The stars of the CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” are offering touching remembrances of their former castmate Sawyer Sweeten, following Sweeten’s suicide on Thursday at age 19.
Patricia Heaton, who played mother to Sweeten’s Geoffrey Barone on the comedy series, tweeted that Sweeten was “a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon.”
Heaton added, “The entire cast of #EverybodyLovesRaymond is in shock. Prayers for the Sweeten family.”
sw
Sawyer Sweeten was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) April 24, 2015
Sweeten fatally shot himself while visiting family in Texas on Thursday. His twin brother Sullivan and older sister Madylin also starred as the children of Ray Romano‘s Ray Barone and Heaton’s Debra Barone. In a statement, Romano said that he was “shocked” and “terribly saddened” by Sweeten’s death, calling him “a wonderful and sweet kid to be around.”
The entire cast of #EverybodyLovesRaymond is in shock. Prayers for the Sweeten family.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) April 24, 2015
Doris Roberts, who played Marie, the children’s intrusive, manipulative grandmother on the series, wrote a touching tribute to Sweeten on Facebook.
“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,” Roberts wrote.
The actress took the opportunity to remind readers to maintain ties with loved ones.
“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,” the actress added.
It is with great sadness that I learned the news that Sawyer Sweeten, who played my grandson Geoffrey Barone on '... Posted by Doris Roberts on Thursday, April 23, 2015