Ray Romano looks back on nervous start to 'Everybody Loves Raymond' at reunion event

Ray Romano has opened up about the early career anxiety that followed him into one of television’s most successful sitcoms, admitting he felt “terrified” stepping onto the set of Everybody Loves Raymond after being fired from another show just days into filming.

Speaking at the 2026 ATX TV Festival reunion in Austin, Texas, the comedian reflected on the uncertainty he faced before landing his breakout role in the Emmy-winning series.

Romano, now 68, reunited with series creator Phil Rosenthal and several original writers to celebrate the legacy of the sitcom, which ran from 1996 to 2005 and earned 69 Emmy nominations and 15 wins.

Before becoming a household name, Romano said he had been cast in the original lineup of the sitcom NewsRadio, but was let go shortly after production began.

“I’d never really acted before; I was doing stand-up,” he said. “On day two, I got fired.”

That experience, he explained, lingered heavily when he arrived on the set of Everybody Loves Raymond, a show that would later bear his name and define his career.

“Fast forward to the first day, and I’d just gotten fired from a sitcom, and this sitcom has my name… and it was a little terrifying for me,” Romano said.

He admitted that his early performances reflected his inexperience, adding that he could see his growth throughout the first season as he became more comfortable in the role.

“I was a little stiff still, a little green,” he said.

Romano’s portrayal of sportswriter Ray Barone turned him into one of television’s most recognizable comedy stars, anchoring a series that remains popular in syndication decades after its debut.

The show also featured a strong ensemble cast, including Patricia Heaton as Debra Barone and Brad Garrett as Ray’s brother Robert, alongside the late Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle as his parents.

Romano also revisited lighter memories from the series’ long legacy, including taking the iconic floral couch from the Barone living room after the show ended, which he later placed in his home theater.

The actor noted that the sofa was briefly returned for the show’s 30th anniversary reunion, before being brought back to his home afterward.

Despite its humble beginnings and early doubts, Everybody Loves Raymond ultimately became one of the defining American sitcoms of its era—and, for Romano, a career-defining redemption story.