21 Years Later, Ray Romano Officially Reveals the Letter Muhammad Ali Sent After This Iconic ‘Raymond’ Episode

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Ray Romano smiling in Everybody Loves Raymond

Published Mar 9, 2026, 6:39 PM EDT

Shawn Van Horn is a Senior Author for Collider. He's watched way too many slasher movies over the decades, which makes him an aficionado on all things Halloween and Friday the 13th. Don't ask him to choose between Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees because he can't do it. He grew up in the 90s, when Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, and TGIF were his life, and still watches them religiously to this day. Larry David is his spirit animal. His love for entertainment spreads to the written word as well. He has written two novels and is neck deep in the querying trenches. He is also a short story maker upper and poet with a dozen publishing credits to his name. He lives in small town Ohio, where he likes to watch professional wrestling and movies.

In Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Barone (Ray Romano) is the center of the universe, whether it be in the eyes of his mother, Marie (Doris Roberts), or his own mind. This is frustrating not just for his younger brother, Robert (Brad Garrett), but his wife, Debra (Patricia Heaton). Most episodes center around Debra being annoyed by some insensitive thing her idiot of a husband did. However, one episode turned the tables by making Deb very much in the wrong, resulting in her having to use her mother-in-law, who's normally an enemy, to get through it. The episode, "Favors", revolves around a lost letter from boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Although he's not in the episode, it turns out that Ali was a big fan of the series, and he let Romano know in the sweetest way possible.

Debra Throws Away Ray's Letter From Muhammad Ali in 'Everybody Loves Raymond'

"Favors" doesn't air until Everybody Loves Raymond's ninth and final season in 2005. In the episode, Debra is frustrated with the kitchen clutter, so when Ray leaves his Sports Illustrated sitting on the table unread for days, she chucks it. He isn't happy with this, but his wife tells them the easy solution is to not leave stuff lying out. Shortly after, Robert surprises his brother with the greatest gift that sportswriter Ray could ever receive: a personalized letter from the one and only Muhammad Ali. Ray is shocked, as anyone would be, to receive such a gift, and it immediately becomes his most prized possession. When he leaves with Robert, he starts to leave the letter on the table, but in a rare case of him actually listening, he stops himself and puts it in a kitchen drawer instead.

The moment a preoccupied Debra enters the kitchen on the phone, we know exactly where this is going. Looking for a coupon, she gets frustrated once more, this time about the amount of clutter in the junk drawer, so she throws it all out, unintentionally tossing Ray's prized letter out too. When Ray returns from golfing to show his friends the letter, it's gone. He freaks out as his friends mock what they think is a lie. When the realization hits Deb of what she's done, instead of confessing, she says nothing. It's her turn to be in the wrong and scared of the consequences, a refreshing change from the usual failings of Ray.

That's enough of a twist to play with, but what makes "Favors" so good is how it brings in Ray's parents, Marie and Frank (Peter Boyle). Deb and Marie have never gotten along. Doris Roberts is masterful in a role that often required her to look down on her daughter-in-law while also remaining a likable character who is very human and ultimately redeemable. She might judge Deb for her mistake, but in "Favors", after Ray walks in the door in a near panic attack, Marie doesn't think twice about claiming responsibility. It's a scene of selflessness, even if the viewer knows more drama is to come. This happens when Marie asks for a favor of her own someday. That day comes very soon when her error causes Frank's clothes to get stolen, resulting in Marie telling Deb to take the fall. It's a comedy of errors episode where everything that can go wrong will go wrong.

Muhammad Ali Sent Ray Romano a Letter After the Episode "Favors"

In the end, Ray doesn't get his Muhammad Ali letter back. But in real life, Ray Romano got something better. Everybody Loves Raymond was a popular, award-winning series at the time, and fans of the show came from all walks of life. This doesn't make it any less amazing to find out that Ali, one of the greatest boxers of all time, was a big fan. Romano discovered this firsthand in a beautiful way that blended reality with art, bringing the episode "Favors" full circle.

In a February 2026 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Romano and Colbert spoke about how 2026 is the 30th anniversary of Everybody Loves Raymond. To remember the series, Romano told a story about "Favors" and what happened after. He began by reading the letter Ali wrote (but not really) for the episode. It's a brief two sentences. "Your brother sent me an excellent article. I enjoyed it very much, even though nothing rhymed." It's funny, and it reveals that the greatest of all time appreciated his work. Why wouldn't Ray Barone be over the moon, then so heartbroken when that validation disappears?

Romano followed this up with something even better. A few weeks after the episode aired, the real-life Ali (not a figment of a writer's mind) sent the actor a letter which read, "It was kind of you to include me as part of your storyline in episode # 0410 of Everybody Loves Raymond. It gave me a good laugh. I hope you enjoy the enclosure." Ali ended the letter with "p.s. Don't put my letter in your junk drawer." In 2005, Parkinson's Disease was taking Ali's body and voice, but he had a way to speak and show that he was still as funny and witty as ever. If you need more proof, the enclosure included a typed-up version of the original letter from "Favors". In the end, Ray got his letter back and so much more.