Sawyer Sweeten, known for his role as one of twin sons in the US sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," committed suicide on Thursday aged 19, US media reported.

"This morning a terrible family tragedy has occurred," Sweeten's sister Madylin said in a statement, according to the showbiz publication Variety.

"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."

Sweeten was reported to have shot himself while visiting family in Texas.

He played a character named Geoffrey Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond," a series which ran from 1996-2005 on the CBS network.

In it, he acted alongside his real-life twin brother, Sullivan, and sister Madylin for 139 episodes.

The two brothers were 16 months old when they first started on the show, Variety said.

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