Sawyer Sweeten, the actor who played little Geoffrey Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond", committed suicide in Texas, early on Thursday. He was 19.
A source close to the Sweeten family first confirmed the news to Radar online. "Sawyer was visiting family in Texas. He went on the front porch and killed himself with a gunshot to his head," reported the website.
Sawyer starred on the Emmy-winning sitcom from 1996 to 2005, playing Geoffrey Barone. His twin brother, Sullivan, played his on-screen twin, Michael Barone, while their real-life sister Madylin Sweeten played the character of their sister, Ally Barone. The CBS series starred Ray Romano and Patricia Heatons as their parents.
"This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred," Madylin said in a statement. "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."
Early on Friday, she also posted a message on Facebook, asking everyone to talk to their loved ones and make them feel special. "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," she wrote.
Sawyer's co-actors also reached out to his family; Ray Romano, in a statement to the E! News, said he was "shocked and terribly saddened" by the news.
"He was a wonderful and sweet kid to be around," he said. "Just a great energy whenever he was there. My heart breaks for him, his family and his friends during this very difficult time."
