Patricia Heaton is an American actress, producer and executive known for her roles in Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle and Carol’s Second Act.

While studying acting in New York with drama teacher William Esper, Heaton made her Broadway debut in the gospel musical Don’t Get God Started. She and her fellow students then formed Stage Three, an acting company that produced plays off-Broadway. They took one production, “The Johnstown Vindicator,” to Los Angeles, where Heaton’s performance caught the eyes of casting directors. Consequently, Heaton portrayed the producer/daughter in the television series Room for Two. Additional television credits include roles in Someone Like Me,  Women of the House,  Thirtysomething, and the television movie Miracle in the Woods.

Her feature film credits include Memoirs of an Invisible Man , Beethoven , The New Age  and Space Jam.

For her role in Everybody Loves Raymond, Heaton won 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was nominated for a 1999 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and won the 1998-99 Viewers for Quality Television Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Award.