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Leah Remini is coming back for more.
The King of Queens actress has joined Kevin James’ CBS comedy Kevin Can Wait as a series regular for season two, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Remini will reprise the role she played in the two-part season one finale — a tough, wise-cracking police officer named Vanessa Cellucci who used to work with James’ character on the force. The role reunited the actress with her former TV husband, James, after the two starred on The King of Queens for nine seasons.
The reunion proved a ratings win for the show, with both parts of the finale ranking as the top scripted series of the night in the adults 18-49 demo. Kevin Can Wait, which marks James’ first series since King of Queens, ended the season ranked as broadcast’s top new comedy.
Since King of Queens wrapped in 2007, Remini has starred on the short-lived ABC comedy Family Tools and the TV Land multicam The Exes. She most recently headlined a female-centered remake of What About Bob? called What About Barb? The pilot, however, was not picked up to series by NBC.
In addition to her acting portfolio, Remini has been busy on the small screen with unscripted projects including her TLC docuseries Leah Remini: It’s All Relative and, most recently, her acclaimed A&E docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. The latter has been renewed for a second season. She also released a New York Times best-selling book about her experience in the church, titled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology.
Remini is repped by APA.
Like Kevin Can Wait, The King of Queens also aired on CBS and hailed from Sony Pictures Television. James executive produces Kevin Can Wait with Rob Long, Rock Reuben, Jeff Sussman, Andy Fickman and Tony Sheehan.
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