You may know him as the charming and funny Jack Tripper from Three’s Company, but John Ritter was much more than that. He was a versatile and prolific actor who starred in dozens of films and TV shows, ranging from comedy to drama to horror. He was also a loving husband, a devoted father of four children, and a son of a legendary cowboy star. Sadly, he left us too soon in 2003, but his legacy lives on through his family and his work.
One of his children has followed his footsteps into the world of acting and has become quite successful in his own right. He has appeared in popular shows like Parenthood, Kevin (Probably) Saves The World, and Another Period. He has also lent his voice to animated hits like Frozen II and Gravity Falls. And if you look closely at him, you’ll see that he bears an uncanny resemblance to his late father.
Who is this talented actor who is John Ritter’s spitting image? Well, his name is Jason Ritter, and we’re here to tell you more about his life, his career, and his relationship with his dad. In this video, we’ll see how how Jason got into acting, what he learned from his dad, how he coped with his dad’s death, and what he hopes to achieve in the future.
If you’re a fan of John Ritter or just curious about his son who is making waves in Hollywood, you won’t want to miss this facts-packed video. Watch on to find out more about John Ritter’s son who is his spitting image.
Jason Credit’s His Dad For His Acting Roles
Jason Morgan Ritter was born on the 17th of February, 1980, in Los Angeles, California to parents Nancy Morgan and John Ritter. His family had a long and storied history in the entertainment industry, with his grandparents, Tex Ritter and Dorothy Fay working as musician and actor. His step mother Amy Yasbeck was an actress as well.
Jason made his first appearance on TV when he was one year old, making a cameo appearance in the opening credits of his father’s show Three’s Company sharing the screen with Joyce DeWitt in the segments petting-zoo scene.
Jason attended Crossroads School in Santa Monica, where he met his future NYU roommate and close friend Simon Helberg. He then graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the prestigious Atlantic Theater Company. Jason also studied for a bit at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. As he attended these renowned acting schools, Jason honed his craft while taking cues from his accomplished father. It must be nice having a dad who knows the ins-and-outs of Hollywood, but nowadays people probably would consider Jason to be just another one of those nepo babies that everyone seems to be talking about. Even so, there’s no denying the fact that Jason displayed a tremendous amount of potential and was destined to go places and do big things.
Jason Started In 1990s Movies
Jason started his acting career with small roles in movies like 1990s The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story, 2002s PG, and Swimfan, which also hit theaters in 2002. He gained more recognition for his role as Will Rollins in 2003s Freddy vs. Jason, a horror film that pitted two iconic slasher villains against each other. Around this time, Jason also appeared in comedies such as 2004s Raise Your Voice and 2005s Happy Endings, thus proving that he was a very versatile actor just like his father.
Jason’s big breakthrough role on television came when he starred as Kevin Girardi in the CBS drama series Joan of Arcadia which aired from 2003 to 2005. That role earned him critical acclaim and several award nominations. In the series, he played a teenager whose sister Joan (played by Amber Tamblyn) could communicate with God.
Jason continued to work on both film and television projects, such as 2008s W., where he portrayed Jeb Bush; CBS’s The Class (2006-2007), where he played Ethan Haas; NBC’s The Event (2010-2011), where he played Sean Walker; and NBC’s Parenthood (2010-2015), where he played Mark Cyr, a love interest of Lauren Graham’s character Sarah Braverman. For his performance on Parenthood, he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
Jason Ritter In Gravity Falls
Jason also ventured into voice acting, lending his voice to animated shows like Gravity Falls, where he voiced Dipper Pines; Drunk History, where he voiced various historical figures; and 2019s Frozen II, where he voiced Ryder Nattura.
Off-screen, Jason has additionally produced and starred in several independent films with his former girlfriend Marianna Palka, such as 2008s Good Dick and 2017s Bitch.
Jason has said that his father was a huge influence on him as an actor and a person. He has described him as “the most supportive dad ever” who always encouraged him to pursue his passion for acting. He has further said that they had a close relationship based on humor and love.
Naturally, given how close he was with John, Jason was devastated when his father died suddenly of an aortic dissection at age 54 on September 11, 2003. John was filming an episode of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter at the time.
He Deeply Misses His Father
Jason Ritter and John Ritter were more than just father and son. They were also colleagues, friends, and fans of each other’s work. Jason Ritter grew up admiring his dad’s comedic skills and acting prowess, and followed in his footsteps by pursuing a career in Hollywood. He even got his first role thanks to his dad. Jason Ritter admitted that it was a “full-on nepotism hire,” but he also tried to stay away from that label later on.
Jason Ritter and John Ritter shared a close bond and often worked together on various projects. They shared the screen in The Dreamer of Oz, a TV movie about the life of L. Frank Baum, the celebrated author of The Wizard of Oz. They also co-starred in an episode of Scrubs. Jason Ritter said that working with his dad was “a dream come true” and that he learned a lot from him.
Jason Ritter’s Admiration, Inspiration, And Love To His Father
Unfortunately, as we’ve already mentioned, their time together was cut short when John Ritter died unexpectedly. To say that Jason Ritter was devastated by the loss of his father and mentor is putting it mildly, but he, fortunately, was able to find strength and support from his family and friends during that incredibly challenging chapter of his life. Jason attended his dad’s funeral along with his siblings Tyler, Carly, and Stella.
Jason Ritter has said that he misses his dad every day and that he still feels his presence around him all the time. Also, he paid tribute to his late father by following his footsteps in acting and producing. He has likewise shared stories and memories of his father in interviews and social media. He once said that his father taught him to “be kind to everyone”.
Overall, Jason Ritter’s relationship with his late father John Ritter is one of admiration, inspiration, and love. While he has certainly inherited some of his father’s talent and charisma, he has also worked hard to establish his own identity and legacy in Hollywood.
He Defended His “Absolute Beast” Wife
Jason Ritter is not only a successful actor, but also a loving husband and a supportive partner. He is married to Melanie Lynskey, an actress who stars in the hit show Yellowjackets. The show is a thriller about a group of teenage girls who survive a plane crash and have to fend for themselves in the wilderness.
Melanie plays Shauna, one of the survivors who has an affair with a younger man in her present-day life. Unfortunately, some viewers and critics have made rude and nasty comments about Melanie’s appearance and body, questioning her attractiveness and her character’s relationship.
Jason was furious when he saw these body-shaming remarks online. He took to social media to defend his wife and praise her beauty and talent. He called her an “absolute beast” of an actress and a “gorgeous goddess” of a woman. Also, he thanked her fans for their kindness and support.
Jason’s sweet gesture showed how much he loves and respects his wife. He also showed how proud he is of her work and achievements. Jason and Melanie have been married since 2020 and currently have one daughter together. In case you’re wondering, the couple met on the set of their movie The Intervention in 2015.
His Brother Also Bears The Family Resemblance
Tyler Ritter is another son of John Ritter and Nancy Morgan, and a younger brother of Jason Ritter. Much like his brother, Tyler is also an actor who has appeared in several TV shows and movies, and bears a striking resemblance to his father, both in looks and personality.
Tyler was born on January 31, 1985, in Los Angeles, California. Although he grew up in a family of entertainers, he did not pursue acting professionally until later in life. Tyler graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007 and worked as a teacher in Argentina for three years.
At the age of 25, Tyler decided to return to Los Angeles and follow his father’s footsteps just like Jason had. He started his acting career with guest roles on shows like Modern Family and Grey’s Anatomy. He got his first starring role on the sitcom The McCarthys, where he played Ronny McCarthy, the openly gay son of a Boston family.
Tyler In S.H.I.E.L.D.
Tyler has also appeared on other shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, Young & Hungry, Arrow, The Good Doctor, and Chicago PD. He has also produced and acted in some short films.
Echoing the thoughts of his brother, Tyler has said that his father was his inspiration and role model for acting. He has also said that he learned a lot from watching his father’s work and listening to his advice and that he inherited his father’s sense of humor and kindness.
John Ritter may be gone, but he won’t soon be forgotten. His legacy will continue to live on through his two son’s who you got to admit bear an uncanny resemblance to him. Did you know that Jason and Tyler Ritter both followed in their father’s footsteps by entering into show business and that both son’s say that they wouldn’t have been able to find success in Hollywood without Ritter’s help? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thanks for watching.
