Ray Romano arrived on the set of Everybody Loves Raymond fearing he could lose another sitcom job.
Admitting he was "terrified" after previously being fired from the cast of NewsRadio before filming on the show even properly began, the comedian reflected on the early days of the Emmy-winning comedy during a reunion panel at the 2026 ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas.
Romano reunited with Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal and several of the show's original writers, for the event, after the sitcom, which ran from 1996 to 2005, became one of the defining American comedies of its era, earning 69 Emmy nominations and 15 wins.
Looking back on his first day filming the sitcom, Romano said: "I was doing stand-up for a living. A couple acting opportunities came up, and one of them was the show called NewsRadio.
"I got cast in the original cast of NewsRadio. I'd never really acted before; I was doing stand-up. And on day two, I got fired."
The experience left him deeply anxious when production began on the sitcom that carried his own name.
"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," he said.
"And I know when I watch that first season, I see myself get better towards the end of the season. I was a little stiff still, a little green."
Romano's portrayal of sportswriter Ray Barone helped establish him as one of television's biggest comedy stars and the program remains a staple of syndication more than two decades late and celebrated its 30th anniversary with a cast reunion.
Everybody Loves Raymond centred on Ray Barone, a sportswriter living on Long Island whose family life was regularly complicated by the constant presence of his relatives.
Patricia Heaton starred as Debra Barone, while Brad Garrett played Romano's older brother Robert.
Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle portrayed Romano's parents, Marie and Frank Barone – performances that became some of the show's most celebrated elements.
Last year, speaking to People magazine, Romano revealed he had taken one particularly memorable item from the set after the series ended.
"The only thing I wanted to take was the couch," he said.
"I took the couch and it's in my home theatre."
