Ray Romano Almost Passed Out: The Hilarious Fly-Eating Scene Secret Behind 'Everybody Loves Raymond'

He nearly sacrificed his consciousness for a legendary laugh. During a 30th anniversary reunion special in November, the cast of the hit CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond shared a shocking behind-the-scenes story. Star Ray Romano revealed that he was on the verge of fainting while filming one of the show's most iconic and disgusting scenes.

Hyperventilation on Set

The incident occurred during the 2002 episode titled "She's the One" from Season 7. In the scene, Ray's brother Robert, played by Brad Garrett, brings home a date who shocks Ray by eating a dead fly. As Ray frantically tries to explain the gross encounter to his family, Romano's performance became a bit too real. "I almost passed out," Romano admitted, explaining that he began to hyperventilate due to the high-energy delivery required by the script.

Garrett recalled that Romano was essentially screaming his lines. While Garrett was desperately trying to maintain a straight face for the camera, Romano was physically struggling to stay upright. Romano noted that if fans look closely at the footage, they can see a moment where he nearly loses his balance. Despite the physical toll, the scene remains a fan favorite for its visceral comedic timing.

A Legacy Built on 15 Emmys

Running from 1996 to 2005, Everybody Loves Raymond dominated the sitcom landscape for 9 seasons. The show's excellence was recognized with a total of 15 Emmy awards. The reunion wasn't just about laughs, though; the cast also took a touching moment to honor late members like Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle, proving that the bond between the actors was as real as the comedy they created.