Kevin James’ family includes his wife Steffiana de la Cruz, their four children Sienna-Marie, Shea Joelle, Kannon and Sistine, his older brother Gary Valentine and his sister Leslie Knipfing. The comedian, born Kevin George Knipfing, grew up on Long Island and still works with relatives on screen.
This Scan Insider family hub puts the whole Kevin James family in one place, with confirmed dates, roles and links to each relative’s profile.
Key Takeaways
- Kevin James was born Kevin George Knipfing on April 26, 1965, in Mineola, New York.
- He married model and actress Steffiana de la Cruz on June 19, 2004.
- The couple have four children, born between 2005 and 2015.
- His older brother Gary Valentine co-starred on The King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait.
- His sister Leslie Knipfing stays out of the public eye.
Quick Facts: The Kevin James Family
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kevin George Knipfing |
| Born | April 26, 1965, Mineola, New York |
| Parents | Janet Klein and Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr. |
| Wife | Steffiana de la Cruz (married June 19, 2004) |
| Children | Four: Sienna-Marie, Shea Joelle, Kannon Valentine, Sistine Sabella |
| Brother | Gary Valentine (actor, comedian) |
| Sister | Leslie Knipfing |
Kevin James’ Parents and Early Life
According to Kevin James’ Wikipedia biography, he was born in Mineola, New York, to Janet Klein, an office worker, and Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr., who owned an insurance agency. He grew up on Long Island with two siblings and later changed his professional surname to James.
Wife: Steffiana de la Cruz
Steffiana de la Cruz is a Filipina-American model and actress. She and Kevin met on a blind date and married on June 19, 2004. She keeps the Kevin James family life largely away from the spotlight.
For more celebrity marriages, see our Spouses category.
Kevin James’ Children
Kevin and Steffiana have four children. Birth dates below come from People’s guide to the James kids; ages are as of November 2026. In 2016, Kevin told People his kids were “into animation and drawing” and did not want to be in front of the camera.
| Child | Born | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Sienna-Marie James | September 30, 2005 | 21 |
| Shea Joelle James | June 14, 2007 | 19 |
| Kannon Valentine James | April 24, 2011 | 15 |
| Sistine Sabella James | January 2015 | 11 |
Sienna-Marie James
The eldest child, Sienna-Marie, appeared alongside her sister on an episode of Kevin Can Wait. Kevin once told People that his eldest daughter was into kickboxing and called her “the tough one.”
Shea Joelle James
Shea Joelle was born on June 14, 2007. Kevin told David Letterman she was named after Shea Stadium, then home of the New York Mets. She has had small roles in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, Pixels and Hubie Halloween, and played Bet in a 2022 stage production of Oliver.
A dedicated profile of Shea Joelle James is part of our wider coverage of celebrity kids.
Kannon and Sistine
Son Kannon Valentine was born in 2011, and youngest daughter Sistine Sabella arrived in January 2015. Both are minors, so Scan Insider shares only their names and birth years.
Brother: Gary Valentine
Gary Valentine, born Gary Knipfing, is Kevin’s older brother and also a comedian and actor. He is best known as Danny Heffernan, cousin of Kevin’s character Doug, on The King of Queens (1998–2007), and he later played Kevin’s on-screen brother on Kevin Can Wait.
Gary has also written episodes for his brother’s shows, which makes the two one of TV comedy’s better-known sibling pairs.
Sister: Leslie Knipfing
Kevin’s sister, Leslie Knipfing, is the least public member of the family. Wikipedia confirms that Kevin grew up with a sister named Leslie, but she does not work in entertainment and gives no interviews. Read our full profile of Leslie Knipfing for what is confirmed about her.
More siblings, parents and other family members of celebrities are covered in our Relatives category.
Kevin James Family Tree at a Glance
- Parents: Janet Klein and Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr.
- Siblings: Gary Valentine (older brother), Leslie Knipfing (sister).
- Spouse: Steffiana de la Cruz (since 2004).
- Children: Sienna-Marie, Shea Joelle, Kannon Valentine, Sistine Sabella.
The middle name Valentine carries through the family too: it is Kevin’s father’s middle name and his son Kannon’s.
Summary
The Kevin James family is a tight Long Island clan that has grown into a Hollywood household: a wife who met him on a blind date, four children, an actor brother who shared his sitcoms and a private sister.
Explore more family hubs on the Scan Insider Blog, including Dennis Quaid’s kids and the Frank Sinatra family tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kids does Kevin James have?
Kevin James has four children with his wife, Steffiana de la Cruz: daughters Sienna-Marie (born 2005), Shea Joelle (born 2007) and Sistine Sabella (born 2015), and son Kannon Valentine (born 2011). People lists their birth dates, and the actor often jokes about his busy household in stand-up.
Who is Kevin James’ wife?
Kevin James is married to Steffiana de la Cruz, a Filipina-American model and actress. The couple met on a blind date and married on June 19, 2004. She has appeared alongside her husband in a few of his projects, and they have raised four children together.
Does Kevin James have siblings?
Yes. Kevin James has an older brother, actor and comedian Gary Valentine, who played cousin Danny Heffernan on The King of Queens, and a sister, Leslie Knipfing. Leslie keeps a low public profile, so far fewer verified details about her life are available than about Gary.
What is Kevin James’ real name?
Kevin James was born Kevin George Knipfing on April 26, 1965, in Mineola, New York. He performs under the name Kevin James. His siblings Gary and Leslie were also born with the Knipfing surname, which is why his sister is still known as Leslie Knipfing.
Sources
- Kevin James – Wikipedia (birth name, parents, siblings, marriage)
- Steffiana de la Cruz – Wikipedia
- “Kevin James’ 4 Kids: All About Sienna-Marie, Shea, Kannon and Sistine” – People (via Yahoo)
- Featured image: “Kevin James 2011” by Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
