Sawyer Sweeten, ‘Everybody Loves Raymond' Star, Dies Aged 19

US Child Star Sawyer Sweeten Dies Tragically, Aged 19
|

US actor Sawyer Sweeten, best known for his role in ‘Everybody Loves Raymond, has died at the age of 19.

His sister confirmed that the young star had taken his own life on Thursday, while visiting family in Texas.

According to Radar Online, who first reported the news, he is believed to have shot himself on the front porch of a relative's home.

Open Image Modal

Sawyer (left) starred with his twin brother Sullivan (right) in 'Everybody Loves Raymond'

In a statement, Madylin Sweeten confirmed the news: "This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred.

"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."

Open Image Modal

Sawyer with his sister Madylin Sweeten and twin brother Sullivan Sweeten in 2010

Sawyer played Geoffrey Barone in 139 episodes of the US sitcom ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’.

His twin brother, Sullivan, and sister, Madylin, also had roles on the show.

The boys were just 16 months old when they first appeared in the sitcom, which ran from September 1996 to May 2005.

Madylin paid tribute to her brother on Facebook, saying: "At this time I would like to encourage everyone to reach out to the ones you love. Let them have no doubt of what they mean to you.

If you've been affected by the issues in this article, please call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.

Celebs We Lost In 2015
Jackie Collins(01 of31)
Open Image Modal
Jackie, who sold more than 500 million novels in more than 40 countries in her four decades-long career as a writer in raunchy female fiction, died of breast cancer in September. She was 77 years old. (credit:Star Max/IPx)
Anne Kirkbride(02 of31)
Open Image Modal
The 'Coronation Street' legend played Deirdre Barlow on the cobbles for over 40 years. She died in January at the age of 60. (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
Terry Pratchett(03 of31)
Open Image Modal
The bestselling 'Discworld' author died in March at the age of 66. (credit:Dave M. Benett via Getty Images)
Lil' Chris(04 of31)
Open Image Modal
Pop singer Lil’ Chris - real name Christopher Hardman - died at the age of 24 in March. An inquest later revealed he had killed himself after battling depression. (credit:Joel Ryan/PA Wire)
Keith Harris(05 of31)
Open Image Modal
Ventriloquist Keith Harris was best known for his double-act with Orville the Duck. He died of cancer, at the age of 67, in April. (credit:B. Gomer via Getty Images)
Cilla Black(06 of31)
Open Image Modal
The 'Blind Date' and 'Surprise Surprise' star passed away following a fall at her Spanish villa in August at the age of 72. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Leonard Nimoy(07 of31)
Open Image Modal
Actor Leonard Nimoy, who was best-known for his role as Mr. Spock in the 'Star Trek' franchise, died on Feb. 27, 2015. He was 83. (credit:RE/Westcom/STAR MAX/IPx)
Christopher Lee(08 of31)
Open Image Modal
The veteran actor made his name in a long list of 'Hammer House of Horror' films, from which he will forever be celebrated for his role as Count Dracula. He passed away in June at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital aged 93. (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
B.B. King(09 of31)
Open Image Modal
Legendary blues star B.B. King died at the age of 89 in May.
Anne Meara(10 of31)
Open Image Modal
Anne Meara, star of ‘Sex And The City’ and mother to Ben Stiller, died at the age of 85 in May. (credit:Evan Agostini/AP)
A.J. Pero(11 of31)
Open Image Modal
A.J. Pero, the drummer for the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, died on March 20, 2015. He was 55. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Robert Lewis Burns Jr.(12 of31)
Open Image Modal
Robert Lewis Burns Jr., the original drummer for rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a car accident on April 4, 2015. He was 64. (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
Richard Glatzer(13 of31)
Open Image Modal
Richard Glatzer, who wrote and directed the film 'Still Alice' while battling ALS, died on March 10, 2015. He was 63 (credit:Chris Pizzello /Invision/AP)
Sam Simon(14 of31)
Open Image Modal
Nine-time Emmy winner Sam Simon, who wrote episodes of “Taxi,” “Cheers” and “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” before co-creating "The Simpsons," died on March 9. He was 59. (credit:Tonya Wise/Invision/AP)
Clark Terry(15 of31)
Open Image Modal
Legendary jazz musician Clark Terry, who mentored Miles Davis and Quincy Jones and played in the orchestras of both Count Basie and Duke Ellington and on "The Tonight Show," died on Feb. 21, 2015. He was 94. (credit:Frank Micelotta via Getty Images)
Geraldine McEwan(16 of31)
Open Image Modal
Actress Geraldine McEwan, known for playing Agatha Christie sleuth Miss Marple on television, died on Jan. 30, 2015 at age 82. (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Taylor Negron(17 of31)
Open Image Modal
Taylor Negron, a comedian and actor who described his style as “California Gothic” and who brought a funereal, straight-faced sensibility to a career’s worth of character roles in cult comedies like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “One Crazy Summer,” died on Jan. 10, 2015. He was 57. (credit:John Lamparski via Getty Images)
Samuel Goldwyn Jr.(18 of31)
Open Image Modal
Samuel Goldwyn Jr., the son of a fiercely independent-minded Hollywood mogul and the producer of many independent films in his own right including “Mystic Pizza” and studio hits including “Master and Commander,” died on Jan. 9, 2015 . He was 88. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Andrae Crouch(19 of31)
Open Image Modal
Andrae Crouch, a Grammy Award-winning gospel performer, songwriter and choir director, died on Jan. 8, 2015. He was 72. (credit:Frederick Breedon IV via Getty Images)
Donna Douglas(20 of31)
Open Image Modal
Actress Donna Douglas, who played the buxom tomboy Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies," died on Jan. 1, 2015. She was 82. (credit:CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images)
Ron Moody(21 of31)
Open Image Modal
Ron Moody, famous for playing Fagin in the musical version of 'Oliver!', died in June aged 91.The sprightly British stage and screen veteran found worldwide acclaim when he instructed all his young street urchins how to 'pick a pocket or two' in 1968, and was Oscar-nominated for his role in the hit film in 1968, when he starred alongside Mark Lester, Harry Secombe, Jack Wild, Leonard Rossiter and Shani Wallis. (credit:PA/PA Archive)
James Horner(22 of31)
Open Image Modal
The two-time Oscar-winning film composer was killed in a plane crash when the aircraft he was piloting came down in Santa Barbara, California. He was 61. (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
Wes Craven(23 of31)
Open Image Modal
The famed horror film director of 'Nightmare On Elm Street' fame passed away age at 76 in August. He was battling brain cancer at the time. (credit:Star Max/IPx)
Omar Sharif(24 of31)
Open Image Modal
The 'Lawrence of Arabia' actor died on July 10 at the age of 83. He suffered a heart attack after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease earlier this year. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Bobbi Kristina Brown(25 of31)
Open Image Modal
Bobbi Kristina, the daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown passed away on July 26. She was 22. Her death came nearly six months after she was found unconscious in her bathtub in her Roswell, Georgia home. (credit:Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
James Best(26 of31)
Open Image Modal
The actor, who played Sheriff Rosco P Coltrane in the US TV show 'Dukes Of Hazzard', died in a hospice in Hickory, North Carolina after a brief illness and battle with pneumonia. He was 88. (credit:Getty)
Percy Sledge(27 of31)
Open Image Modal
The legendary R&B singer, best known for his 1966 hit 'When a Man Loves a Woman' died at his Baton Rouge, Louisiana home after a long battle with cancer in April. He was 73. (credit:Taylor Hill via Getty Images)
Errol Brown(28 of31)
Open Image Modal
The Hot Chocolate singer died in his home in The Bahamas after losing his battle to liver cancer at the age of 71. His hits included 'So You Win Again' and 'You Sexy Thing'. (credit:Photoshot via Getty Images)
Lemmy(29 of31)
Open Image Modal
The Motörhead frontman died on 29 December, just three days after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. He was 70. (credit:Getty)
Nanny Pat(30 of31)
Open Image Modal
‘The Only Way Is Essex' star died at the age of 80 following a short illness just a week before Christmas. (credit:Doug Peters)
John Bradbury(31 of31)
Open Image Modal
The Specials’ drummer John Bradbury died at the age of 62 at the end of December.The sad news was shared via the band’s Twitter account, with a simple post that read: "It is with deep regret that we say goodbye to our great friend, the world's greatest drummer, our beloved Brad. RIP." (credit:Rhythm Magazine via Getty Images)