ABOVE: Allison Vuchnich reports on the suicide of Sawyer Sweeten of Everybody Loves Raymond.
TORONTO — Sawyer Sweeten, who played Ray Romano’s son Geoffrey on Everybody Loves Raymond, died Thursday morning. He was 19.
Sweeten’s family confirmed the young actor “took his own life” on the front porch of their Texas home.
Sweeten and twin brother Sullivan and older sister Madylin played the children of Romano and Patricia Heaton from 1996 (when the twins were only 16 months old) until 2005. The siblings have a younger sister Maysa and four half-siblings.
“We are devastated to report that our beloved brother, son, and friend, Sawyer Sweeten, took his own life,” read a statement from his family. “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.”
On Facebook, Madylin told fans: “At this time I would like to encourage everyone to reach out to the ones you love. Let them have no doubt of what they mean to you.”
In a statement, Romano said he was “shocked, and terribly saddened.”
He said: “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.”
Heaton paid tribute on Twitter.
“Sawyer Sweeten was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon. The entire cast of Everybody Loves Raymond is in shock.”
On her Facebook page, Doris Roberts — who played Sweeten’s grandmother on Everybody Loves Raymond, remembered the young actor.
“He was a very sweet young man who will be dearly missed,” she wrote. “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.”
BELOW: Watch Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten in a scene from Everybody Loves Raymond.
Thinking about suicide? Click here to find support in your province.
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