Katey Sagal is looking back on one of the most difficult moments from her years on 8 Simple Rules. More than two decades later, she still remembers spending time with John Ritter just hours before his sudden death.
According to Yahoo Entertainment, during a recent appearance on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, the actress spoke with Ted Danson about that heartbreaking day. She revealed that she and Ritter had been doing press together that afternoon. By that night, everything had unexpectedly changed.
Katey Sagal Remembers Her Final Hours With John Ritter
Sagal recalled that she and Ritter were doing press around 4 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2003. Nothing suggested that it would become their final day together. However, by about 10 p.m., Ritter was gone. “It was mind-blowing,” she said while reflecting on how quickly the tragedy unfolded. Ritter had collapsed while working on the second season of 8 Simple Rules. Doctors initially suspected a heart attack, but they later determined that he had suffered an aortic dissection. He was only 54.
More than 20 years later, Katey Sagal still feels a connection to her former costar. She told Danson that she sometimes senses Ritter’s presence around her. In particular, she remembers the energy, laughter, and love of life that he brought to those around him. Although she acknowledged that he also had a more complicated side, she remembers the light he carried. As a result, those memories continue to make him feel close even after so many years.
The 8 Simple Rules Family Has Kept John Ritter’s Memory Alive
Ritter and Sagal played Paul and Cate Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. Meanwhile, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Martin Spanjers played their three children. Ritter’s death forced the series into an unexpected hiatus during its second season. Eventually, the show returned and addressed his absence before continuing for two additional seasons. ABC ultimately ended the sitcom in 2005.
Still, the bonds formed during the series have continued long after the cameras stopped rolling. Several members of the cast have reunited over the years, including at events supporting the John Ritter Foundation. At a 2023 gathering, Cuoco celebrated seeing members of her “Hennessy family” together again. She also imagined Ritter laughing at the reunion. Today, Katey Sagal carries that same affection for her late friend. Her memories offer a touching reminder that, although their time together ended suddenly, Ritter’s humor and warmth still remain with the people who knew him best.