Though Everybody Loves Raymond ended over 15 years ago, the show’s hilariously relatable storylines continue to resonate with viewers today. The squabbles between overbearing parents Marie and Frank (played by the late Doris Roberts and the late Peter Boyle), Robert (Brad Garrett) and Ray (Ray Ramano)’s near-constant sibling rivalry, and Ray and Debra (Patricia Heaton)’s marital banter forever hold a place in our hearts.
So how did Ray Ramano, the star of the Emmy-winning sitcom and an executive producer of the series, get his material for the show? Well, it didn’t all come from him. Ray, show creator Phil Rosenthal, and various writers contributed to each episode’s plot. But as Phil revealed on The Early Show in 2006, “90% of the stories on the show were based on real-life experiences.”
los angeles april 16 rays ray romano worst nightmare comes true when marie doris roberts hops into bed with him on the may 16 series finale of everybody loves raymond from left to right ray romano, doris roberts, patricia heaton, peter boyle photo by robert voetscbs photo archivegetty images
In another twist, Phil’s IRL wife, Monica Horan, played Robert’s wife, Amy, in the series — even though Amy and Robert’s dynamic was quite different than the couple’s real-life marriage. Often, the marital issues Ray and Debra faced in Everybody Loves Raymond were inspired by things that happened to Monica and Phil.
“That was kind of the homework! We would go home early, we were home for dinner every night. All the writers. And the assignment was, ‘Go home, get in a fight with your wife so we have a show for tomorrow!'” Phil revealed.
los angeles april 16 the barone family enjoys maries home cooking on the may 16 series finale of everybody loves raymond from left to right madlyin sweeten, monica horan, sawyer sweeten, brad garrett, doris roberts, ray romano, patricial heaton, peter boyle, sullivan sweeten photo by robert voetscbs photo archivegetty images
“I’m hearing lines from conversations I had with my husband,” she said. “Ray was telling Debra to take medication, and she was telling him she needed a hug. I was like, ‘Whoa.’ I was crying, then laughing, then crying. It was surreal.”
As far as other characters go, Ray said on Larry King Live that the inspiration behind Robert was his own brother, Richard, who worked as a police sergeant. Ray’s other real-life brother, confusingly named Robert, worked as a teacher while the show was being created.
Brad told Larry that he had great respect for the man behind his character: “Rich is wonderful. We’ve had dinner a few times, and I took him to Melrose baths once. And it was a little disappointing. But no, he’s a great guy. He’s a real, wonderful hero. And he likes me a lot more than Ray.”
Long story short, all the drive-you-crazy characters you see on Everybody Loves Raymond most likely came from Phil and Ray’s very own families. But then again, who doesn’t have Maries, Franks, Rays, Debras, and Roberts in their own families?
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