Sawyer Sweeten, who played one of the twin sons in Everybody Loves Raymond, has committed suicide.

Tributes have flooded in on Twitter for the 19-year-old actor after his family confirmed he "took his own life".

US media reported that Sweeten shot himself on the front porch of the family home in Texas.

He began playing Raymond and Debra's son Geoffrey Barone, along with his twin brother Sullivan as Michael Barone, in 1996, when they were just 16 months old.

Their elder sister Madylin played their on-screen sister Ally Barone in the sitcom, which ran until 2005.

The family said in a statement: "This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred.

"We are devastated to report that our beloved brother, son, and friend, Sawyer Sweeten, took his own life. He was weeks away from his 20th birthday.

"At this sensitive time, our family requests privacy and we beg of you to reach out to the ones you love."

The London Evening Standard quoted Ray Romano, who played Raymond on the show, as saying: "I'm shocked, and terribly saddened, by the news about Sawyer. He was a wonderful and sweet kid to be around. Just a great energy whenever he was there.

"My heart breaks for him, his family, and his friends during this very difficult time."