Many actors who worked with Doris Roberts viewed her as more than just a fellow performer. Roberts’ co-stars on Everybody Loves Raymond didn’t just see her as a friend; they also saw her as a maternal figure.

The sitcom ran for nine years and as many seasons. During that time, the cast and crew bonded together as though they were a real family. Roberts, who played meddling Marie Barone, was an important part of that group.

During an interview with The Times after her death, series creator Phil Rosenthal referred to Roberts as “the rock of the show.”

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“She was fearless and fierce and strong,” said the showrunner. “I liked that she was a strong female character. That’s what people really responded to her. It was universal: that meddling mom.”

Roberts relatability and charm made her an asset in the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond. However, it was no easy feat to find the woman who would eventually become Marie Barone.

Rosenthal revealed that the character of Marie was, in part, based on his own mother. When looking for the right actor, he wanted someone who resembled his parents as accurately as possible. After Rosenthal met Roberts, he knew his search had come to an end.

“In casting, I was looking for my mother,” Rosenthal said during an interview with the Newhouse News Service. “But my mother was not available. I auditioned about 100 women for that role, and nobody came close to Doris.”