Everybody Loves Raymond is one of the most successful TV shows to have ever aired. The series achieved unimaginable success, debuting in 1996 and running until 2005, an amazing feat for any series. Created by Philip Rosenthal and starring Ray Romano, who also served as a writer, Everybody Loves Raymond continually achieved high ratings and became extremely beloved by critics and audiences alike.
Everybody Loves Raymond is based around its titular character Raymond, who is a sportswriter living in Long Island with his family. He lives across the street from his parents and brother, and the series centres around their family life and everything that comes along with it. Indeed, the series featured one of the most iconic TV sitcom casts, who were ultimately central to the success of the show. Last year, Rosenthal expressed interest in creating a reunion special, much like how Friends had one, but says there are "no takers yet." Until then, here are some interesting facts about the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond that you might not have known.
8 The Show is Based on Ray Romano’s Life
Everybody Loves Raymond is loosely based on Ray Romano’s real life, and therefore his name is used for the title character. Romano grew up in Queens, and his experience of this is what inspired the creation of Everybody Loves Raymond. His daughter on the show is named after Romano’s real-life daughter, and he also has twin sons just like his character. These parallels add an interesting layer to the show and to Romano himself.
7 Patricia Heaton’s Father Was A Sportswriter
Patricia Heaton plays Debra, the wife of Ray and mother to his children. She gives a great performance in this role and adds to the family feel of Everybody Loves Raymond. In her real life, Heaton’s father was a sportswriter who wrote for The Plain Dealer, another crossover between the writing of the show and the real lives of the actors who play the characters.
6 Brad Garnett is a Professional Poker Player
Brad Garnett plays Ray’s brother Robert, bringing comic relief throughout Everybody Loves Raymond and a loving charm. Garnett has enjoyed a very successful career across a lot of media, including comedy and voice acting. In addition to this, he is also a very successful poker player, and even participated in the World Series of Poker in 2009.
5 Ray Romano Really Has a Brother Named Robert
Earlier, we discussed how the show was based on Romano’s real life, and this is true for his on-screen brother, Robert, who is played by Garnett. Romano's real-life brother is a second-grade teacher who lives in New York, and he was reportedly not happy with how he was portrayed onscreen.
4 Monica Horan Married an Executive Producer From the Show
Monica Horan plays Robert’s girlfriend and eventual wife, Amy, in the series. The pair engage in an on-again-off-again kind of romance throughout the show's run before they eventually marry each other. Interestingly, Horan sparked a romance while working on the show with executive producer Philip Rosenthal, which resulted in their marriage.
3 Doris Roberts Has Won 5 Emmy Awards
Doris Roberts portrays Marie, Ray’s overbearing mother who is lovable and funny on the show. Roberts passed away in 2016 at the age of 90, however, she left a huge mark on the entertainment industry, enjoying a very successful career. Throughout her career, she won five Emmy Awards for her work on Everybody Loves Raymond and St. Elsewhere. She also won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the CineRockcom International Film Festival, cementing her legacy in the acting world.
2 Peter Boyle Began His Career in the 1960s
Peter Boyle plays Frank, Raymond’s dad, and he has an excellent chemistry with Roberts as Raymond’s quirky parents. Boyle sadly passed away in 2006, however, he enjoyed a hugely successful career that spanned many decades, kicking off in the 1960s. His first role was in the critically acclaimed film Medium Cool, which was released in 1969, and he would go on to star in countless roles after this, enjoying a career most would envy.
1 Ray Romano’s Real-Life Children Have Appeared on the Show
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We’ve already discussed how Romano enjoyed incorporating aspects of his real life into the show, and this was also true for his real-life children. His children appeared Everybody Loves Raymond at different points while on-air, with his real-life daughter, Ally, portraying the daughter of his onscreen nemesis. His brother also appeared in several episodes as Albert, showing how he enjoyed blurring the real world he exists in alongside the fictional world of Raymond.