Steffiana de la Cruz is an American actress, but probably known best as the wife of the famous American actor and comedian Kevin James. She’s appeared in multiple movies and projects, however, her acting career didn’t take off as intended.
Early life, family, educational background
Stephanie Anna Marie Zantua – or Steffiana de la Cruz – was born on 28 August 1974, in New York City, USA. Little is known about her parents except for their Philippine descent, as they prefer to stay out of media, and keep their lives private. Details about the actress’ education and childhood hobbies are also unknown. It’s been revealed that she matriculated from high school in 1992, however, the name of the school is unspecified. Steffiana expressed her interest in modeling when she was young, attempting to pursue a modeling career after completing her studies.
Career
Modeling career
At the beginning of her modeling career, Steffiana found it hard to get noticed, but her passion for becoming a successful model was strong enough to withstand initial setbacks. Eventually, she made a name for herself, and appeared in front of the lens of famous photographers, and taken by Robin Emtage, a famous photographer who takes headshots for actors, models, entertainers, and businesses. The details about her modeling gigs remain undisclosed to the public.
Acting career
Steffiana made her first appearance on TV in 1997, when she landed the role of Masseurin in the series “Die Gang”. In 1999, she portrayed Amanda in an episode of the American drama series “Pacific Blue”, which centers around the story of the Santa Monica Police Department’s bicycle patrol.
In 2000, the young actress landed the role of a party girl in a crime thriller movie “Cement”. Even though she had a minor role, she still showcased her acting skills, and during the same year, she was cast for the role of Tracy in the movie “Something to Sing About”, alongside noted actors such as Darius McCrary, Brian J. White, Grant Goodeve and Tamera Mowry. She made another brief appearance in 2001, as a blue-eyed girl in the movie “Soulkeeper”.
In 2002, Steffiana landed the role of Bar Patron in the film “Redemption”, this time challenging her skills in the action genre. It was followed by her portrayal of Loach’s girlfriend in the comedy “Stealing Harvard”, which tells the story of John Plummer who starts earning money with criminal activities, in an attempt to raise money for his niece’s Harvard tuition. In the movie, she plays alongside Chris Penn (her former boyfriend), Leslie Mann, and John C. McGinley. Concurrently, she made a guest appearance in the American sitcom “The King of Queens” in which her husband Kevin James portrayed the main character Doug Heffernan.
Me when I'm Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 pic.twitter.com/Es11r18Y2f
— Brock Baker (@BrockBaker) May 22, 2022
She didn’t appear on screens from 2002 to 2009, making a comeback when she was cast for the role of a shopper in the movie “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”, playing alongside her husband Kevin. It was followed by the roles of Robin in “Zookeeper” in 2011, and Kira in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”.
Since then, she doesn’t seem to have appeared in any movies or TV series, apparently concentrating on her family, including supporting her husband’s career.
Personal life, husband Kevin James
Back in 1993, Steffiana started dating famous actor Chris Penn, who is perhaps known best for his roles in “Footloose”, “The Funeral”, and “Rush Hour”. The couple lived together ’til 1999 and the reason for their break-up is still unknown. Chris died in 2006 of heart disease.
In 2002, Steffiana met Kevin James on a blind date, arranged by his interior designer; they started dating, became engaged in 2003, and the lovebirds tied the knot on 19 June 2004, in a ceremony held at the St. Edward Catholic Church in Dana Point, California, in front of their family members and friends. Steffiana wore a strapless Tomasina gown with distinctive beading and embroidery. The couple held the reception at the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach
Steffiana and Kevin have four children together: Sienna-Marie, Shea Joelle, Kannon Valentine, and Sistine Sabella.
Who is Kevin James?
Kevin James is a renowned American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter, who became famous through his portrayal of Doug Heffernan in “The King of Queens”, and Paul Blart in the movie “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”. During his career, he’s written, produced and acted in movies such as “Zookeeper”, “Here Comes the Boom”, and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”. He has also appeared in several famous TV series, including “Everybody Loves Raymond”, “Kevin Can Wait”, and “The Crew”.
Currently, Kevin runs a YouTube channel, posting his short films and frequently appearing with other actors and public figures. He has close to a million subscribers, with some of his videos getting around 1.8 million views.
Hobbies, favorite things, and interesting facts
Surprisingly, Steffiana isn’t active on social media channels, while her husband Kevin posts regularly on Instagram, and has more than 1.8 million followers. He mainly shares work-related content, and doesn’t reveal details about their personal life.
Steffiana was 31 years old when she gave birth to her first child. Her brother-in-law is Gary Valentine, who is also a famous actor.
Appearance, clothing style
Steffiana is of Filipino origin, and has brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5ft 8ins (173cm) in height and weighs approximately 121lbs (55kgs) – she maintains a slim figure even after four pregnancies. The actress wears evening dresses at red carpet events, but seems to prefer more casual outfits when she’s with her children. Since she doesn’t have social media, and rarely appears in front of cameras, it’s unclear how she dresses on daily basis.
Net worth and salary
As of now, Steffiana’s net worth is estimated close to $5 million, most of which she earned from her acting career. She doesn’t seem to have any other jobs or businesses. Kevin’s net worth is reportedly over $100 million, thanks to his successful acting career. He bought a Florida mansion in 2021, which is now listed for $20 million. Regardless of being rich, Steffiana and Kevin lead a modest lifestyle.
