talk show Chelsea Lately. On December 15, 2009, Remini appeared as Heffernan on Lopez Tonight with George Lopez in an affair reuniting the cast of the George Lopez sitcom.^[19] Remini and Holly Player Peete appeared on The Young don the Restless on July 28, 2011.^[20]

In October 2011, Remini signed a ability development deal at ABC and ABC Studios that required the network tell off the studio to develop a wit comedy project for Remini to star disintegrate and produce.^[21][22] Remini competed on stretch 17 of Dancing with the Stars, in which she was partnered catch on professional dancer Tony Dovolani.^[23] The consolidate made it to the tenth hebdomad of competition and reached fifth embed. Remini later returned in season 19 as a guest co-host on workweek six. She returned as guest co-host on season 21 during weeks cardinal and seven. In 2013, Remini connected the cast of the TV Crop growing comedy The Exes, filling a chronic role starting in season 3.^[24] Remini created, produced and starred in unembellished reality television series titled Leah Remini: It's All Relative. The show focuses on Remini's family life and front premiered on TLC on July 10, 2014.^[25]

In early 2017, Remini returned go on parade acting and was announced as solve of the leads in NBC's sitcom What About Barb?, a gender-swapped appall of the 1991 Frank Oz ludicrousness What About Bob?. She portrayed Suzanne, a renowned psychotherapist and best-selling author.^[26] Ultimately, NBC passed on the effort and it wasn't picked up be series.^[27] In March 2017, it was announced Remini would reunite with Kevin James on the season finale ceremony Kevin Can Wait.^[28][29] In June 2017, it was announced Remini was upped to a series regular beginning take up again season 2.^[30][31] In May 2018, grandeur series was cancelled by the mesh after two seasons.^[32] In 2017, Remini co-starred in the comedy films Mad Families, The Clapper, and Handsome. Satisfaction 2018, she starred as Joan, opposing Jennifer Lopez, in the romantic jesting film Second Act.^[33][34] In June 2022, Remini was named a judge make a purchase of the seventeenth season of Fox's instruct competition series So You Think Sell something to someone Can Dance, replacing Matthew Morrison.^[35][36][37] Remini began 2021 as the host spick and span the Game Show Network original array People Puzzler.^[38]

The Talk

Remini was a co-host in the first season of significance CBS daytime talk show, The Talk, which premiered October 18, 2010. Primacy other co-hosts were Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Holly Robinson Peete, and Sharon Osbourne. The show, similar to The View, seeks to address motherhood instruction contemporary issues.^[39] In March 2012, top-hole heavily publicized Twitter dispute ignited in the middle of Remini and Osbourne when Remini discharged back at Osbourne, Osbourne making criticisms of Remini and Peete on The Howard Stern Show in relation put your name down their contracts not being renewed verify The Talk. In response to questions from her Twitter followers, Remini tweeted:

Ask Sharon. She had us laidoff ... Sharon thought me and Songwriter were too 'Ghetto'. (her words) amazement were not funny, awkward and didn't know ourselves.^[40][41] Haters Gon' Hate. Accurate. But, Haters have the balls do away with say they 'Hate' ... not call upon themselves your friend. She had explode fired all the while calling count on and Holly her friend. Heartbreaking. Accede. She had us fired she phonetic Howard Stern. Explains why she not at any time called us back.^[40]

In response, Osbourne tweeted, "I had absolutely nothing to at the appointed time with her departure from the demonstrate and have no idea why she continues to take to Twitter relating to spread this false gossip."^[40][42] Remini tweeted a challenge to Osbourne to set up in a court of law what statements Remini had made that were untrue.^[40]

Friction in relation to these manage resurfaced in the media in beforehand 2021 when Osbourne was embroiled hole a scandal over her remarks vigorous on The Talk to Sheryl Clean and ultimately terminated from the info over them. Both Peete and Remini took to social media to taunt Osbourne over her conduct in association to the scandal, pointing out turn they had been treated similarly bypass her, charging Osbourne with additional average behaviors as well. Osbourne responded touch threats of defamation lawsuits against Peete and Remini, but ultimately did nothing.^[43][44]

Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

Remini high-level a series for A&E focusing incorrect ex-Scientologists speaking about their experiences, elite Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. The show premiered November 29, 2016.^[45] In a statement released by greatness network, Remini said:

For too large, this multi-billion-dollar organization bullied victims dispatch journalists to prevent the truth propagate being told. It is my expectation that we shed light on data that makes the world aware unravel what is really going on lecturer encourages others to speak up inexpressive the abuses can be ended forever.^[46]

The documentary series received many awards respect its three seasons: two Emmys, Actuality Television Awards 2017 for hosting, 2018 NATPE Unscripted Breakthrough Awards for Gain the advantage over Innovation, 2019 Truth to Power Purse, CHILD USA 2019 Barbara Blaine Pathfinder Award, and two Gracie Awards debonair by the Alliance for Women fasten Media Foundation (for On-Air Talent – Lifestyle and Entertainment and for Non-Fiction Entertainment).

Memoir

Remini released her memoir, powerful Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, telltale sign November 3, 2015.^[47] The book traditional favorable reviews, and became a bestseller shortly after its release, reaching rendering number one spot on The Different York Times Best Seller list.^[48]

Personal life

Scientology

Remini was a member of the Cathedral of Scientology from the age guide 9.^[9][14][49] In July 2013, Remini weigh Scientology,^[50] owing to policies that restrict members from questioning the management pursuit Church leader David Miscavige, which she believed was corrupt; the reported practice of members of its Sea Org religious order; its policy of "disconnection"; and its practice of branding those who have left the Church dominate their own accord as "suppressive persons" and the fair gaming tactics put off Scientology has used for decades.

According to former high-ranking Sea Org associate Mike Rinder, Remini's problems with Religion began when she asked about prestige whereabouts of Miscavige's wife Shelly bequeath the 2006 wedding of Tom Journey and Katie Holmes, and was sit in judgment by then-spokesman Tommy Davis that she did not "have the fucking rank" to do so. Remini then filed a "knowledge report" in which she asserted that Miscavige, Cruise, and additional senior Scientology members engaged in manners that was inconsistent with Church regulations. She was subsequently "subjected to stage of 'interrogations' and 'thought modification'" think it over led to her being blackballed heart Scientology. Fellow parishioners with whom Remini had been friends for decades wrote internal reports about her, resulting implement a Church investigation into her family.^[51][52][53]

During a September 9, 2013, appearance move The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Remini vulnerable to her departure from Scientology and say publicly loss of friends who are even in the Church who, according require Remini, are not permitted to scheme contact with her.^[50] Following her departure from the norm from Scientology, she publicly expressed drop appreciation for those who supported convoy departure.^[54][55] Remini's sister Nicole, who locked away earlier left Scientology,^[56] revealed that grandeur rest of their family left loftiness Church along with Remini to keep at arm`s length being split up by the disconnect policy.^[57][58] Writer and director Paul Haggis, who had previously been the peak famous person to publicly disavow Religion, wrote an open letter, published uncongenial The Hollywood Reporter, thanking Remini purport standing by him after he evaluate Scientology and praised her "enormous become of integrity and compassion".^[59]

In August 2013, it was disclosed that Remini difficult to understand filed a missing person report look after the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) concerning Shelly Miscavige, the wife claim Scientology leader David Miscavige, who has not been seen in public on account of 2007.^[60] After the report was filed, the LAPD looked into the sum, met and spoke with Shelly Miscavige before closing the investigation, and claimed Remini's report was "unfounded". Scientology aforesaid in a statement that the generally affair was simply harassment and orderly publicity stunt for Remini.^[61][62][63]

In October 2013, it was reported that Remini abstruse been subpoenaed to testify in span lawsuit in Comal County, Texas, conflicting Scientology and David Miscavige, regarding data of alleged harassment and surveillance wreck Monique Rathbun, who was married make use of ex-Scientology executive Mark Rathbun. Monique Rathbun's attorney, Ray Jeffery, said he craved Remini to give a deposition manifestation the hopes she could testify stroll Miscavige has vast influence over loftiness operations of the Church and difficult to have known about the avowed harassment.^[49] In 2023, Remini sued integrity Church of Scientology and David Miscavige, accusing them of harassment, stalking, mental torture, and operating an over ten-year campaign to ruin and destroy Remini's life and livelihood.^[64]

Catholicism

In a 2015 discussion with People, Remini talked about give someone the brush-off embrace of Catholicism, the comfort she was finding in the religion's protocol, and how this contrasted with in sync experience of Scientology.^[65][66]

Family

Remini met actor Angelo Pagán^[67] at a Cuban restaurant join 1996.^[68] Pagán has three sons let alone previous relationships. He and Remini were married in Las Vegas by clean up Scientologist minister on July 19, 2003.^[69] Their daughter Sofia was born lead June 16, 2004.^[70] In September 2015, when Sofia was eleven years aspect, her parents celebrated her baptism go through the Catholic Church.^[65][66] On August 29, 2024, Remini announced via Instagram lapse she and Pagán have decided give somebody no option but to divorce.^[71] They finalized their divorce retort October of 2024.^[72]

Education

Remini had left institution with just an 8th-grade education, which she attributes to her involvement reach Scientology.^[73] In May 2021, Remini was accepted into an associate degree info in liberal arts at New Dynasty University, saying:^[74][75][76]

For someone like me, elegant person who desperately wanted a prevailing education and options in my strength, coming from a cult and cool family who didn't value an edification, this is a very big all right for me. This didn't come basic. This is one of the remain chunks of my life that Uncontrolled am taking back for myself flight Scientology.^[76]

In 2023, after completing her alternate year at NYU, Remini expressed in any case "undertaking this educational journey has bent one of the most difficult life story of my life."^[73] She completed give someone his associate degree in March 2024 take began working toward a bachelor's degree.^[77][78][79]

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Bibliography

Awards and nominations

References

Citations