Ray Romano Welcomes First Grandchild, Son Rex Roman
Veteran comedian and actor Ray Romano has entered a new and heartwarming chapter of his life, becoming a grandfather for the first time. His daughter, Ally Romano, recently shared the joyous news that she and her husband, Zachary Wilezol, welcomed their son, Rex Roman Wilezol, into the world a month ago.
Ally, aged 35, announced the arrival of her baby boy on Instagram, sharing a touching caption that revealed Rex’s birth date as February 25th. “One month with my guy, Rex Roman Wilezol,” she wrote. She described her son as having “very long legs, massive hands, a full head of hair and the most perfect lips,” noting that his arrival was “begrudgingly” on time. Despite the challenges of early parenthood, Ally expressed the profound impact of their son, stating, “Although it wasn’t the start to parenthood we imagined, our strong, very big boy has shown us a new meaning to love.” She further elaborated on his spirited nature, adding a green heart and green dinosaur emoji, and affectionately calling him her “new bestie and a trooper!”
The image accompanying Ally’s post showcased the adorable infant dressed in striped blue pyjamas, nestled on a green blanket. A footprint marking his birth date was also featured, adding a personal touch to the announcement.
Ray Romano, the beloved star of Everybody Loves Raymond, is already a father to three sons with his wife, Anna Romano. His eldest children are 33-year-old twins Matthew and Gregory, followed by his youngest son, Joseph, who is 28.
The anticipation of becoming a grandfather had been a topic of conversation for Romano, 68, in the lead-up to Rex’s arrival. He spoke candidly with the Today show last month about his excitement for this new familial role. “We have a little boy coming, and it’s our first – and, I hear it’s great,” Romano shared. He elaborated on the perceived joys of grandparenthood, noting, “I hear it’s the best thing in the world because it’s like a parent – you get to play with them, and then when they smell, you give them back.”
The conversation with the Today show also touched upon potential new monikers for Romano in his grandparenting capacity. “You know, my father was Papa Al, so I think we’re going to try to go with Papa Ray,” he revealed. However, he acknowledged the fluid nature of family nicknames, adding, “But sometimes it evolves into something else, you know?”
Ally Romano and Zachary Wilezol exchanged vows on September 21, 2024, in a picturesque ceremony held at the New York Public Library. Reflecting on their meeting, Ally previously shared with People magazine that she was “smitten” from the moment they were introduced by mutual acquaintances three years prior.
She recounted a memorable first encounter, humorously stating, “He spilled martinis all over me and told me I looked like Carmela Soprano,” referencing the iconic character portrayed by Edie Falco in the acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos. Ally hinted that there’s “more to that story!”
The proposal from Wilezol to Ally took place on April 14, 2023, following a night out attending the Broadway show Shucked.
In other recent career developments, Ray Romano made his Broadway debut earlier this year, starring in the production All Out for a limited three-week engagement. He described the role to the Today show as a perfect fit for him. Having been offered Broadway opportunities in the past, the Queens native admitted he hadn’t previously possessed the courage to commit to a full-length play running for months. “This seemed like the perfect little introduction to Broadway,” he remarked.
