"Everybody Loves Raymond" star Sawyer Sweeten dead at 19 of apparent suicide
"Everybody Loves Raymond" star Sawyer Sweeten is dead of a suspected suicide at age 19.
Sweeten, who starred on the Ray Romano sitcom from 1996 to 2005, was visiting family in Texas on Thursday when he allegedly shot himself on the front porch of the family home.
Sawyer and his twin brother Sullivan played Romano's twin sons Geoffrey and Michael Barone on the show, and their real-life older sister Madylin played Ally Barone.
Sweeten's manager Dino May and father Timothy confirmed the death to ET, saying that the family is "very devastated." May included a statement from Madylin Sweeten:
"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. At this sensitive time, our family requests privacy and we beg of you to reach out to the ones you love."
"At this time I would like to encourage everyone to reach out to the ones you love," Madylin also wrote on her Facebook page. "Let them have no doubt of what they mean to you."
"Everybody Loves Raymond" star Ray Romano commented on the tragedy Thursday, saying, "I'm shocked, and terribly saddened, by the news about Sawyer. 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."
Co-star Patricia Heaton expressed her condolences for the Sweeten family, saying in a statement, "Sawyer was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon. The loss the Sweeten family is experiencing is unimaginable. Tonight hug your children a little tighter and please keep Sawyer and his family in your thoughts and prayers."
"Everybody Loves Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal also shared his condolences on Thursday, saying, "We knew and loved Sawyer as a little boy. He and his real life siblings Sullivan and Madylin were such a charming, integral part of our TV family. They never failed to make us laugh, or remind of us how we feel about our own children. We are terribly sad to hear this news and our hearts go out to Sawyer's family."