Romano: Don't Take My Wife

Steve Kroft Interviews Comedian Ray Romano

(CBS)  In some ways, Romano is the least assuming character on the show -- a gifted straight man in the tradition of Bob Newhart, George Burns, even Jerry Seinfeld, surrounded by more eccentric and emotional characters.

"He’s Everyman. You know, that’s what’s great about him," says Phil Rosenthal, the show's creator, and, along with Romano, one of its executive producers. He says Ray’s character is absolutely central to everything that goes on -- the beleaguered family man just trying to get through the day.

"He wants to be left alone," says Rosenthal. "'Please let me sit on the couch and watch television without all my responsibilities and obligations and family bothering me.'”

Romano was born 47 years ago into a middle-class Italian family in Queens that bears more than a passing resemblance to the one on the show. His father was an engineer, his mother a piano teacher, and his older brother a cop. Ray was a late bloomer. He says he dropped out of Queens College after seven years, with only 20 credits, to pump gas, deliver futons and try his luck in the New York comedy clubs.

"I was bad for a long time. Then, you get a little better, and a little better, and all of a sudden, someone offers you a gig to -- for money. You know? And I make $75 on a weekend, and you think holy crap," says Romano. "For $70, I can – I'm living at my parents' house, so I could do this."

Romano lived at home until he was 29. Then, he got married and moved out of his house the day after he got married.

That was in 1987, three years after he met his wife, Anna Scarpulla. The couple, who met while working as bank tellers, now have four children.

How was Romano as a bank teller? "Wasn't good," says Anna Romano. "He was accurate, but very slow."

"When you met and married Ray, what were your expectations?" asks Kroft.

"Very low," says Anna Romano, laughing.

But that all changed in 1995, when Romano made his debut on the "Late Show with David Letterman." Letterman was so impressed that he offered Romano the production deal that led to “Everybody Loves Raymond,” making Romano the highest-paid television actor ever.

"$1.8 million per episode?" asks Kroft.

"If you say it, all right. I just go to work, come home. And my wife lets me throw my clothes on the floor, and she doesn't say anything, so I must be making some money," says Romano.

"From what I can tell, you're making like probably twice as much as Shaquille O'Neill," says Kroft.

"I'm a better foul shooter than him," says Romano. "Seriously … and I keep a chart. I take 100 free throws and I'm about 61 percent. And what's Shaquille? Shaquille's like 50."