Patricia Heaton leads Sawyer Sweeten tributes

Patricia Heaton leads the tributes to her former on-screen son, Sawyer Sweeten, who passed away on Thursday.

The 57-year-old actress played Debra Barone in the hit comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond. Following the news that her former co-star Sawyer had taken his own life, Patricia was quick to share her condolences with his family.

"The entire cast of #EverybodyLovesRaymond is in shock. Prayers for the Sweeten family (sic)" she wrote on Twitter after originally posting: "Sawyer Sweeten was a funny and exceptionally bright young man. He is gone from us far too soon."

The 19-year-old reportedly shot himself at his family's home in Texas. He starred alongside his twin brother Sullivan as the Barone family's youngest children Michael and Geoffrey. Their on-screen grandmother Marie, played by Doris Roberts, also shared her sorrow at Sawyer's passing on her Facebook page.

"It is with great sadness that I learned the news that Sawyer Sweeten, who played my grandson Geoffrey Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond, died at his family's home in Texas," she wrote. "He was a very sweet young man who will be dearly missed. Make sure your loved ones know how much you care about them, and please check in with them if you haven't touched based with them for a while. It's very important to keep in touch."

Everybody Loves Raymond starred Ray Romano in the title role. The series ran from September1996 until May 2005 and also featured Sawyer's real-life sister Madylin as the oldest Ramone child Ally.

The 23-year-old confirmed the sad news in a statement.

"This morning a terrible tragedy occurred. We are devastated to report that our beloved brother, son, and friend took his own life. He was weeks away from his 20th birthday," she said. "At this sensitive time we beg of you to reach out to the ones you love."