Stars of the beloved sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond have bravely shared their reflections on the tragic death of their real-life brother and co-star, Sawyer Sweeten, a decade after he took his own life.
A Family's Tragic Loss
Sawyer Sweeten died in April 2015 while visiting family in Texas, just weeks before what would have been his 20th birthday. The young actor, who had been part of the hit show from the age of 16 months, appeared in 139 episodes as Geoffrey Barone.
His siblings, Madylin and Sullivan Sweeten, who played his on-screen sister and twin brother, recently appeared on the Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion special that aired on CBS. It was there that they, along with their television father Ray Romano, paid emotional tribute to Sawyer.
Remembering a 'Bright Energy'
Ray Romano, who worked with Sawyer for the entire nine-year run of the show, was the first to speak about the loss during the special. 'So Sawyer, of course, is no longer with us, and we miss him,' Romano said. 'He just, like you are, was just this bright energy, light.'
Sullivan Sweeten, Sawyer's real-life twin brother who played Michael Barone, spoke with courage about processing the unimaginable loss. 'None of us really expected what happened,' he admitted. 'But I try to think about the good moments and often times that’s here on the set.'
A Legacy of Suicide Prevention
Their older sister, Madylin Sweeten, 34, used the platform to highlight the critical issue of suicide prevention. She revealed that their family has become deeply passionate about the cause since Sawyer's death.
'It is the second leading cause of death between the ages of 18 to 25,' Madylin stated, emphasising the importance of seeking help. 'But 90 percent of people who seek treatment are cured.'
She shared the profound impact her brother's story has had on others, revealing, 'So many of the messages that we get are people saying, ‘I’m so grateful to have heard about your brother. He saved my life.'
Following the tragedy in 2015, Madylin announced her brother's death in a statement, requesting privacy for the family and urging the public to 'reach out to the ones you love.'
The news was met with an outpouring of grief from the cast. Patricia Heaton, who played the children's television mother, remembered Sawyer as 'a funny and exceptionally bright young man.' The late Doris Roberts also paid tribute, urging people to check in with their loved ones.
The Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion is now available for streaming on Paramount+.
