Everybody Loves Raymond/Characters

Character sheet for the characters of Everybody Loves Raymond.

Main Characters:

Ray Barone:

"Debra: "I can't believe I just did thirty-six sit-ups for a man whose stomach looks like a deflated clown balloon!""
 * Accentuate the Negative: One early episode, "Recovering Pessimist", revolved around Ray's frequently lapses into pessimism, even after he wins a national writing award. Ray declares that the reason he's like this is because he learned from the masters. cough*Frank and Marie*cough.
 * Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other: Eventually, as the two got more adversarial, Debra and Ray would get moments of this.
 * Butt Monkey: Ray didn't start out this way, but by the middle and later seasons, he had become Debra's Butt Monkey. The rest of his life is pretty charmed, though.
 * The Danza: Ray Romano as Ray Barone.
 * Deadpan Snarker: Tied into his status as the Only Sane Man.
 * Former Teen Rebel: One early episode revolved around Marie's horror in learning that the teenaged Ray held parties at their house while she and Frank were away, in which he drank and smoked. Another episode mentions Ray sneaking out of the house when he was a teenager to hang out at Bernie's house.
 * Henpecked Husband: Ray personified this trope. Unlike most, however, he wouldn't always roll over -- he'd sometimes snark back at Debra...but his occasional attempts at rebellion were usually quashed pretty quickly by an icy glare (or worse) from Debra.
 * Man Child: Enforced by Marie from the time he was very, very young. Every time he grows in independence, Marie drags him right back.
 * Obfuscating Stupidity: Hinted at often. Finally, basically outright stated in the episode where Ray and Frank talk to Robert about his wedding invitations. Also, during the "Angry Sex" episode, Ray can briefly be seen reading a book about Zen Buddhism in one scene. It was so subtle that the studio audience didn't seem to have noticed it (or perhaps were unable to see the title of the book).
 * Only Sane Man: Ray Barone was this, especially during the early seasons. He still performed this role later on, as despite being a whiny Man Child, he was still more together than most of his immediate family.
 * In Real Life: Half of the show's genesis was Ray Romano wryly observing the absurdities and wackiness of his family members (the other half was series creator and executive producer Phil Rosenthal doing the same with his own family).
 * Parental Favoritism: Marie made no secret of the fact that Ray was her favorite child, much to Robert's chagrin. Frank on the other hand, appeared to treat the two equally... poorly.
 * Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Ugly Guy to Debra's Hot Wife, with his big nose and flabby body. Some women find him average at-worst, in reality and on the show, and he even got an attractive woman hitting on him when she didn't realize he was married, but everyone in-universe usually paints this as another example of Ray's status as "Born Lucky".

Debra Barone:


 * Abuse Is Okay When Its Female On Male: When Ray annoys Debra (often deliberately), he'll get a smack for it. Cue audience laughter.
 * Anti-Hero: Type IV.
 * All Women Are Prudes: A shining example. Debra very rarely gets horny -- she frequently bans sex or rejects sexual advances from the desperate, horny Ray. Ray does admit to being bad in bed, and Debra used to be more open -- a few episodes show her rare "open" moments.
 * Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other: Eventually, as the two got more adversarial, Debra and Ray would get moments of this.
 * Bitch in Sheep's Clothing
 * Butt Monkey: To Marie. Debra only ever "won" against Marie when she was actually proven wrong, and the family covered for her.
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Hot Mom: Among the hottest (in many an online list). The Follow the Leader aspects of the series run with both this, Parenting the Husband and...
 * Jerkass: Sometimes. More often in the later seasons.
 * Karma Houdini: Ray rarely was able to one-up her (short of continuing to be lazy and sarcastic to her) or "win". She did, however, lose constantly to Marie, and got berated (occasionally with subtlety, occasionally with none) by her constantly. And she still has to deal with crazy in-laws who barge into her house whenever they want, which is practically her own personal hell (which she created).
 * No Periods, Period: The episode Bad Mood Rising didn't just avert this trope. It smashed it to pieces.
 * Menstrual Menace: An entire episode concerning this has been cemented into the memory of the collective fan base.
 * Only Sane Man: Views herself as this, and even got ignored by a visiting psychiatrist in the early seasons because Ray's family was so weird. Though, as Ray points out -- the Barones are family by genetics. Debra chose to be with them. "You're messed up!"
 * Grouchy Frank of all people viewed himself and Debra as this, and was offended that Debra didn't enjoy his company.
 * Parenting the Husband: Ray is messy, sarcastic and a lazy Man Child. Debra is hyperactive, grouchy and a control freak. This is only natural.
 * Took a Level In Jerkass: In the first few seasons, Debra was pretty reasonable, generally didn't yell as much, and was quite playful with Ray. In later seasons... less so. Marie and Frank call this the natural progression of marriage.
 * Tsundere: Type A.
 * Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Hot Wife to Ray's Ugly Guy.

Frank Barone:

"Frank:*commenting on what someone said about dressing up in costumes* That's kinda like what me and my Civil War buddies do. Marie: What your buddies do is get drunk and pee outside!"
 * Armchair Military: Frank and his buddies like to reenact Civil War battles.


 * Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other: Frank and Marie were this to a tee.
 * Badass Grandpa
 * Retired Badass
 * Catch Phrase: "Holy Crap!"
 * Cool Old Guy: C'mon, who doesn't love Frank and his one-liners?
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold: This was the case in many episodes where Frank would start out by acting boorish, but then do something genuinely sweet and heartwarming at the end.
 * Only Sane Man: He views himself and Debra as the "normal ones" in the family, and is offended that she doesn't see it the same way.
 * Slap Slap Kiss: The Frank-Marie relationship was this to a tee. They argued with each other a lot...but it is heavily hinted in most episodes that they enjoy the witty banter, and really are deeply in love with each other.
 * War Is Hell: Often, when the characters would complain about something in their lives, Frank would retort "You think that's bad? Try being in Korea during the war! We didn't have [Insert Modern Convenience Here], we had to tough it out!"

Marie Barone:


 * All Women Are Prudes: Two of the show's funniest moments were in episodes where Marie of all people subverts this trope (the episode where we learn that teenaged Marie wasn't a "good girl" and the other episode where we learn that Frank and Marie have more sex than Ray and Debra).
 * Apron Matron: The one most young tropers will be most familiar with.
 * Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other: Frank and Marie were this to a tee.
 * Bitch in Sheep's Clothing
 * Control Freak
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 * Jewish Mother: Not actually Jewish, but partially based on producer Phil Rosenthal's real-life Jewish Mother, and fits most of the stereotypical trope traits.
 * Mama Bear
 * My Beloved Smother: Especially to Ray, but also to Robert. Her treatment of the two when they were kids has affected both of them into adulthood.
 * Never Mess with Granny: You do NOT want Marie angry with you. She won't retaliate with violence, but she will find other ways to settle the score...
 * Not So Different: Marie and Debra. Hinted at in several episodes.
 * Parental Favoritism: Marie made no secret of the fact that Ray was her favorite child, much to Robert's chagrin. Frank on the other hand, appeared to treat the two equally...
 * Slap Slap Kiss: The Marie-Frank relationship was this to a tee. They argued with each other a lot...but it is heavily hinted in most episodes that they enjoy the witty banter, and really are deeply in love with each other.
 * Well-Intentioned Extremist: In the sense that she did controlling things like reading Ray's journal or giving Debra the wrong ingredient to make meatballs with, but because she often felt insecure. Other incidents were because she genuinely loves the family and just went about doing things the wrong way. Marie may have done some Jerkass things, but she generally meant well. Ties into her role as a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.

Robert Barone:


 * Basement Dweller: Was one in the early seasons. He didn't actually live in the basement, but he fit many of the trope traits.
 * Butt Monkey: One of the show's most prominent running gags was Robert's continual status as the family's resident Butt Monkey. Marie only treated Debra more poorly.
 * Characterization Marches On: Robert really did get the most character development over the course of the series if you think about it. During the first season, it seemed like the writers were writing the character as being borderline autistic and so quirky and neurotic that it was genuinely amazing that he was able to function at all (especially as a policeman). By the later seasons, though, Robbie became much more confident and outgoing and finally . The eighth season even had an episode where Robbie is made to confront his "crazy chin" habit.
 * The Chew Toy: At some points, his misery becomes the central point to his character.
 * Man Child
 * New York City Cops: He is one, as is his best friend (and partner on the force), Judy. They both avert the "grim and gritty" stereotypes that some shows use.
 * Not So Different: Robert and Amy's brother, Peter. Robert comes to realize the similarities when the family talks about Peter's problems including him being a Basement Dweller. In the end, he helps Peter find his own place.
 * The Unfavorite

Amy McDougall 


 * Break the Cutie: Averted, actually.
 * Cloudcuckooland: This is how Amy initially views the Barone household(s) when she first joins them.
 * And conversely, this is how the Barones view the McDougall household when they come to visit.
 * The Cutie: So very much.
 * Friend to All Children: After Amy marries into the family, one episode reveals that Ally goes to Amy to talk because she knows that Amy wouldn't be judgmental.
 * Incorruptible Pure Pureness: In a pleasant surprise, she managed to be this trope without being a Mary Sue.
 * The Ingenue
 * The Pollyanna
 * Sixth Ranger

Minor Characters:

Judy


 * Black Best Friend: To Robert
 * Hey, It's That Guy!: Played by Sherri Shepherd, later of The View.
 * New York City Cops
 * Sassy Black Woman

Peggy Ardolino "Peggy: Now girls, when you're out selling cookies, and someone comes along, what do you say? Frontier Girl: "Would you like to buy some cookies?" Peggy: (bluntly) No. You say, "How many cookies would you like to buy?""
 * A Nazi by Any Other Name: How Raymond sees her.
 * Catch Phrase: In each of her episodes after the first: "Hello, Ally's Dad."
 * Phrase Catcher: Likewise, Ray's response: "Hello...Peggy."
 * Establishing Character Moment

"Robert: Oooh, you have an arch-enemy. What are you, a super-hero now?"
 * Jerkass
 * Last-Minute Hookup: With  during one of the last few episodes of the series.
 * Pair the Spares: As noted above, with.
 * Sitcom Arch Nemesis: To Ray

"Ray:*continuing the Nazi comparison* Similar uniform too!"
 * Only Known by Their Nickname: Not technically true, but she was usually called "Peggy Hitler", "The Cookie Nazi" or "Cookie Hitler Lady", especially by Ray.


 * Smug Snake: When Ray objects to Peggy forcing all the kids' parents to buy $200+ dollar dresses to Molly's birthday party, Peggy sneers at him that Ally will stick out like her father's nose. There are other examples of Peggy being this trope.

Henry "Hank" McDougall


 * Meaningful Name: He's the polar opposite of Frank...and note the names: Hank vs. Frank.
 * Preacher Man: Not officially a preacher, but as a devout evangelical Protestant, he certainly acted and spoke like one.

Patricia "Pat" McDougall


 * Beware the Nice Ones: Used to hilarious effect.
 * Cool Old Lady: Somewhat surprisingly, but very entertaining in every instance when it occurs.
 * Ray even calls her cool at Rob and Amy's wedding, after she says to Marie what the rest of the family has been wanting to say for years.
 * The Cutie: Not only is she this trope, but she apparently raised Amy to also personify the trope.
 * Deadpan Snarker: Actually NOT one most of the time, but there was one awesome instance where she suddenly became this trope. After she and Hank get rid of a bunch of Peter's stuff and throw his cat, Miss Puss, out of the house, Peter shrieks "No! NO! Miss Puss is an indoors cat!!!!", to which Pat simply replies "Not anymore!"
 * The Pollyanna: Though not quite as much as we're initially led to believe...

Peter McDougall'

"Robert: It's like I was the 'test kid,' Like, 'Oh! Well now we know not to drop Raymond! Peter: In my house it was 'Peter, Amy's playing the piano! Put away your cape and eat your dinner!"
 * Basement Dweller: Both literally and figuratively.
 * Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Peter made it no secret that he hates Robert..
 * Cloudcuckoolander
 * Man Child
 * Occidental Otaku
 * The Other Darrin: Originally played by Paul Reubens when the character briefly appeared once in the early seasons, then recast with Chris Elliot when the character reappeared several seasons later and stuck around as a recurring character this time. Also, oddly enough, the character's name changed from "Russell" to "Peter", with no explanation, although it was clearly intended to be the same comic shop-owning character.
 * Real Life Writes the Plot: According to IMDb, the reason for the recast was that after his cameo appearance, Reubens was arrested on child pornography charges. This caused Ray Romano to object to him being part of the show's cast.
 * The Unfavorite: Peter and Robert finally make peace with each other when they realize that they have this in common with the way their parents treat them.
 * Real Life Writes the Plot: According to IMDb, the reason for the recast was that after his cameo appearance, Reubens was arrested on child pornography charges. This caused Ray Romano to object to him being part of the show's cast.
 * The Unfavorite: Peter and Robert finally make peace with each other when they realize that they have this in common with the way their parents treat them.
 * The Unfavorite: Peter and Robert finally make peace with each other when they realize that they have this in common with the way their parents treat them.

 Jennifer Whelan (Debra's big sister)

"Ray: When you were growing up, you were 'the good one.' But now she's, which makes her the REALLY good one!"
 * Former Teen Rebel
 * Granola Girl: A former one apparently.
 * : Sort of. Actually, it was the other characters' belief in this trope and their reactions to her becoming a  that led to the hilarity.
 * The Unfavorite: Jennifer was this while Debra was the favorite child. Ray deduces that Debra is annoyed that Jennifer is  because:

Warren Whelan (Debra's father) 


 * Informed Attribute: The characters kept describing Warren as being a heavy drinker, but we never really saw that onscreen.
 * Upperclass Twit

Lois Whelan (Debra's mother)


 * Rich Idiot With No Day Job
 * Upperclass Twit

Gianni


 * Casanova Wannabe
 * Those Two Guys: Andy and Gianni often showed up together when Ray hung out with either of them.

Andy


 * The Danza: Played by comedian Andy Kindler
 * Those Two Guys: Andy and Gianni often showed up together when Ray hung out with either of them.

Bernie Gruenfelder


 * Fat and Proud

Linda Gruenfelder


 * Hey, It's That Guy!: Played by Maggie Wheeler, aka Janice from Friends.