Patricia Heaton Receives Star on Walk of Fame

Two-time Emmy-winning actress Patricia Heaton received the 2,472nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Tuesday, one day before the season finale of her ABC series, The Middle.

Heaton's television husbands, Ray Romano from Everybody Loves Raymond and Neil Flynn from The Middle, joined her at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony in front of The Hudson Apartments at 6533 Hollywood Blvd.

Heaton received seven Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Debra Barone on the 1996-2005 CBS comedy Everybody Loves Raymond, winning as best actress in a comedy in 2000 and again in 2001.

Born March 4, 1958, in the Cleveland suburb of Bay Village, Ohio, Heaton graduated from The Ohio State University in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in drama, then moved to New York City to study with drama teacher William Esper. She made her first appearance on Broadway in 1987 as a choir member in Don't Get God Started.

Heaton then joined her fellow students in creating Stage Three, an off- Broadway acting troupe. When Stage Three brought one of its productions to Los Angeles, Heaton caught the eye of a casting director for thirtysomething,leading to a recurring role on the ABC drama.

Heaton's first regular series role was in the 1992-93 ABC comedy Room for Two, playing the executive producer of a morning television show whose recently widowed mother (Linda Lavin) moves from Ohio to join her in New York City. Heaton was also a series regular on the 1994 NBC comedy Someone Like Meand the 1995 CBS comedy Women of the House.

Heaton's made-for-television movie credits include the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production Front of the Class; A Town Without Christmas; Miracle in the Woods; The Engagement Ring; The Goodbye Girl and The Path to 9/11. Her movie credits include Memoirs of an Invisible Man; Beethoven; New Age and Space Jam.

Stay connected with Hollywood Patch throughout the day on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to our free daily newsletter for email updates.