The cast of Everybody Loves Raymond gathered on Monday (November 24) to commemorate the show’s 30th anniversary with a special reunion, paying homage to their fellow actors who have passed away.
This beloved American sitcom, created by Phil Rosenthal, featured Ray Romano as Ray Barone, a sportswriter living with his wife Debra (played by Patricia Heaton) and their three children, right across the street from his intrusive parents Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts).
Set in suburban Long Island, the series tackled themes of marriage, parenting, and the universal love-hate dynamics within families, leaving no topic unexplored.
Running on CBS from September 1996 to May 2005, the sitcom spanned nine seasons with 210 episodes, clinching 15 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and securing its position as one of television’s most treasured sitcoms.
Over the years, several cast members have sadly passed away, and the reunion served as an opportunity for the remaining cast to honor their memory.
One of the memorable cast members was Sawyer, who played Geoffrey Barone, one of Ray and Debra’s twin sons, throughout all nine seasons for a total of 142 episodes.
He shared the screen with his real-life siblings, identical twin brother Sullivan, and older sister Madylin Sweeten.
Sawyer tragically passed away in April 2015 at the age of 19 by suicide.
During the reunion, Ramona described Sawyer as “this bright energy.”
Sullivan, Sawyer’s twin, addressed his unexpected death, sharing, “None of us really expected what happened, but I try to think about the good moments.”
“And oftentimes, that’s here on the set,” he added.
Madylin emphasized the significance of discussing suicide prevention when remembering her brother, stating, “We’re very passionate in our family about suicide prevention. It is the second leading cause of death between ages 18 to 25. But 90 percent of people who seek treatment are cured,” she added.
Roberts, who portrayed Ray’s meddling mother Marie, was another cherished cast member honored during the reunion.
Her notable performance won her four Emmy awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Roberts passed away in her sleep following a stroke in April 2016, at the age of 90.
During the reunion, series creator Phil Rosenthal reminisced about her audition, mentioning that although more than 100 women tried out for her role, none compared to Roberts.
“She was what was in my head and in my life and was so beyond,” Rosenthal shared. “My real mother used to say, ‘You know it is a little exaggerated.’ But you never saw that with Doris because she was always spot on. She was always 100 percent believable.”
Boyle, who played Ray’s father Frank, was also commemorated at the reunion.
He died in December 2006 from multiple myeloma and heart disease at 71.
Ray Romano shared a touching memory of Boyle’s kindness during the filming of the show’s pilot, recalling his words: “It’s just like water. Just let it flow.”
Romano reflected on the moment, saying, “At that time, I’m like, ‘What does that mean?’ And even though as an actor, I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I do now. Just the gesture, the gesture of him reaching out to me.”
Engel, who portrayed Amy’s mom, Pat MacDougall, appeared on the show between 2003 and 2005.
She passed away in April 2019 in Princeton, New Jersey, at the age of 70. Engel chose not to seek medical treatment due to her religious beliefs, leaving the cause of her death unknown.
Actor Fred Willard, who played Amy’s father, Hank MacDougall, appeared in 13 episodes between 2003 and 2005.
Willard passed away in May 2020 due to cardiac arrest, with underlying coronary artery disease and myelodysplastic syndrome. He was 86 years old.
Helmond, who played Debra’s mom Lois, appeared in 14 episodes between 1996 and 2004.
She passed away from Alzheimer’s disease at her Los Angeles home in February 2019, at 89.
Culp portrayed Debra’s father Warren Wheelan in 11 episodes between 1996 and 2004.
He collapsed near Runyon Canyon Park’s entrance in Los Angeles and was declared dead at a hospital shortly after. The cause of death was a heart attack, and he was 79 years old.
Berger took on the role of Rita Stipe in two episodes of Raymond between 1998 and 2000.
She passed away in May 2014 in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 91, but the cause of death was not disclosed.
Perry portrayed Nemo, the local pizzeria owner, in the CBS sitcom.
He died in May 2000 at a Burbank, California hospital from complications related to diabetes. He