During her time on Everybody Loves Raymond, Doris Roberts became the mom everyone felt like they already knew—and the mom everyone loved to watch. Her character, Marie Barone, was overbearing but charming at the same time. She could drive everyone crazy, but you couldn’t help but love her.

While working on Everyone Loves Raymond, Roberts was also busy with another project. In 2003, she starred in the Hallmark movie A Time to Remember. The touching film explored family dynamics and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease.

Her acting was strong and heartfelt. It was one of those movies where a box of tissues wasn’t required, but strongly recommended. While the role was very different from her comedy work on Everybody Loves Raymond, she loved it just the same.

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In a 2003 interview with The Tennessean, Roberts said she had been doing comedy for eight years but recognized a great opportunity when she saw one.

"I was being challenged by the character," Roberts said. "I loved doing it, but she was a hard character to play."

Her character, Maggie Calhoun, was the mother at the center of the story whose family comes together for Thanksgiving as she faces the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

For Roberts, the challenge was twofold: doing drama and learning more about the disease and its impact on families.

"I have a friend whose husband has the later stages of Alzheimer’s," Roberts said. "I have watched him over the years. I talked to my doctor about it. And I’m an actress. I put those elements together."

Roberts wanted audiences not only to see how the disease affected families but also to become more educated and proactive in addressing it. She became a strong advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, a disease that today affects one in nine people.

"On top of that, there are lessons you learn about Alzheimer’s that must be told," Roberts said. "We are living longer, and the baby boomers are living longer, and they are going to have to deal with this."

She encouraged her generation and others to start doing their own research. But the movie was not just about the illness—it also explored themes of family, love, and acceptance, which are critical for anyone affected by an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

"There are so many levels of messages," Roberts said. "It’s about communicating with relatives. We are given one family. It’s about how precious time is and not filling it with resentments. You have to let go of it all. Take time to really understand each other, stop being judgmental, and stop holding onto old wounds and old peeves."

Comedy and drama both have their benefits, and Roberts contributed to both. She used her acting to make a difference, whether by helping audiences escape reality with Everybody Loves Raymond or confront it with A Time to Remember.