‘Everybody Loves Raymond’: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Facts You May Have Forgotten
What To Know
- In a Season 1 flashback episode, Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten, who played Ray and Debra’s twin sons, also portrayed a younger version of their onscreen sister Ally.
- Monica Horan, who played Amy Barone on the show, is married in real life to Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond.
- The roles of Ray and Debra’s twin sons were recast after the pilot, with Madylin Sweeten’s real-life brothers, Sullivan and Sawyer.
Everybody Loves Raymond is ringing in a special anniversary, and as we look back on the comedy that made Ray Romano a household name, we can’t help but remember a few fun behind-the-scenes facts. In anticipation of CBS‘s special, Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion, we’re breaking down a few of those fun details you may have forgotten.
As fans know, the series originally debuted in 1996 and ran for nine seasons until coming to a close in 2005. Before tuning into what’s sure to be a walk down memory lane with the reunion special, scroll down for a closer look at the behind-the-scenes facts that still blow our minds.
The Sweeten Twins Play Their Sister in a Flashback
In the Season 1 episode, “Why Are We Here?” the action flashes back to when sports reporter Ray (Romano) moved in across the street from his parents, Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts), with his wife Debra (Patricia Heaton), and their kids.

CBS / Paramount+
But when it came to the flashback, Heaton was pregnant in real life, not having to mimic a pregnancy with Debra and Ray’s twins, and Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten stepped in to double as a younger version of the couple’s daughter, Ally (Madylin Sweeten).
As fans see in the installment, the Sweeten brothers don pigtails and Ally-appropriate clothing to appear as a younger version of Ally. Even better is realizing that Ray and Debra’s kids onscreen are siblings in real life.
Phil Rosenthal and Monica Horan Are Married

Kevin Winter / Getty Images
For those less dialed into the making of Everybody Loves Raymond, they may not be aware that Monica Horan, who plays Robert Barone’s (Brad Garrett) wife, Amy, is actually married to the show’s creator, Phil Rosenthal, in real life. The pair have been married since 1990, and the couple have two kids together.
The Barone Twins Were Recast
After the pilot was filmed, the child actors who portrayed Debra and Ray’s twins had grown too much to convey the proper passage of time, and so they were recast with Madylin Sweeten’s real-life brothers, Sullivan and Sawyer.
Make sure to tune into Everybody Loves Raymond‘s upcoming reunion, and let us know what memories you have about the show in the comments section below.
Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion, Monday, November 24, 8/7c, CBS
Conversation29 Comments
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J
The greatest sitcom of all time! The writing is genius! I watch it everyday or at least have it on in the background. My favorites are Ray's Ring, The Model, Golf for it and I'm definitely forgetting a few more but the all time best is Boy's Therapy!
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C
I love all of Everybody loves Raymond Robert And Raymond And There Parents. My favorite episode was Robert and his police partner Judy Dancing 🕺 💃 lol all Top Notch cast 👌 👏 always even now keep us laughing Happy 30 Year's OF Laughter In Loving Memories Marie and Frank Thanks For Bringing Us All Sunshine 🌞 ✨️🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆✨️💯🙏🏿
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K
The scene where Amy stands on the couch or a chair to slap Robert because he was dating Stefani’s is my all time favorite scene.
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B
I still watch Everybody Loves Raymond often. My favorite episodes was Robert and Judy dancing at the club and tofu turkey. All the cast were great in the show.
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K
Every episode is hilarious. Never forget my first show experience was watching on flight from NYC to ORD. Was laughing out loud so hard I embarrassed myself.
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B
Love this show my fav is Robert, he is so down to earth and intelligent and would make such a good husband- my fave part is his wedding dance!
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T
Loved the show. I still watch the reruns. Still very funny.
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M
I love the show watch it often like the Italy episodes and Marie ran the car into Ray and Debra house
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P
I first watched the show and didn't care for Marie, however years later I think she is so funny. Great job Doris.
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L
Watch reruns all the time. Favorite episode was "The Canister".
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T
Loved the show & still watch it regularly. Some of my favorite episodes are the one with the corn dogs, Driving Frank, the one where They pretend to get the brother out of the cult & the one where he goes out dancing at the club with Judy.
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D
Best episode SHE ATE THE FLY! 🤣
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D
Absolutely love this show, watch it in the morning before going to work, very clever writing and acted brilliantly. My favourite episode is when Robert thinks he has been chosen to be a model but has been conned out of his money and Ray takes photos of him, hilarious 😂
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L
We love the show and a good choice of stars and always leaves us with a smile on our faces.
We were living in America for five years when this started and continued to watch here in the UK.
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S
They don't make shows like that anymore. I have every show memorized, and still love watching it. Hats off to everyone involved. Looking forward to the reunion!
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T
Absolutely love it. Still watch it over and over. Its still being played and watch it every morning in the UK before I leave for work. Such a great show. Brilliant characters. I miss it. Would have loved it to have carried on.
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B
My favourite episodes are Good Girl, Frank Paints the House, and The Wallpaper. Hilarious! All of the characters were awesome, but Frank and Marie were top shelf for me.
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M
Best show ever! Have the dvd set, but don’t need it, watch it every night and fall asleep to it on my 24/7 Raymond channel! Every episode is hilarious ( except the annoying kid and weird parents one) love the Italy trip episodes!
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J
The best! Still enjoying the reruns. Thank you to each one who made this sitcom possible.
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P
I’ve watched and watched and watched. I still always laugh, I know most of then lines. When I first found the show I thought how therapeutic. Wonderful show!!! My favorite show was the Angry Child😍
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B
I love the dancing scene w Robert
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D
Best episode has got to be when Marie reverses the car into rays house literally
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B
Best Comedy ever , they were all great actors , no one will ever replace them!!
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T
I love everybody loves Raymond I binge watch all the time I am retired and disabled this is my go to entertainment.
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C
Love everyone.The best shows I think was the one about the suitcase when Robert came in and
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T
Every episode was exciting. Couldn't wait to watch it. More TV shows should be like Everyone Loves Raymond. Family entertainment at its best. Still watch it today and laugh at every episode.
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D
Love this show watch all reruns god bless them all for a wonderful show! ❤️
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G
My favorite episode is when Robert and Jimmy were driver license examiners. He wanted his family to be the students applying for their license.
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J
My favorite episode is when they go to Ray's high school reunion and Deborah fits in with the cool guys.