Show notes
Wendi and Dfernando's nineteenth episode and their guest interview is 3-time Emmy Award winning actress, producer and author Patricia Heaton.
Patricia Heaton is a multiple Emmy Award-winning actress who has played not one, but two beloved TV moms. Perhaps best known for her role as Debra Barone on the classic CBS 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 SAG Award, and three SAG nominations in the Best Actress category for her role in the comedy. She then starred in the ABC comedy series THE MIDDLE as Frankie Heck, a mom trying to find balance between her family and careerfamily and career in the Midwest. The show ran from 2009 to 2018. She was seen most recently on the CBS comedy CAROL’S SECOND ACT.
While studying acting in New York City with drama teacher William Esper, Heaton made her Broadway debut in the 1987 gospel musical DON'T GET GOD STARTED. Heaton returned to the New York stage in 2006, where she garnered praise for her role as "Stella" in the Second Stage production of THE SCENE by Theresa Rebeck and received a Lortel Award nomination for her performance.
While in New York in the late 80s, Heaton and her fellow acting colleagues formed Stage Three, an acting company that produced plays Off-Broadway. They took one production, THE JOHNSTOWN VINDICATOR to Los Angeles, where Heaton’s Semperformance caught the eyes of casting directors which led to her career on television.
Heaton went on to portray the producer/daughter in the television series ROOM FOR TWO (1992). Her additional television credits include a starring role in the series SOMEONE LIKE ME (1994), a regular role in WOMEN OF THE HOUSE (1995), and a recurring role on THIRTYSOMETHING (1987). She also starred in the highly rated television movie MIRACLE IN THE WOODS (1997), with Della Reese.
In 2001, Heaton co-founded FourBoys Entertainment, a production company that she runs with her husband, actor/director/producer David Hunt. The company produced the Sony Pictures feature comedy MOM'S NIGHT OUT and TNT's production of THE ENGAGEMENT RING, both of which starred Heaton. In addition, she starred in Hallmark Hall of Fame's FRONT OF THE CLASS. Her other credits include the TNT/Neil Simon production of THE GOODBYE GIRL, Sony Pictures' animated THE STAR, and ABC's THE PATH TO 9/11. FourBoys' additional projects include THE CHRISTMAS HEART for the Hallmark Channel, the documentary feature film THE BITUMINOUS COAL QUEENS OF PENNSYLVANIA for Netflix, and the critically acclaimed film AMAZING GRACE, in conjunction with Bristol Bay Productions. FourBoys Entertainment partnered on the web series VERSAILLES for MyDamnChannel.com, which Heaton appeared in, and which was co-created, produced, and directed by Hunt.
Her feature film credits include MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN, BEETHOVEN, THE NEW AGE, SPACE JAM, the animated THE STAR and MOM'S NIGHT OUT.
On the Emmy Award-winning Food Network series PATRICIA HEATON PARTIES, she drew inspiration from her family and travels and invited the audience in while she served up incredible party-friendly foods for her co-stars, friends and family. She brought that same sensibility to print with her first cookbook, PATRICIA HEATON'S FOOD FOR FAMILY & FRIENDS and in May 2019, Heaton launched her homewares line, Patricia Heaton Home, with Walmart.
In addition to her acting and producing credits, Heaton is a best selling author whose book MOTHERHOOD AND HOLLYWOOD - HOW TO GET A JOB LIKE MINE appeared on the New York Times best seller list. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, the book is a collection of essay's chronicling Heaton's childhood, years of struggle as an aspiring actress, her success on a wildly popular series, and how she balances her career and family.
Her latest book YOUR SECOND ACT - INSPIRING STORIES OF REINVENTION is filled with light-hearted anecdotes and pragmatic steps to help you discover your own path. YOUR SECOND ACT shows us that midlife doesn’t have to be about crisis when you focus on the opportunity. After all, it’s never too late, or too early to stage your second act!
A committed philanthropist, Heaton is the founding member of World Vision's Celebrity Ambassador Network. She has travelled to Rwanda, Zambia, and Syria with the humanitarian organization, which focuses on conducting relief, development and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries.
A mother of four sons, Heaton lives with her husband, David Hunt, in Los Angeles.
And on Episode 19, Wendi and Dfernando remember TV legend Regis Philbin, and Wendi gives us an update from her final installment of those cryotherapy sessions.
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Click below to purchase Patricia Heaton’s books:
MOTHERHOOD AND HOLLYWOOD - HOW TO GET A JOB LIKE MINE
PATRICIA HEATON'S FOOD FOR FAMILY & FRIENDS
YOUR SECOND ACT - INSPIRING STORIES OF REINVENTION
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