Sawyer Sweeten, who played one of the young twins on Everybody Loves Raymond, has committed suicide, USA TODAY confirms.
"This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred," says his sister Madylin Sweeten, in a statement sent by Sawyer's manager, Dino May. "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."
Sweeten played Geoffrey Baron on Everybody Loves Raymond, which ran from 1996-2005 on CBS. He acted alongside his twin brother, Sullivan, who played Michael Barone and their real-life sister, Madylin, who played Ally Barone. Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton played their parents.
Sweeten and his brother, from Brownwood, Texas, were only 16 months old when they first started on the show and ultimately appeared in 139 episodes.
Radar Online first reported the news, and says Sweeten was visiting family in Texas and is believed to have shot himself on their front porch Thursday.
"At this time I would like to encourage everyone to reach out to the ones you love," wrote Madylin on her Facebook page Thursday. "Let them have no doubt of what they mean to you."
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