16 Things You Never Knew About ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’

4. Patricia Heaton Was Not the First Choice to Play Debra

Once a show has been on the air and doing well it’s hard to imagine any other actors in the parts, but Patricia Heaton was not the first choice to play Ray’s wife. The producers wanted actress Jane Sibbett, who had played Ross’ wife Carol on Friends. Patricia has show creator Philip Rosenthal to thank for her ultimate casting. “They were suggesting someone to play Raymond’s wife that I just couldn’t live with, and so I was quitting over that. I don’t know if I called their bluff or whatever, but I wasn’t trying to — and I wasn’t bluffing. But sometimes, if you say that you’re going to actually quit, it’s the strongest move you can make in the situation.”

5. And Ray Says It’s Because She Kissed Him

Ray has said that he felt the most comfortable acting with Patricia because she was one actor that readily kissed him on the mouth – which, of course, acting as husband and wife requires.

6. The Kids on the Show Were Actually Related

There’s a reason why the actors who played Ray’s children on the show looked like real siblings…they were! Ally and her twin brothers Michael and Geoffrey are siblings in real life too. Tragically, actor Sawyer Sweeten (one of the twins) committed suicide last year.