The 30th-anniversary reunion special for the beloved sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond has deeply moved fans with its poignant and heartfelt tribute to the show's late stars, Peter Boyle, Doris Roberts, and Sawyer Sweeten.
A Touching Homage to Absent Friends
The 90-minute special, which aired on CBS, brought together key cast members including Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan, Sullivan Sweeten, and Madylin Sweeten. At its emotional core was an extended segment dedicated to honouring the memories of Boyle, Roberts, and Sawyer Sweeten, who have all passed away.
Peter Boyle, who played the iconic Frank Barone, died in 2006 at the age of 71. Doris Roberts, who brought Marie Barone to life, died in 2016 at 90. Tragically, Sawyer Sweeten, who portrayed one of Ray's twin sons, Geoffrey Barone, died in 2015 at just 19 years old.
The tribute wove together classic clips from the show with personal, behind-the-scenes memories shared by the cast. Showrunner Phil Rosenthal revealed little-known facts about Boyle, including that he once trained to be a monk and that the best man at his wedding was Beatles legend John Lennon.
Fan Reaction: A Wave of Emotion
On social media, viewers expressed how the tribute resonated with them, with many calling it 'beautiful' and admitting it moved them to tears. One fan wrote on X: 'It is so sad that Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, and Sawyer Sweeten can't be here to celebrate... May their memories live on forever.'
Another fan highlighted the enduring appeal of Doris Roberts, stating: 'Doris Roberts was everyone's tv mum, she just had a charm to her.' The overwhelming sentiment was one of appreciation for the show's respectful and loving handling of its departed cast members.
No Reboot on the Horizon
The reunion also served to confirm what many fans had suspected: the show will never be rebooted. Ray Romano stated at the outset that a revival is impossible without Boyle, Roberts, and Sweeten.
This sentiment was echoed by Brad Garrett, who earlier this year told People magazine: '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.'
Garrett, who played Robert Barone, added that while a reboot is off the table, he looks back on his time on the show with immense gratitude, remarking, '30 years later, I got very lucky to get on that bus.'
Everybody Loves Raymond, which starred Ray Romano as a sports journalist navigating family life in Long Island, New York, originally aired from 1996 to 2005 and remains a staple of television comedy.
