Gary Valentine - A Look At The Comedian's Life

Izabella O'Keefe 21 Jun 2025

Many people know the name Gary Valentine, perhaps from his memorable appearances on television shows or his connection to a famous comedic family. He is, you know, a performer who has made a mark in the entertainment world, bringing laughter to many homes.

This individual, actually, has a story that goes beyond just the screen. It involves family roots, a start in stand-up, and a journey through different creative avenues. We'll explore where he comes from and how he began making people smile.

So, it's almost like we are pulling back the curtain a little bit on someone who has been a consistent presence in comedy. We will look at his background, his family ties, and the steps he took to become a known face in comedy and acting.

Gary Valentine's Early Life and Background
Personal Details and Bio Data
How Did Gary Valentine Get His Start in Comedy?
What Was Gary Valentine's Role on The King of Queens?
Gary Valentine's Collaborations with Fellow Performers
What Other Projects Has Gary Valentine Worked On?
Beyond Acting - Gary Valentine's Other Creative Pursuits
Gary Valentine's Family Ties in Entertainment

Gary Valentine's Early Life and Background

Gary Joseph Knipfing, who we recognize as Gary Valentine, came into the world in Mineola, New York. This event, you know, happened on November 22, 1961. His family had a rather interesting mix of origins, giving him a diverse heritage from the very beginning of his life.

His mother, Janet, held a position in a chiropractor's office. She worked there, helping people with their health needs. His father, Joseph Valentine Knipfing, Jr., was in charge of an insurance agency. So, you can see, his parents had quite different kinds of work, providing for their household.

The family's background, in some respects, is quite a blend. Their roots trace back to both Germany and Greece. This combination of cultures, apparently, might have brought a rich variety of traditions and perspectives into their home as Gary Valentine was growing up.

He was not, actually, the only child in the family. Gary Valentine has two other brothers and sisters. One of his siblings, a senior male sibling, is Kevin George Knipfing, widely recognized as Kevin James. Kevin James is also a performer and a person who tells jokes for a living. It seems, then, that the ability to bring laughter is quite strong within this family, which is, honestly, pretty cool to think about.

So, in a way, Gary Valentine's beginnings were rooted in a regular family setting in New York. His early years, you know, were shaped by parents who had different occupations and a family history that spanned across different parts of Europe. This foundation, we might say, set the stage for his later steps into the entertainment field.

Personal Details and Bio Data

To give you a clearer picture of Gary Valentine, here are some key pieces of information about him. This table, as a matter of fact, offers a quick look at some of his personal details and important biographical facts.

Full Name	Gary Joseph Knipfing
Professionally Known As	Gary Valentine
Date of Birth	November 22, 1961
Place of Birth	Mineola, New York
Parents	Janet (mother), Joseph Valentine Knipfing, Jr. (father)
Family Background	German and Greek family background
Siblings	Kevin George Knipfing (Kevin James) is his older brother, plus one other sibling.
Marital Status	Married to Jackyline Alido since 1993
Occupations	Performer, joke teller, person who puts words on paper, person who makes things happen behind the scenes
Known For	Parts played on The King of Queens, Fargo, Kevin Can Wait

This overview, you know, helps to put a few things into perspective about Gary Valentine. It shows his birth information, his family connections, and his main line of work. It also highlights, basically, some of the well-known projects he has been a part of in the entertainment world.

His family background, too, is pretty clear from this data. The details about his parents and his senior male sibling, Kevin James, really connect him to a well-known name in comedy. It is, honestly, a pretty neat way to see how his personal story unfolds alongside his professional one.

How Did Gary Valentine Get His Start in Comedy?

Many performers begin their path in different ways, and for Gary Valentine, his first steps into the entertainment field were on the stand-up comedy stage. This is where, you know, he truly began to hone his abilities to make people laugh, standing in front of an audience and delivering jokes.

He spent time, apparently, building his act and performing for crowds. It was through these early efforts that he started to gain recognition for his funny abilities. The stand-up circuit, as a matter of fact, is often where many comedic talents get their initial break and learn what truly connects with an audience.

After a particular showing up at the Montreal Comedy Festival, a significant event for joke tellers, Gary Valentine made a decision. He decided, so it seems, to move on from some of his earlier commitments or perhaps from a different kind of life. This festival appearance, you know, often acts as a big moment for comedians, bringing them to a wider group of people in the industry.

So, his beginnings in show business were quite traditional for a joke teller. He put in the work on the performance area, learning how to command attention and deliver humor effectively. This foundation, basically, proved to be very important for the parts he would later play on television and in other projects. It was a time of growth, you know, for his comedic style.

The path from stand-up to acting is, honestly, a well-trodden one for many who bring humor to others. For Gary Valentine, it meant that his ability to connect with people and deliver lines with a funny twist was already well-developed. This background, we might say, prepared him for the bigger stages that were to come in his career.

What Was Gary Valentine's Role on The King of Queens?

One of the most recognized parts played by Gary Valentine is his character on the television show The King of Queens. For nine seasons, he portrayed a character named Cousin Danny. This role, you know, became a very familiar sight for many viewers who tuned in regularly to watch the program.

Cousin Danny was, apparently, a recurring family member on the show, often bringing a unique brand of humor to the situations. His presence added, in a way, another layer of comedic interaction to the main characters' lives. It was a part that allowed Gary Valentine to showcase his timing and his ability to work within an ensemble cast.

Playing Cousin Danny for such a long period of time, honestly, means that the character became quite embedded in the show's story. Viewers got to know him well, and his appearances were often something to look forward to. This role, you know, really helped to solidify Gary Valentine's presence in the world of television comedy.

He was, as a matter of fact, not just an actor on the show. Like his brother, Kevin James, Gary Valentine also contributed to the writing of some of the episodes. This means he

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Gary Valentine - A Look At The Comedian's Life

Table of Contents

Gary Valentine's Early Life and Background

Personal Details and Bio Data

How Did Gary Valentine Get His Start in Comedy?

What Was Gary Valentine's Role on The King of Queens?

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