The cast of "Everybody Loves Raymond" has confirmed they will not pursue a reboot of the beloved CBS sitcom. This definitive stance was made clear during a recent 30th-anniversary reunion special.
The special, which aired on Monday, November 24, featured series star Ray Romano and creator Phil Rosenthal. They hosted the event from a reimagined version of the Barone family living room.
Romano, 67, and Rosenthal, 65, revealed the decision before being joined by fellow cast members Brad Garrett, Patricia Heaton, Monica Horan, Madylin Sweeten, and Sullivan Sweeten. No future plans for the series are in development.
"This is a reunion," Romano told the studio audience. "We’re never going to do a reboot because three cast members — and family members — are missing."
He added, "We would never try to do it without them."
Rosenthal echoed this sentiment, stating the series could not be revived. "It’s not the same, and we have too much respect for the show and the beautiful audience not to leave it as it is," he noted.
The CBS comedy ran from 1996 to 2005, focusing on a successful sportswriter, played by Romano, navigating family life with his overbearing parents living nearby. The show concluded its run nearly two decades ago.
Three key cast members have passed away since the series finale. Peter Boyle, who played Ray’s father, Frank Barone, died at 71 in December 2006. He had battled multiple myeloma and heart disease.
Doris Roberts, who portrayed Ray’s mother, Marie Barone, passed away in April 2016 at 90 due to natural causes. Sawyer Sweeten, who played one of Ray’s twin sons, Geoffrey Barone, died by suicide in April 2015 at age 19.
Romano had previously told Today in October 2020 that a reboot with the original cast "is not gonna happen." He stated, "We’re missing Peter, we’re missing Doris. We’re missing the essence of the show."
More recently, in December 2024, Romano told Yahoo! Entertainment he was "a little protective" of the series. He explained its personal nature, being based on his life and his involvement in the creative side.
Patricia Heaton, 67, who played Ray’s wife Debra, shared a similar view earlier this year. When asked about potential reboots for "Everybody Loves Raymond" or "The Middle," she joked, "Why did I never participate in a show that could be rebooted?"
Heaton expressed no desire to restart either show. She emphasized that "it was just kind of perfection, and you don’t want to mess with perfection."
She reiterated the impossibility of a reboot due to the loss of cast members. "We’ve lost so many cast members that you couldn’t reboot it because it wouldn’t be the same show," Heaton added.
Heaton also fondly recalled the bustling set. Almost everyone, including Romano, Garrett, Horan, and Rosenthal, was having children during the show’s run.
The "Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion" special is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.