16 Things You Never Knew About ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’

4. Patricia Heaton Was Not the First Choice to Play Debra

Once a show has been on the air and doing well it’s hard to imagine any other actors in the parts, but Patricia Heaton was not the first choice to play Ray’s wife. The producers wanted actress Jane Sibbett, who had played Ross’ wife Carol on Friends. Patricia has show creator Philip Rosenthal to thank for her ultimate casting. “They were suggesting someone to play Raymond’s wife that I just couldn’t live with, and so I was quitting over that. I don’t know if I called their bluff or whatever, but I wasn’t trying to — and I wasn’t bluffing. But sometimes, if you say that you’re going to actually quit, it’s the strongest move you can make in the situation.”