Kevin James Lives Out Christian Faith on Set of 'Paul Blart Mall Cop 2'? Co-Stars Say He's a 'Giving' and 'Humble' Guy
NEW YORK — Comedian and actor Kevin James could be one of the most lovable guys in Hollywood, according to some of his co-stars in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2," who didn't have a bad word to say about him during the film's world premiere in New York City on Saturday.
James, a self-professing Catholic who credited his faith as something that helps him in every aspect of his life during a previous interview with The Christian Post, remains humble despite his fame and success in television and film.
"My faith helps me in everything; it shapes me and I always try to glorify Him in movies," he told CP in 2012. "We all make mistakes, and if I played an angel every time I'd be out of the business. There are faulted people, and there is good and evil."
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Vic Dibitetto, a comedian and YouTube Internet personality known for his harsh rants on pop culture, scored a role as Blart's right-hand man, Gino Chizetti, in the film through knowing James from his days of working small comedy clubs in New York City.
"I've known Kevin for about 30 years. We started in the East Side Comedy Club and we lost touch," Dibitetto told CP. "He became the King of Queens, I went on to drive a garbage truck. Then he saw my YouTube videos on Facebook."
"He's a regular guy. He's got no ego," he continued. "He's got six comics in this movie that he knows from the business. I mean, who does that? It's about friends helping friends."
Actor D.B. Woodside, who plays villain Robinson in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2," affirmed comments made by DiBitetto about James' good nature.
"He's just a really down to Earth guy. He comes across to me as a working class guy," Woodside told CP. "[He's] humble. Hilarious. A family man."
The film's director, Andy Fickman, jokingly described James as "a horrible person that punches me regularly," but eventually echoed the sentiments of both Woodside and Dibitetto.
"It sounds almost cliché' because in our business we don't always get to have the chance to work with such a wonderful guy," Fickman told CP. "And Kevin is one of the best. He's so kind on screen and off screen and he cares about the cast, the crew and the story."
Fickman said James will stop filming to take pictures with fans and tries not to let them down.
"The heart of that is a guy who loves the community," he said. "You know, you make movies for the world and you hope that the world appreciates it. And he does."
Nicholas Turturro plays Nick Manero, a fellow security official to Blart in the film. He discussed the advantages to making this film in Las Vegas and what he described as the "good clean fun" he had there with James while shooting.
"Good clean fun. It's just guys bonding, commiserating. Telling boy stories. Nothing really bad," Turturro added. "Kevin's a sweet guy. He's got a good heart. He's a very giving guy. We've become good friends."
"Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2" opens in theaters on Friday, April 17.
