MUMBAI: Actress Patricia Heaton has become a household name on American television, thanks to the success the recently concluded sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond enjoyed.

Now her production company, Four Boys Films, has signed a deal with the ABC Television Network and Touchstone Television to develop TV movies and series. Heaton will receive executive producer credit.

As a separate part of the deal, Heaton will receive co-executive producer credit on any project in which she performs.

Heaton's company is currently developing Wilberforce with Phillip Anschutz' Walden Media. The television film is the true life story of William Wilberforce, who advocated for the freedom of slaves in 18th-Century England.

ABC Primetime Entertainment president Stephen McPherson said, "Patricia is a true television star, and we're thrilled to be in business with her. While we look forward to finding the right project for her considerable acting skills, we are equally as excited to see what comes out of the development part of the deal."

Four Boys Films was founded in 2001 by Heaton and her husband, David Hunt. They recently completed production on the documentary feature film The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania which Hunt directed.