Jason Ritter is taking a trip down memory lane. He recently opened up about an interesting connection between his family and the original Matlock series, despite never having the opportunity to meet the legendary Andy Griffith. On Sunday, the 45-year-old actor attended PaleyFest L.A., where he reminisced on his fond memories of the original series.
Other stars of the Matlock reboot, including Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis, were also present. The event was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, featuring a special screening and panel discussion of the CBS revival, which offered Ritter a chance to reflect on his ties to the beloved series.
Jason Ritter and Don Knotts’ connection
The original Matlock series aired from 1986 to 1995, starring Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock, a criminal defense attorney. While Jason Ritter never met Griffith, his father, the late John Ritter, co-starred with Don Knotts on the sitcom Three’s Company from 1979 to 1984. Knotts played Barney Fife alongside Griffith in The Andy Griffith Show before joining the series in its fourth season.
Jason Ritter admitted that he would have loved to meet Griffith, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 86. He shared the nostalgic feeling he usually gets from watching the old series and noted that Andy Griffith was “a lovely actor” and “a sweet character” who defied all odds against him. Jason Ritter has fond memories of Don Knotts, whom he encountered multiple times due to his father’s time on Three’s Company and occasionally ran into. At the same time, the series continued after his father, John Ritter, passed away in 2003.
‘Three’s Company’ memories
Jason Ritter admitted that he only became aware of Three’s Company after Don Knotts joined the cast in 1979, replacing Norman Fell and Audra Lindley’s Mr. and Mrs. Roper. Knotts took on the role of Ralph Furley, a quirky landlord who quickly became a fan favorite.
Jason Ritter noted that Knotts made him laugh with his facial expressions and personality. Now stepping into the world of Matlock himself, Ritter is playing lawyer Julian Markston in the new CBS revival and hopes to bring his unique touch to the franchise.