Jason Ritter has always admired the legacy his father, John Ritter, left behind. From sitcoms to animated series, John’s decades-long career still shows up in unexpected places. At the Poker Face premiere on May 1, Jason, now 45, spoke about the moments that keep his father’s memory alive.
Their bond was strong right until John’s sudden death in 2003 at age 54. The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor died from an aortic dissection, a heart condition that had gone undetected. Jason said there are times when he’s simply watching TV and suddenly hears or sees his dad again. These small surprises often remind him how much work his father had done in his lifetime.
John Ritter’s voice was used in several animated shows
One of those surprising moments happened when Jason was trying to fix a television. The only channel that came on was playing an episode of King of the Hill, and he instantly recognized his father’s voice. He hadn’t even known John had worked on that show.
Over the years, John Ritter worked on a wide variety of shows, from The Waltons and Mary Tyler Moore to appearances on M*A*S*H* and Hawaii Five-O. His most famous role came in the late 1970s when he played Jack Tripper on Three’s Company, a role that made him a household name. He also starred in 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and appeared in the Oscar-winning film Sling Blade.
Jason Ritter is following in his father’s footsteps
Jason also shared a story from childhood when he acted alongside his dad in an animated special called The Real Story of O Christmas Tree. He played Little Acorn while John voiced Uncle Piney. Looking back, Jason admitted that his father helped him get the role. He later decided to build his own career without relying on family connections.
Today, Jason Ritter has built a strong reputation of his own. He’s appeared in several TV series, including Parenthood, The Class, and Gravity Falls. His film credits include Frozen II, The Tale, and The Education of Charlie Banks, most of which have earned him critical recognition.