"It was scary the way the Everybody Loves Raymond writers would write exactly what I was going through in my own life. It would freak me out that I would be dealing with the kids' school stuff, or with an aspect of my relationship with my husband, and I'd get the script and it would be right there on the page! I think it's what made the show so successful -- the experience of the characters is really universal."

    About This Interview

    In her nearly two-hour interview, Patricia Heaton talks of growing up a "daydreamer" in Cleveland and enjoying the attention she got as the daughter of Chuck Heaton, a well-known local sportswriter. She describes her early years as a struggling actress in New York City and Los Angeles, picking up small roles in commercials and television series. She discusses her recurring role in the hit dramedy series thirtysomething and her co-starring roles in the short-lived series Room for Two (opposite Linda Lavin, who mentored her) and Women of the House. Heaton then details the role and series for which she is best known, "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond. She chronicles her work on the series, from her audition to shooting the series finale (which was delayed when she contracted laryngitis). She describes the series' shooting schedule, working with directors Gary Halvorson and Will MacKenzie, and how her real-life pregnancies were covered up on the show. She also notes some of the moments of the show that garnered the biggest laughs, including Debra's desperate attempts to get a turkey in the oven, Raymond trying to lift Debra onto the refrigerator in a moment of glee and slamming her into it, and Debra dropping ice cream on Raymond's lap (eliciting a "minute-and-a-half laugh"). Finally, she touches on her appearances as spokesperson for Albertsons grocery stores and on some of her post-Raymond television movies. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 23, 2006 in Burbank, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Patricia Heaton

    Patricia Heaton on "Debra Barone," her character on Everybody Loves Raymond

    08:55
    Thumbnail of Patricia Heaton

    Patricia Heaton on working with Ray Romano

    02:33
    Thumbnail of Patricia Heaton

    Patricia Heaton on the series finale of Everybody Loves Raymond  

    02:06
    Thumbnail of Patricia Heaton

    Patricia Heaton on winning an Emmy for the "Bad Moon Rising" episode of Everybody Loves Raymond  

    01:14
    Thumbnail of Patricia Heaton

    Patricia Heaton on the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond as a classic comedy 

    01:38
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her childhood and early influences; on her father being a local sportswriter in Cleveland and a minor celebrity; on always enjoying performing; on working at the ABC affiliate in Cleveland; on moving to New York; on TV shows she enjoyed as a child; on her childhood daydreams

    13:01

    On her first professional job; on working odd jobs in New York to get by; on moving to Los Angeles to produce a play; on acting tips from William Esper; on forming a theater company; on her first television work in LA; on her first steady television gig on Thirtysomething; on Room for Two with Linda Lavin

    15:50

    Chapter 2

    On Room for Two going off the air; on playing a mother on Someone Like Me; on a guest appearance on Party of Five  as Jennifer Love Hewitt's birth mother; on her role on Women of the House with Delta Burke; on reading for the pilot of Everybody Loves Raymond  

    12:44

    On "Debra Barone," her character on Everybody Loves Raymond; on the benefits of performing in front of a live audience; on the relationship between "Debra Barone" and her family on Everybody Loves Raymond

    15:57

    Chapter 3

    On her Everybody Loves Raymond character "Debra's" relationship with friend "Amy"; on her wardrobe on the show; on how the show dealt with her pregnancies; on working with Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal; on her interactions with the show's writers and directors; on a typical work week on the show

    13:40

    On her favorite episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond; on winning an Emmy for the "Bad Moon Rising" episode; on the series finale

    15:00

    Chapter 4

    On working with director Will Mackenzie on Everybody Loves Raymond; on winning her first and second Emmy for the show; on the legacy of the program; on working with Ray Romano; on being an Albertson's spokesperson

    09:18

    On pilots since Everybody Loves Raymond; on then-current projects; on her production company, Four Boys; on her proudest career achievement; on advice to an aspiring actress

    07:47

    Alien Nation

    Patricia Heaton on her first television work in LA - on Alien Nation

    00:40

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Patricia Heaton on winning an Emmy for Everybody Loves Raymond right after 9/11, on that show being like "lightning in a bottle"

    01:21

    Everybody Loves Raymond

    Patricia Heaton on reading for the pilot of Everybody Loves Raymond  

    03:11

    Patricia Heaton on the requirement of kissing Ray Romano when auditioning for Everybody Loves Raymond

    02:30

    Patricia Heaton on her character "Debra" on Everybody Loves Raymond  

    07:27

    Patricia Heaton on the comedic elements of her role and Ray Romano's on Everybody Loves Raymond; on her character's relationship with her family

    08:30

    Patricia Heaton on the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond as a "brilliant way to end the series"

    05:10

    Patricia Heaton on working on Everybody Loves Raymond - on the cast, writers, directors, and work week

    13:40

    Patricia Heaton on her favorite episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond  

    09:50

    Patricia Heaton on the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond as a classic comedy and on working with Ray Romano

    04:11

    Patricia Heaton on her proudest career achievement - Everybody Loves Raymond

    01:59

    Party of Five

    Patricia Heaton on a guest appearance on Party of Five  as Jennifer Love Hewitt's birth mother

    00:58

    Room for Two

    Patricia Heaton on Room for Two with Linda Lavin

    03:58

    Patricia Heaton on Room For Two 

    01:35

    Someone Like Me

    Patricia Heaton on playing a mother on Someone Like Me

    01:34

    Thirtysomething

    Patricia Heaton on her first steady television gig on Thirtysomething

    04:22

    Wild Wild West, The

    Patricia Heaton on not being allowed to watch Wild, Wild West as a child

    00:28

    Women of the House

    Patricia Heaton on her role on Women of the House with Delta Burke; on memorizing lines for the show

    02:56

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Patricia Heaton on "Debra Barone," her character on Everybody Loves Raymond

    08:55

    Patricia Heaton on the relationship between "Debra Barone" and her family on Everybody Loves Raymond

    04:37

    Classic TV Series Episodes

    Patricia Heaton on the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond as a "brilliant way to end the series"

    02:06

    Emmy Awards

    Patricia Heaton on winning an Emmy for the "Bad Moon Rising" episode of Everybody Loves Raymond  

    01:14

    Patricia Heaton on winning her first and second Emmy for Everybody Loves Raymond

    01:49

    Memorable Moments on Television

    Patricia Heaton on the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond as a "brilliant way to end the series"

    02:06

    Pop Culture

    Patricia Heaton on the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond as a "brilliant way to end the series"

    02:06

    We Laughed

    Patricia Heaton on the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond as a "brilliant way to end the series"

    02:06

    Actress

    Patricia Heaton on wanting to be a performer

    03:25

    Patricia Heaton on acting tips from William Esper

    01:27

    Patricia Heaton on what made her character on Everybody Loves Raymond a comedic force; the power of silence

    01:06

    Patricia Heaton on the benefits of performing in front of a live audience

    02:20

    Patricia Heaton on her advice to aspiring actresses

    02:19

    Comedy Series

    Patricia Heaton on Room for Two with Linda Lavin

    03:58

    Patricia Heaton on her role as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond

    21:38

    Patricia Heaton on working on Everybody Loves Raymond - on the cast, writers, directors, work week, specific episodes, and series finale

    28:40

    Patricia Heaton on winning Emmys for and the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond as a classic comedy; on working with Ray Romano

    07:19

    Drama Series

    Patricia Heaton on her first steady television gig, on Thirtysomething

    04:22

    Jason Alexander

    Patricia Heaton on her first professional job - a commercial with Jason Alexander

    00:40

    Peter Boyle

    Patricia Heaton on the relationship between "Debra Barone" and her in-laws on Everybody Loves Raymond

    00:49

    Delta Burke

    Patricia Heaton on her role on Women of the House with Delta Burke; on memorizing lines for the show

    02:56

    Robert Conrad

    Patricia Heaton on not being allowed to watch Wild, Wild West as a child

    00:28

    Ellen DeGeneres

    Patricia Heaton on winning an Emmy for Everybody Loves Raymond right after 9/11

    00:18

    Teri Garr

    Patricia Heaton on her role on Women of the House with Delta Burke; on memorizing lines for the show

    02:56

    Brad Garrett

    Patricia Heaton on the relationship between "Debra Barone" and her brother-in-law on Everybody Loves Raymond

    00:49

    Bruce Helford

    Patricia Heaton on playing a mother on Someone Like Me

    00:36

    Marshall Herskovitz

    Patricia Heaton on her first steady television gig, on Thirtysomething

    04:22

    Jennifer Love Hewitt

    Patricia Heaton on a guest appearance on Party of Five  as Jennifer Love Hewitt's birth mother

    00:58

    Monica Horan

    Patricia Heaton on her Everybody Loves Raymond character "Debra's" relationship with friend "Amy"

    02:12

    Harvey Keitel

    Patricia Heaton on working with Harvey Keitel in The Path to 9/11

    00:42

    Linda Lavin

    Patricia Heaton on Room for Two with Linda Lavin

    03:58

    Patricia Heaton on Room For Two 

    01:35

    Will Mackenzie

    Patricia Heaton on working with director Will Mackenzie on Everybody Loves Raymond

    01:19

    Doris Roberts

    Patricia Heaton on the relationship between "Debra Barone" and her in-laws on Everybody Loves Raymond

    01:57

    Ray Romano

    Patricia Heaton on meeting Ray Romano; on the requirement of kissing Ray Romano when auditioning for Everybody Loves Raymond

    02:30

    Patricia Heaton on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond

    02:33

    Phil Rosenthal

    Patricia Heaton on working with Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal

    02:23

    Linda Bloodworth Thomason

    Patricia Heaton on her role on Women of the House with Delta Burke; on memorizing lines for the show

    02:56

    Patricia Wettig

    Patricia Heaton on her first steady television gig, on Thirtysomething

    04:22

    Edward Zwick

    Patricia Heaton on her first steady television gig, on Thirtysomething

    04:22

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