Ray Romano is basically the king of the "everyman." You know the vibe. That nasally, slightly anxious, but deeply relatable voice that has echoed through our living rooms since the mid-90s. Most people see his face and immediately think of a plastic-covered sofa in Long Island, but if you haven't looked at the full list of ray romano movies and tv shows lately, you’re actually missing out on one of the most interesting career pivots in Hollywood history.
He didn't just stay the "sitcom guy." He didn't just disappear into a pile of syndication checks—though, honestly, nobody would have blamed him if he did. Instead, he became a Scorsese regular, a dramatic heavyweight in indie films, and the emotional anchor of some of the best prestige TV of the last decade.
The Sitcom Shadow: Everybody Loves Raymond and the 2025 Reunion
Let’s get the big one out of the way first. Everybody Loves Raymond ran from 1996 to 2005, and it wasn't just a hit; it was a juggernaut. It bagged 15 Emmys. It made Ray the highest-paid actor on TV at one point. The show worked because it wasn't just "funny"—it was a documentary for anyone with an overbearing mother or a jealous brother.
Interestingly, we just passed the 30th anniversary of the show's premiere. In late 2025, the cast got back together for a reunion special on CBS. Ray was very clear about one thing: there will never be a reboot. He and co-creator Phil Rosenthal have been firm that since we lost the legends Peter Boyle (Frank), Doris Roberts (Marie), and Sawyer Sweeten (Geoffrey), the "chemistry" of that house is gone. It’s a rare bit of integrity in an era where every single old show is getting a gritty 10-episode revival.
Moving Past the Laugh Track
When Raymond ended, the industry expected Ray to just do Raymond 2.0. Instead, he gave us Men of a Certain Age (2009–2011). If you haven’t seen it, find it. It’s a dramedy about three friends—Ray, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula—navigating the indignities of middle age. It was quiet, soulful, and honestly a bit ahead of its time.
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Then came the "Hank Rizzoli" era. Between 2012 and 2015, Ray joined the cast of Parenthood. Playing a photographer with Asperger’s, he showed a level of nuance that made people realize he wasn't just playing "Ray Barone" anymore. He was an actor. A real one.
The Dramatic Breakthroughs
- Vinyl (2016): He played Zak Yankovich, a 1970s record executive. He was almost unrecognizable with the hair and the swagger.
- The Big Sick (2017): This was a turning point. Playing the father of a girl in a coma, his chemistry with Holly Hunter was the emotional heartbeat of the movie.
- The Irishman (2019): Yes, Ray Romano is in a Martin Scorsese film. He played Bill Bufalino, the mob lawyer. Standing toe-to-toe with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, he didn't blink.
- Bad Education (2019): He starred alongside Hugh Jackman in this HBO film about a real-life school embezzlement scandal. Again, he played the "regular guy" who gets caught up in something dark, and he nailed it.
The Voices and the New Stuff
Of course, for a whole generation, he isn't a sitcom star or a mob lawyer. He’s Manny the Mammoth. The Ice Age franchise is a behemoth. Even in 2026, it’s still going. Production is currently ramping up for Ice Age: Boiling Point, which is slated for a February 2027 release. It’s wild to think he’s been voicing that mammoth for nearly 25 years.
More recently, Ray has been leaning into the "creator" role. In 2023, he released Somewhere in Queens, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. It’s a love letter to his roots—Italian-American families, high school basketball, and the suffocating but well-meaning nature of community. It felt like the spiritual successor to his early work, but with the wisdom of a man who has seen the world.
Why Ray Romano Movies and TV Shows Keep Topping the Charts
The guy has range. He can go from the absurdist comedy of Bupkis (2023) with Pete Davidson to the heartbreaking indie drama Paddleton (2019). If you haven't seen Paddleton, prepare to cry. It’s a movie about two neighbors, a terminal diagnosis, and a lot of puzzles. It is perhaps his most vulnerable performance.
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He's also kept busy with No Good Deed (2024), a Netflix dark comedy where he plays Paul Morgan. It’s a sharp, cynical look at the real estate world that proves he still has his comedic timing, even without a studio audience to tell him when to pause.
Key Highlights of Ray's Career
- The Sitcom Legend: 9 seasons of Everybody Loves Raymond.
- The Voice: 5 (soon to be 6) Ice Age films.
- The Dramatic Pivot: Parenthood, The Big Sick, and The Irishman.
- The Director: Somewhere in Queens (2023).
- The Recent Hits: Fly Me to the Moon (2024) and No Good Deed.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Ray Romano is just "the guy with the voice." They think he's limited to playing the bumbling dad. But if you look at his work in Get Shorty (the TV series, not the movie), you see a desperate, washed-up producer that is miles away from Long Island. He’s spent the last two decades systematically dismantling his own image.
He’s one of the few actors who managed to survive "the sitcom curse." Most stars of massive 90s shows never found a second act. Ray found a second, third, and fourth.
How to Catch Up on Ray's Work
If you want to see the evolution for yourself, don't just re-watch the Barones. Start with The Big Sick for his "dad" energy at its peak. Then move to Paddleton for the raw emotion. If you want the grit, hit The Irishman. And if you have kids—or just want some nostalgia—keep an eye out for the Ice Age: Boiling Point trailers starting to drop later this year.
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The best way to experience the full scope of ray romano movies and tv shows is to watch them chronologically. You can literally see him grow more comfortable in his skin as the years go by. He went from a guy who was terrified to deviate from his stand-up notes to a director who knows exactly how to frame a shot.
For your next binge-watch, skip the flashy new releases for a night. Dig into the Romano archive. You'll realize that while everyone might love Raymond, there's a lot more to love about Ray.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check Streaming: Most of his recent work like Somewhere in Queens is on Hulu, while The Irishman and No Good Deed are on Netflix.
- Revisit the Stand-up: His 2019 special Right Here, Around the Corner is a great reminder of where it all started.
- Stay Tuned: Follow the production news for the Jim Valvano biopic, where Ray is set to play the legendary basketball coach.