Madylin Sweeten has both issued statements and shared her feelings via social media regarding the untimely passing of her beloved brother, 19-year-old Sawyer Sweeten. The Everybody Loves Raymond star died by suicide on Thursday.
“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,” Madylin Sweeten said in a statement to People magazine.
Madylin Sweeten shared a very special message via Twitter the day after her brother died.
Thank you all for your support at this time. Live your life to the fullest as he cannot.
— Madylin Sweeten (@REALAllyBarone) April 25, 2015
The Everybody Loves Raymond cast featured three members of the Sweeten family. In addition to Sawyer Sweeten, twin brother Sullivan Sweeten played Geoffrey Barone’s twin brother Michael Barone. Madylin Sweeten played older sister Ally Barone.
TV mom Patricia Heaton shared her grief in a statement to People magazine and on Twitter.
“Sawyer was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon,” she said. “The loss the Sweeten family is experiencing is unimaginable. Tonight hug your children a little tighter and please keep Sawyer and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
TV dad Ray Romano issued a statement as well.
“I’m shocked and terribly saddened by the news about Sawyer,” 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.”
Sawyer Sweeten was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) April 24, 2015
The entire cast of #EverybodyLovesRaymond is in shock. Prayers for the Sweeten family.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) April 24, 2015
Madylin Sweeten’s Everybody Loves Raymond grandmother, Doris Roberts, shared her grief via Facebook.
It is with great sadness that I learned the news that Sawyer Sweeten, who played my grandson Geoffrey Barone on '…
Posted by Doris Roberts on Thursday, April 23, 2015
Surely countless people–both within her own family and in her Everybody Loves Raymond family–are supporting Madylin Sweeten during this time of devastating loss. Hopefully their words, their prayers, and their continued support will help this young actress and grieving sister put the pieces of her broken life back together again.
