The cast of Everybody Loves Raymond stole our hearts from the very first moment the show
premiered in 1996. The iconic sitcom, which starred legendary actors like Ray Romano,
Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, Brad Garrett, and many others,
left behind a compelling legacy that Hollywood will never forget.
Everybody Loves Raymond ran for nine seasons until the final episode in 2005.
The beloved CBS series centered on Ray Barone,
a successful sports writer for Newsday, and his Italian-American family as they lived in
Long Island, New York. While managing his responsibilities as a husband and father,
Ray was known for his affably sarcastic nature, which surfaced regardless of the circumstances.
"Hey Crinkle Guts! Daddy! Heeey, oh. Let me take that for you."
It's been more than 15 years since the show went off the air,
but fans will always adore the memorable cast. You especially can't forget about Madylin Sweeten,
who portrayed the role of Ray's TV daughter, Ally Barone. Considering she was just 5 years
old when the show first debuted, there's no doubt she has come a long way since then.
"Welcome. Thanks for being here.”
“Thank you for having me."
So what is she up to today?
Madylin Sweeten was born on June 27, 1991, in Brownwood, Texas. The actress is best
known for Everybody Loves Raymond, but she actually made her film debut
in 1996's A Promise to Carolyn. Sweeten portrayed the role of young Debra.
That same year, she rose to fame alongside Ray Romano and their co-stars on the sitcom.
As she appeared as Ally on Everybody Loves Raymond throughout the show's nine seasons,
Sweeten also juggled other gigs. She played the character of Dora in 1998's The Christmas Path,
followed by A Dog of Flanders in 1999. She later also acted in 2003's American Splendor.
Sweeten's success continued even after Everybody Loves Raymond went off the air,
and as the years went on, she juggled jobs as both an actress and producer.
Sweeten's most recent work was in 2019's Lucifer, when she joined the show for one episode.
"So, whatcha drinking? Ooh wait, let me guess. You look like a gin guy!"
Even though Sweeten got a taste of fame and superstardom, like many other child stars,
she struggled with substance abuse. Because she was so used to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood
at such a young age, she said she felt purposeless after her run on Everybody Loves Raymond.
In 2019, she told Voyage LA,
"As a young woman, living a normal life seemed trivial, useless, and impossible
to me. [...] This led to a quite adventurous lifestyle in my youth. By the time I was 19,
I had lived the lives of many people. I was lucky enough to see the world, meet my heroes,
and work on a primetime television series for nine years. Once my twenties came knocking at my door,
I had spent so much time chasing adventures that I had forgotten to take care of my mental health."
Sweeten said she then turned to alcohol, telling the publication,
"It's a tale as old as time, a bright young woman starts chasing booze and boys to fill the
empty holes in her soul. [...] My life went on, directionless, like this for a while."
After years of struggling with addiction and body image issues,
Sweeten focused on her health and has been sober ever since.
Sweeten is still working in Hollywood, but she lives a relatively quiet life otherwise.
According to her social media accounts, she is a loving cat and dog mom, tattoo enthusiast, wife,
and activist. She often shares photos while spending time with her beloved animals and her
husband, Sean Durrie, who she married in a small ceremony surrounded by friends and family in 2018.
While celebrating their first anniversary, the Emmy Award
winner shared a snapshot from a trip to Universal Studios with her husband, saying,
"We got accepted to Hogwarts, went to 'heaven' with Eleanor Shelstrop, and snuck in a quick
selfie with my personal idol! One year together and it couldn't have been better love you."
Being an activist is also very important for Sweeten. On social media, she doesn't
hold back on sharing her thoughts about politics and human rights.
In June 2020, she showed her support for the Black
Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd, writing in an Instagram post,
"If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem!"
Ultimately, Sweeten grew up to be a beautiful woman — both inside and out!
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus,
even more Nicki Swift videos about your favorite stars are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.