'Everybody Loves Raymond' Child Star Sawyer Sweeten in Apparent Suicide

LOS ANGELES - Former child actor Sawyer Sweeten, 19, of the CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" committed suicide Thursday morning, a statement by his sister Madylin said.

"This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred," Madylin Sweeten said. "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, who is best known for his role as Geoffrey Barone, was visiting family in Texas where he reportedly shot himself on the front porch, the Hollywood Reporter said.

Sawyer Sweeten was a year and a half old when he joined "Raymond," playing alongside his real-life twin brother Sullivan, who starred as Michael Barone. His sister Madylin played Ally Barone, his TV sister.

"Everybody Loves Raymond," aired from 1996 to 2005 on CBS, starring Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle and Monica Horan.