Doug Heffernan

Doug Heffernan
First appearance	The Lone Barone
Last appearance	China Syndrome
Created by	David Litt
Portrayed by	Kevin James
In-universe information
Alias	Pepè
Gender	Male
Occupation	IPS Driver
Family	Joe Heffernan (father) Janet Heffernan (mother) Stephanie Heffernan (sister) Danny Heffernan (cousin) Stu Heffernan (uncle)
Spouse	Carrie Heffernan (wife)
Children	Ming-Mei Heffernan (adopted) Baby Heffernan (biological, name unknown)

Douglas Steven "Doug" Heffernan (born February 9 1965 in Montreal) is a fictional character in the American situation comedy The King of Queens. The character first appeared in the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and has appeared in other New York-based TV shows like Cosby and Becker. The role is played by actor Kevin James, whose stand-up comedy provided the comedic themes and general style of the show. The character was identified by the New York Times who called him an average joe.

The character lives in Rego Park, Queens, with his wife Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini), and his father-in-law Arthur Spooner (Jerry Stiller). Arthur almost always refers to him as "Douglas."

Childhood and beyond

Doug lived a very sheltered childhood. He was unaware that he had been born accidentally in Montreal, Canada while his pregnant mother and father attended a friend's wedding there. He had instead been told by his parents that he had been born in New York City, and discovered the truth of his birthplace as an adult. He was also unaware that he had to repeat kindergarten, and that his dog Rocky died several times during his childhood, and was replaced each time. His parents had decided to hide these things from him because they wanted to protect him; these secrets were mostly revealed in the episode entitled 'Dog Shelter.'

Doug struggled with weight problems his entire life. He was a chubby child and continued to have weight problems as an adult, but coped better as he aged. Doug went to high school in Queens, where he befriended Spence Olchin; he also went to school with his cousin Danny. Doug played high school football and was a star player and starting fullback. He later went on to junior college, but dropped out and tried out for a semi-pro football team. He didn't make the team because of "politics", according to his claims. He later got a job as a bouncer where he met Richie Ianucchi (who gave him the nickname "Moose"), and met his bossy, but loving wife, Carrie Spooner (another episode refers to them meeting at a bar, however).

In flashbacks to when they were getting married, their pastor, Father McAndrew, revealed that they had met at church camp. Later in that episode, Doug's cousin, Danny, says that he was the one that Father McAndrew was referring to. His parents agree, saying that Doug was in "fat camp", though they referred to it as "football camp." Doug decided not to reveal this to Carrie because it was the only thing that held her pre-wedding jitters at bay. Eventually he tells her anyway, contradicting Carrie's wedding vows.

Doug's parents' names are Joe Heffernan (played by Dakin Matthews) and Janet Heffernan (played by Jenny O'Hara), his sister is Stephanie Heffernan (played by Ricki Lake). Doug's cousin Danny is played by Gary Valentine, who is Kevin James' brother in real life. "Uncle Stu", Danny's father and Joe's brother, is played by Gavin MacLeod, who appeared in episode 73, "S'no Job" and episode 93, "Hero Worship".

In episode #902, it is discovered that there is another Doug Heffernan in Queens, though he is not related. Doug hears a series of obscene telephone messages a mysterious woman named Jessica leaves on his machine, saying that she had a great time with him. Doug tries to tell Jessica that he is not the Doug Heffernan she had slept with, and her boyfriend threatens to kill him. Near the end of the episode, Doug and Carrie drive in separate cars to the medical office, where the "other" Doug Heffernan has a practice. It is also noted that Dr. Heffernan is older, shorter and skinnier than the Doug that Jessica had mistaken him for.

Carrie and her family

During Doug's previous job as a bouncer, he was introduced to Carrie Spooner (Leah Remini) by his friend Richie. Richie and Doug went out with Carrie and her friend, but it did not go well. Nonetheless, Doug and Carrie continued to date. Carrie matured a lot after they began dating, becoming more responsible, and faithful to Doug. Because of Carrie, Doug started his career with IPS and met his best friend Deacon.

When Doug first met Carrie's father, Arthur (Jerry Stiller), he was almost scared away by Arthur's craziness. He ran into Carrie while sneaking away, and they realized that they loved each other.

Doug and Carrie got engaged at a Jets game and later planned their wedding. Carrie was very nervous and stressed leading up to the wedding, but Doug helped her through it, and they got married.

Doug married Carrie in 1995, and they bought a house in Queens. His father-in-law, Arthur, moved in with them when his wife died and his house burned down. Arthur lives in their basement, the former hangout for Doug and his buddies. Doug is often annoyed by Arthur, but he doesn't have the heart to get rid of him. As a moderate solution to Arthur's annoying behavior, Doug hired a dog walker named Holly (Nicole Sullivan) to walk him, so Doug and Carrie didn't need to deal with his excess energy after a full day's work.

Along with Arthur, Carrie's sister Sara moved in, but she was cut from the show during the first season.

In the series finale, Carrie and Doug adopted a Chinese baby named Ming-Mei. Carrie learns she is pregnant a day later. A year later, he and Carrie are busy taking care of Ming-Mei and their biological daughter when Arthur's marriage ends and he moves back in with them.

IPS

Doug is a delivery man and a truck driver for the fictional IPS (International Parcel Service). When Doug and Carrie were dating, he lied and told her that he had a job. To make good on this, he quickly found a job with IPS. At IPS he met his best friend, Deacon Palmer. Doug's direct boss is Supervisor Patrick O'Boyle (Sam McMurray) though, as seen in one episode, his company boss/overseer is named Fisker. IPS is a thinly veiled reference to United Parcel Service.

Since beginning his job with IPS, he became the record holder for most consecutive days without an incident, with a plaque in his honor (It was blocked from view with a soda machine subsequently.) Also since beginning with IPS, his cousin Danny began working there.

In addition to his regular job as an IPS truck driver, Doug has also worked as a bouncer, limousine driver, bicycle courier, ice-cream truck driver, Chinese food deliverer, and bartender. He also tried to open his own sandwich shop, along with funding from his Uncle Stu, but when Danny was frustrated that his own father would not help his failed restaurant, Stu decided to help him instead by funding his hat kiosk.

Friends

Doug's best friend is fellow IPS driver Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams), who is married to Carrie's best friend, Kelly (Merrin Dungey). His other friends include lifelong buddy Spence Olchin (Patton Oswalt), a firefighter named Richie Ianucchi (Larry Romano) (who left the show mid-way through the series), his cousin Danny (Gary Valentine), and a dogwalker named Holly (Nicole Sullivan). Another friend of Doug's, Ray Barone (Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond), has also appeared as a guest on a few episodes of the show.

Doug and Carrie live next door to famous bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno (played by himself) on the right. Lou is most famous for his role as The Incredible Hulk and is the root of his friends making "Hulk Jokes."

Famous Quotes

• "Shominy!"
• "I will divorce the crap out of you!"
• "Shutty and Watchy"
• "Sweet!"
• "Yuspa!" (a reference to one of the executive producers of the show, Cathy Yuspa)
• "Shutty!"
• "Son of a B!"
• "Mother of ass!"
• "You son of a mother!"
• "Aw, mother of crap!"
• "Hey Twist-ay!"
• (After losing in black jack) "I hate my own ass!"
• (Imitating Arthur) "Lemon Ices!!!"
• (While training Danny as an IPS driver) "You know what, your first delivery is to Shut-it-Up Industries."
• "Go on back to Shuttytown!"
• "How about a nice bowl of Shut-it Stew?!"
• "How about a nice shut-up-sicle?!"
• (Arguing with Carrie) "That was such a reach"
• "I got a better idea. How about you shut up?!"
• "I don't read or exercise, so where does that leave me!?"
• "I hate my own freakin ass face!"
• "Shut it uppie!"
• "To be or not to be, that is the question."
• "You are dumb as ass!"
• "Hicy-ticy-taw!"

• "Oni Onion!"
• "Chunky Cost Us Money!"
• "Fatty love cake!"
• "My name might as well be Fatty McButterPants."
• "Bye,"F"