In the Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion special, the cast came together for a deeply emotional tribute to Sawyer Sweeten, who died by suicide in 2015 at the age of 19.
Ray Romano opened the moment by saying, “So Sawyer … of course, is no longer with us, and we miss him.” He described Sweeten as “just this bright energy, light,” underscoring how much he meant to the cast and to those who knew him.
Sullivan Sweeten, Sawyer’s identical twin and former castmate, shared reflections on their time together on set, saying he tries to remember the good moments — many of which happened behind the scenes, in places like the prop room or the bleachers. He admitted that none of them “really expected what happened,” but that he cherishes those positive memories.
Madylin Sweeten, their sister, used the platform to highlight the importance of talking openly about suicide prevention. She revealed that her family works with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, and emphasized that suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between ages 18 and 25. She added a hopeful note: “Ninety percent of people who seek treatment are cured.”
As part of their ongoing remembrance efforts, Madylin noted that the Sweeten family organizes a “Sawyer” T-shirt campaign each year, with proceeds going to support mental health causes. The reunion special closed with a photo of Sawyer and a message in his memory.
