Charles Heaton Jr. (October 22, 1917 – February 14, 2008) was an American sports news columnist, journalist, commentator, and reporter. He worked for 50 years as a sportswriter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the father of actress Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle. He was also the father of Michael Heaton, who was a writer and movie critic for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and served for 30 years as the newspaper's "Minister of Culture." Michael is the author of four books, and is the screenwriter for Hallmark's movie, The Christmas Heart.