Celebrity

Shea Joelle James Is Stepping Beyond “Kevin James’ Daughter” — What Her 2026 Solo Mio Credit Reveals

Shea Joelle James has spent years quietly appearing in her father's projects, but a fresh 2026 film credit has drawn renewed attention to the young actress behind one of Hollywood comedy's best-known families.

Shea Joelle James has never lived like a conventional celebrity child. The daughter of actor and comedian Kevin James and actress Steffiana de la Cruz, she has largely remained outside the publicity cycle surrounding her father’s decades-long career.

That makes her appearance in the 2026 romantic comedy Solo Mio particularly notable. The film, released theatrically on February 6, 2026, stars Kevin James and lists Shea James in the credits as Maria, adding another screen role to a résumé that began when she was still a child.

Rather than suddenly emerging from nowhere, Shea has accumulated a small but traceable body of acting work across films and television connected to the James family. Her story is therefore less about instant celebrity and more about growing up near filmmaking while maintaining an unusually limited public profile.

Bottom line: Shea Joelle James is the second daughter of Kevin James and Steffiana de la Cruz, born June 14, 2007, in Los Angeles. Now 19, she has credited appearances in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, Pixels, Kevin Can Wait, Hubie Halloween and 2026’s Solo Mio.

Bio Summary

FactVerified information
Full nameShea Joelle James
Known professionally asShea James
Date of birthJune 14, 2007
Age in September 202619
BirthplaceLos Angeles, California
FatherKevin James
MotherSteffiana de la Cruz
Older sisterSienna-Marie James
Younger brotherKannon Valentine James
Younger sisterSistine Sabella James
Public fieldActing
Recent creditMaria in Solo Mio (2026)
Other screen creditsPaul Blart: Mall Cop 2, Pixels, Kevin Can Wait, Hubie Halloween

Why Kevin James Chose the Name “Shea”

Shea’s name is closely associated with one of Kevin James‘ strongest interests outside entertainment: the New York Mets.

James has repeatedly described himself as a lifelong Mets supporter. In a 2016 interview with Parade, he confirmed that he proposed the name Shea because of Shea Stadium, the Mets’ former home in Queens, New York. His wife liked the name independently of the baseball connection, and the couple kept it.

MLB.com has independently documented the connection, noting in 2015 that James was such a committed Mets fan that he named his daughter after the stadium.

There is another family element behind her full name. In a 2007 interview quoted by TMZ, Kevin James said that Joelle was connected to his late father, Joe, who used to take him to Shea Stadium.

The result is a name that links three generations of the James family to Kevin’s baseball memories.

A Childhood Surrounded by Kevin James’ Film Sets

Being Kevin James’ daughter did not automatically turn Shea into a full-time child performer.

Her screen résumé instead developed through relatively small appearances.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and Pixels Put Her on Screen in 2015

Shea received two movie credits in 2015.

In Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, she was credited as Little Girl. The film starred Kevin James as mall security officer Paul Blart and was released as the sequel to his successful 2009 comedy.

That same year, Shea appeared in Pixels as Classroom Scout Girl, with the credit appearing under her full name, Shea Joelle James.

Those were not major roles, and treating them as evidence of an established Hollywood career would exaggerate the public record. They do, however, establish that Shea had professional screen credits at an early age.

Kevin Can Wait Added Television Experience

Shea later appeared on her father’s CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait.

Her credits include appearances as Trick or Treater 2 and Lucy across the 2016–2017 period. Her older sister also participated in the series.

Kevin James had already spoken publicly about his children’s interest in visiting his sets. In his Parade interview, he said they enjoyed some parts of the entertainment business but were less interested in others, including stand-up comedy.

That distinction helps explain Shea’s public record: appearances exist, but there is little evidence that her childhood was structured around constant professional acting.

From Hubie Halloween to Community Theatre

A longer gap followed her early film work.

In 2020, Shea returned to a feature-film credit in Netflix’s Hubie Halloween, appearing as Cooky’s Friend. The Adam Sandler-led comedy also featured Kevin James among its ensemble cast.

Her interest in performing was not limited to film sets.

A family profile published by People reported that Shea and her siblings participated in a 2022 production of Oliver!. Shea played Bet, while members of the James family took other roles in the production.

This is an important part of the available record because it shows performing activity outside a simple cameo in one of her father’s movies.

Still, Shea has not publicly presented herself as a high-profile working actress through frequent interviews, promotional appearances, or a heavily publicized career strategy.

Solo Mio Makes 2026 Different

The strongest reason Shea Joelle James is attracting renewed search interest in 2026 is Solo Mio.

Angel released the Kevin James romantic comedy theatrically in the United States and Canada on February 6, 2026. Kevin plays Matt Taylor, a groom whose wedding plans collapse before his planned Italian honeymoon develops into an unexpected new chapter. Kevin James also served as a producer and co-writer.

IMDb’s full credits list Shea James as Maria. They also show other members of the James family in smaller parts: Steffiana de la Cruz appears as a flight attendant, Sienna James as a waitress, and Sistine James as a street vendor.

That makes Solo Mio particularly interesting from a family perspective. It is not simply another Kevin James film featuring a cameo by a single child; several family members are credited.

The film has since moved beyond its theatrical run. Angel’s July 2026 support information confirms that Solo Mio became available to stream for Angel Guild members in select regions.

For Shea, the Maria credit extends a screen history that now spans more than a decade.

Her Public Career Is Real — but Still Small

Search results sometimes describe celebrity children as established actors simply because they have a handful of credits.

Shea’s case requires more precision.

Her verified work shows genuine experience:

  • 2015: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 — Little Girl
  • 2015: Pixels — Classroom Scout Girl
  • 2016–2017: Kevin Can Wait — television appearances
  • 2020: Hubie Halloween — Cooky’s Friend
  • 2022: Oliver! — Bet in a theatre production reported by People
  • 2026: Solo Mio — Maria

IMDb documents her film and television credits, while People has separately reported her theatre participation.

What the record does not establish is whether Shea intends to act as her full-time profession.

At 19, she has time to make that decision without public speculation filling in the blanks.

Financial Picture: No Reliable Independent Valuation Exists

There is no authoritative publicly verified figure for Shea Joelle James’ personal wealth, income, assets, or earnings.

She has had acting credits, but publicly available sources do not disclose her compensation from those roles. Any website that assigns her a precise personal fortune without supporting financial records should therefore be treated with caution.

Her father’s financial success also cannot legitimately be used to estimate Shea’s own assets.

For biography purposes, the accurate position is simple: Shea Joelle James’ personal financial metrics are not publicly verified.

The More Interesting Story Is What Shea Hasn’t Made Public

Shea Joelle James occupies an unusual position in celebrity culture.

Her father is instantly recognizable from The King of Queens, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown Ups and numerous comedy projects, yet Shea has reached adulthood without turning her family connection into an intensely public personal brand.

At the same time, her appearances are substantial enough to make the description “Kevin James’ daughter” incomplete. She has accumulated film, television, and theatre experience of her own, and Solo Mio added a new credit in 2026.

Whether Maria becomes another occasional family-film appearance or the start of a more active phase in Shea James’ acting career remains to be seen. The verified record supports one conclusion for now: she has acting experience, but she has kept control of how much of her life becomes public.

FAQs.

Who is Shea Joelle James?

Shea Joelle James is the second daughter of Kevin James and Steffiana de la Cruz. She was born in Los Angeles on June 14, 2007, and has made several small acting appearances, including roles in Pixels, Hubie Halloween, Kevin Can Wait, and Solo Mio.

How old is Shea Joelle James?

Shea Joelle James is 19 years old as of September 2026. Her confirmed birth date is June 14, 2007. Her birth was reported at the time by the Associated Press through CBS News.

Why did Kevin James name his daughter Shea?

Kevin James named Shea after Shea Stadium, the former home of his beloved New York Mets. He directly confirmed the story in an interview with Parade, while MLB.com has also documented the connection between his Mets fandom and his daughter’s name.

Is Shea Joelle James an actress?

Shea Joelle James is a credited actress with a limited number of film and television appearances. Her credits include Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, Pixels, Kevin Can Wait, Hubie Halloween, and Solo Mio. That record establishes acting experience, although it does not confirm that she intends to pursue acting as a permanent full-time career.

Who does Shea James play in Solo Mio?

Shea James is credited as Maria in the 2026 romantic comedy Solo Mio. The movie was released on February 6, 2026, and stars her father Kevin James as Matt Taylor.

Who are Shea Joelle James’ siblings?

Shea has three siblings: older sister Sienna-Marie James, younger brother Kannon Valentine James, and younger sister Sistine Sabella James. Kevin James and Steffiana de la Cruz are parents to the four children.

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Editorial Disclaimer

This profile uses publicly available reporting and entertainment credits available as of September 2026. Private information concerning Shea Joelle James’ education, relationships, finances, residence, or future career plans has not been inferred where reliable public confirmation is unavailable. Financial estimates published without authoritative supporting documentation are intentionally excluded.

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