Stars of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ Remember Costar Sawyer Sweeten a Decade After His Suicide

Everybody Loves Raymond stars Madylin and Sullivan Sweeten reflected on the death of their real-life brother and costar Sawyer Sweeten a decade after his suicide.

Sawyer tragically passed away in April 2015 just weeks ahead of what would have been his 20th birthday.

Madilyn, 34, and Sullivan, 30, appeared on the 30th anniversary reunion special for Everybody Loves Raymond which aired Monday on CBS.

Madilyn and her twin brothers Sawyer and Sullivan portrayed fictional siblings Ally, Jeffrey and Michael Barone on the sitcom which aired from 1996 to 2005.

Their TV dad Ray Romano mentioned the young actor on the special, saying: ‘So Sawyer, of course, is no longer with us, and we miss him. He just, like you are, was just this bright energy, light.’

Sullivan bravely spoke about his twin brother’s death as he explained: ‘None of us really expected what happened. But I try to think about the good moments and often times that’s here on the set.’

Older sister Madilyn reflected on her brother’s life as she talked about his impact since his tragic death.

She said: ‘I just think it’s so important in any conversation that we’re having about Sawyer. We’re very passionate in our family about suicide prevention. It is the second leading cause of death between the ages of 18 to 25. But 90 percent of people who seek treatment are cured.

‘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.’

Sawyer was visiting family in Texas at the time of his death in 2015. 

At the time, the cast and screw released statements about the young star’s death including lead star Ray who was the first to pay tribute. 

Ray worked with Sawyer for nine years starting from when he was just a 16-month-old baby and said he was ‘terribly saddened, by the news’.

He added: ‘He was a wonderful and sweet kid to be around. Just a great energy whenever he was there. My heart breaks for him, his family, and his friends during this very difficult time.’  

Sawyer appeared in 139 episodes of the popular US sitcom playing Geoffrey Barone, while his twin brother played Michael. Their older sister Madylin also played their older sibling on the show, Ally.

Madylin announced the news of her brother’s death in a statement on the day it happened.

‘This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred. We are devastated to report that our beloved brother, son, and friend, Sawyer Sweeten, took his own life. He was weeks away from his 20th birthday,’ she said at the time.

‘At this sensitive time, our family requests privacy and we beg of you to reach out to the ones you love.’

Sawyer’s Raymond costar Doris Roberts – who has also since passed in April 2016 – paid tribute to him on Facebook, writing; ‘It is with great sadness that I learned the news that Sawyer Sweeten, who played my grandson Geoffrey Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond, died at his family’s home in Texas. 

‘He was a very sweet young man who will be dearly missed. Make sure your loved ones know how much you care about them, and please check in with them if you haven’t touched base with them for a while. It’s very important to keep in touch.’

Patricia Heaton, his television mother, wrote; ‘Sawyer Sweeten was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon.’ 

Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion is currently streaming on Paramount+.