Fans of the beloved sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond have been deeply moved by what they're calling a 'beautiful' tribute to late cast members during the show's 30th anniversary reunion special.
Emotional Reunion Brings Cast Together
The special, which aired on CBS on November 24, 2025, brought together original cast members Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan, Sullivan Sweeten and Madylin Sweeten for the first time in years. The 90-minute programme dedicated significant time to honouring Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, who played Romano's parents in the series.
Boyle, who portrayed the gruff but lovable Frank Barone, passed away in 2006 at age 71, while Roberts, who brought Marie Barone to life with impeccable comic timing, died in 2016 at 90. The tribute featured classic clips from the show alongside personal memories shared by the remaining cast members.
Revealing Personal Stories and Fan Reactions
Showrunner Phil Rosenthal shared little-known facts about Boyle during the special, including that he once trained to be a monk and that Beatles legend John Lennon served as best man at his wedding. These insights provided fans with a deeper understanding of the actor behind their favourite television father.
The cast also paid respects to Sawyer Sweeten, who played one of Raymond's twin sons alongside his real-life brother Sullivan. Sweeten died in 2015 at just 19 years old.
On social media platforms, viewers expressed their appreciation for the heartfelt memorial. One fan wrote: 'It is so sad that Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, and Sawyer Sweeten can't be here to celebrate the 30th anniversary special of Everybody Loves Raymond. May their memories live on forever.'
Another fan commented on X: 'Doris Roberts was everyone's TV mum, she just had a charm to her. So sad that she's gone. Such a great actress. I still watch Everybody Loves Raymond to this day. It still holds up in the year 2025.'
No Reboot Confirmed
Ray Romano confirmed during the reunion that the show will never be rebooted, citing the absence of Boyle, Roberts and Sweeten as making it impossible to properly continue the story.
Brad Garrett, who played Robert Barone, echoed this sentiment, telling People earlier this year: 'There is no show without the parents. They were the catalyst, and to do anything that would resemble that wouldn't be right to the audiences or to the loyal fan base.'
Despite ruling out a revival, Garrett expressed gratitude for his experience on the show, stating: 'I know the reboot won't happen, but 30 years later, I got very lucky to get on that bus.'
Everybody Loves Raymond originally aired from 1996 to 2005, following sports journalist Raymond Barone's life as a busy family man in Long Island, New York. The series became renowned for its authentic and humorous portrayal of family dynamics, earning numerous awards and maintaining a loyal fanbase two decades after its conclusion.
