Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton recently took a nostalgic look back at their experiences in Lynbrook, Long Island.
At 67, Romano shared stories about how his former co-star, also 67, secured her memorable role on the hit show “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
The beloved sitcom, which aired for nine seasons from 1996 to 2005, chronicled the life of Ray Barone, played by Romano. The series highlighted his interactions with his wife Debra, portrayed by Heaton, their children (played by real-life twins Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten and their on-screen sister Madylin Sweeten), Ray’s brother Robert (Brad Garrett), and their parents, Marie (Doris Roberts) and Frank (Peter Boyle).
In celebration of the show, CBS broadcast the “Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion” on Monday. The event featured Romano, Heaton, the show’s creator Phil Rosenthal, his wife Monica Horan—who played Robert’s on-screen girlfriend—alongside Garrett, Madylin, now 34, and Sullivan, now 30.
During the reunion, Rosenthal revealed he auditioned 200 women for the role of Debra, but it was Heaton and Romano’s “spectacular chemistry” that stood out. “I’ve always said Patty Heaton is the best wife on television,” he remarked.
Romano added, “We’re forgetting one important detail that really convinced me during that first audition,” prompting Heaton to humorously respond, “That’s how desperate I was to get the job.”
“Well, they don’t know what you’re talking about,” the comedian responded, to which his on-screen wife confessed: “I kissed him!”
“There was a part [in the script] where it says, she kisses her husband,” Romano continued. “And every other actress [auditioning for the role] just kind of mimed it. For some reason, she did it.”
Heaton asked, “Nobody else?”
In Romano’s eyes, the kiss sealed the deal.
“And when she walked out, I go, ‘That’s the one!” he shared.
Playing Debra earned Heaton two Emmys in 2000 and 2001.
“I didn’t really have to do research, and I didn’t really have to do acting,” she revealed, “because it was what we were all dealing with in our marriages. And so, fortunately, we got to monetize that.”
At the time, Heaton had been married to her second husband, David Hunt, for six years.
The star was previously married to Constantine Yankoglu from 1984 to 1987.
“Well, I was going through — and I think why the show worked, we were all going through — what the Barone family was going through in our lives,” she said. “I had a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old in my life. I had a babysitting issue when I was coming to the audition, I needed to get back. I was cutting out coupons for 50 cents off two packs of Ball Park Franks, so I needed the gig.”
But at first, Heaton wasn’t sure she nailed her audition.
“I got there, and there was a waiting room of at least eight women,” the CBS alum recalled. “And I thought, I’m never gonna get back in time for the babysitter. So I went in and sat there, and I just needed to get this audition done. There was a guy sitting in the corner, and I thought, maybe he can get me some water while we’re waiting for Ray to come in. It was [Ray].”
In total, “Everybody Loves Raymond” took home 15 Emmy awards while on air.
While at the reunion, Romano also touched on the idea of a reboot.
“We’re never gonna do one,” he stated. “Because we’re missing three cast members, three family members, so we would never try to do the show without them.”
Boyle passed away in 2006 at the age of 71, while Roberts died at age 90 in 2016.
Sawyer died by suicide at age 19 in 2015.
“It wouldn’t be the same, and we have too much respect for the show itself and for the beautiful audience, to keep it the way it is,” Rosenthal added. “And thankfully, the show is still on every day, all over the world. If you want to visit your friends, we’re here.”
During the heartfelt reunion, the cast spoke candidly on Sawyer’s death.
“I’ve got plenty of good memories of playing tag in the bleachers and the prop room,” Sullivan said.
Romano then inquired, “Can we mention,” to which Madylin quickly replied, “Sawyer? Yes.”
The Emmy winner noted, “So, Sawyer, of course, is no longer with us, and we miss him.”
“And he, just like you are, was this bright energy,” Romano expressed to Sawyer’s siblings.
“None of us really expected what happened,” Sullivan shared before adding, “But I try to think about the good moments. And oftentimes, that’s here on the set.”
Madylin said she thinks it’s “so important” to bring up the topic of suicide when discussing her late brother.
“We’re very passionate in our family about suicide prevention. It is the second leading cause of death between ages 18 to 25. But 90% of people who seek treatment are cured,” she told her former co-stars.
At the time of Sawyer’s passing, Romano told The Post that he was “shocked” and “terribly saddened” over the news.
“He was a wonderful and sweet kid to be around,” he continued. “Just a great energy whenever he was there. My heart breaks for him, his family and his friends during this very difficult time.”
