Ray Romano’s Brother Richard Romano Worked in the NYPD for Two Decades before Becoming a Filmmaker

Richard Romano is the brother of “Everybody Loves Raymond” actor and creator Ray Romano. The two brothers are successful writers whose creative work has been well-received by fans.

Whereas many know Ray’s work due to the popularity of his sitcom, Richard has remained in the shadows a little bit more. Still, his work on “The Investigator” led to many people noticing his ability. The movie was inspired by Richard’s life experiences, especially his struggles with his faith.

His difficulty believing was prompted by his work in the New York City Police Department (NYPD), which exposed him to inhumane situations and made him doubt God’s existence. Still, those terrible experiences turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the police officer-cum-teacher and writer.

Ray Romano’s Brother Richard Worked in the NYPD for Twenty Years

Before going into film production, Richard spent twenty years in the NYPD. During his time with the law enforcement organization, he served in undercover narcotics and detective units as a sergeant and commanding officer. He graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in criminal justice.

Richard moved on to writing and teaching when he concluded his law enforcement duties. His earliest published work as a writer is a children’s book, “Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean.” The book was a collaboration with his brothers, who are also capable creators.

Ray, Richard and Robert Romano during Ray Romano Signs His Book “Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers” at Barnes & Noble Rockefeller Center in New York City on March 29, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

The highlight of his writing career thus far has been the original screenplay he worked on for the sports drama film, “The Investigator.” The well-rated movie follows the life of a former detective who gets challenged by a student to investigate the death of Jesus after taking up a criminal justice teacher job at a local school.

In June 2007, he joined Our Savior and Smithtown high schools in Long Island to perform multiple roles within the institutions. His job descriptions included being a teacher, faculty college counselor, baseball coach, and dean of discipline.

Ray Romano is ready to tee off at the second annual Karrie Webb Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament at the Manhattan Woods Golf Club on January 1, 2001 | Source: Getty Images

Richard Romano Had a Crisis of Faith That Sparked His Interest in Filmmaking

Richard’s time in the police department had some difficult moments. He claims that he had joined the police to make a positive impact, but those beliefs began to take a hit when he experienced humanity at its worst. As an officer of the law, Richard was bound to see some heinous crimes, such as murder and sexual crimes, that come with being a cop.

Working in those circumstances was so damaging to Richard that he began to doubt his faith. When he went into teaching, that uncertainty still hovered over him. It all came down to a question a student asked him about Jesus, and his doubting self failed to answer.

However, instead of accepting the situation and going with the flow, the investigator decided to put his skills to good use. He started to enquire about proof that showed the existence of Jesus and that the Bible was God’s word. That experience led him to write a screenplay for “The Investigator.”

Ray Romano attends the screening of “Somewhere in Queens” during the 2022 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on June 10, 2022 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Richard Roman Claims He Inspired the Name “Everybody Loves Raymond“

Richard’s brother, Raymond Romano, is famous for his writing and creativity, especially for his involvement in the popular sitcom, “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Initially, Richard doubted his writing skills, thinking he was not Raymond.

However, God’s push got him to start, and he kept that momentum until he completed the script. Raymond was impressed by his writing and proud of his brother’s success.

Ray Romano takes to the ice at Rockefeller Center rink with sons Matt and Gregory on January 1, 2002 | Source: Getty Images

While speaking about relations between the two brothers, Richard mentioned how he was responsible for coming up with the name “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

He said the name came after he shared a joke with his brother: “I go to work, everybody hates me, but you go to work, and everybody loves you when you tell your jokes.” It seems that quip stuck with Raymond, who later used it to name one of the most popular sitcoms in history.

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