Everybody Loves Raymond Child Star Found Dead at Age 19

Sawyer Sweeten (pictured left), the actor who played one of Ray Barone's sons on Everybody Loves Raymond, passed away on Thursday of a reported suicide at the age of 19. According to Radar, which was the first to report the news, Sawyer was visiting family in Texas, where he is believed to have shot himself on the family home's front porch. Sawyer's manager, Dino May, confirmed the sad news to Variety on Thursday.

Sawyer's twin brother, Sullivan, and sister, Madylin (also pictured), played his onscreen siblings on the hit show, which ran from 1996 until 2005. "This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred," Madylin said in a statement. "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."

Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton, who played Sawyer's onscreen parents, both reacted to the news on Friday. Ray told the Daily Mail, "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." Patricia tweeted on Friday, "The entire cast of #EverybodyLovesRaymond is in shock. Prayers for the Sweeten family."