RIP John Ritter

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Ritter, who would have turned 55 next week, was the star of the ABC series "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter."

In a statement, Kasteler said Ritter was rushed to the hospital after suffering from an unrecognized and undetected flaw in his aorta.

Surgeons at the hospital tried to save the Emmy Award-winning actor but were unable to do so, the statement said.

WebMD.com described an aortic dissection as "an abnormal separation of tissues within the walls of the aorta" caused by high blood pressure, family history of the condition, disease of connective tissue, or severe trauma to the chest.

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/12/ritter.obit/vert.john.ritter.ap.jpg
 
Birth Name: Jonathan Southworth Ritter
Birthdate: September 17, 1948
Birthplace: Burbank, California
Occupations: Actor, Producer
Claim to Fame: Played Jack Tripper on the popular ABC sitcom Three's Company (1977-84)


Significant Other(s):
Wife: Amy Yasbeck, actress; married September 18, 1999, in her hometown of Wilmington, Ohio
Wife: Nancy Morgan (aka Nancy Karen Morgan), actress; married October 1977; separated 1993; filed for divorce September 1996


Family:
Father: Tex Ritter, actor, singer; born 1905; died 1974
Mother: Dorothy Fay Ritter (née Southworth, aka Dorothy Fay), actress
Brother: Tom Ritter, older
Son: Jason Ritter; mother, Nancy Morgan
Son: Tyler Ritter; mother, Nancy Morgan
Daughter: Carly Ritter; mother, Nancy Morgan
Daughter: Stella Ritter; born 1998; mother, Amy Yasbeck


Awards:
1983: Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Series (Musical or Comedy), Three's Company
1984: Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Three's Company
1986: Emmy: Outstanding Host, Superfest: A Celebration of Ability; shared award with brother Tom
1988: People's Choice: Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program
2001: Theatre World Award, The Dinner Party


Factoids:
Executive-produced the short-lived ABC sitcom Have Faith (1989)

Education:
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; BFA, Theater Arts, 1971
Studied acting with Stella Adler and Nina Foch
Harvey Lembeck Comedy Workshop (studied four years)
 
:eek:

SHIT! Shit, shit SHIT!!!

I haven't even had my breakfast yet, and I'm just hearing about this! And I really liked him, too...:(
 
If you have never watched the movie Skin Deep you should do so. My favorite, so funny.

I hate it when someone who makes me laugh goes away. It happens all to often now.
 
Not only do I remember him for Three's Company, I remember him for his more offbeat choices as well.

Such As:

Unnatural Causes: He played a Vietnam vet afflicted by Agent Orange.

Skin Deep: "The comedy that glows in the dark." Any movie where you get to shtup Raye Hollitt (aka Zap from American Gladiators) should be considered a classic.

Hooperman: Remember when he played a cop on TV?

Ritter always brought his talent to every show he did.
And it will be missed. :(
 
A culteral icon for those of us who began watching sitcoms in the 70's...

What was that movie where he thought he had super powers against evil?

anyway...sorry to see you go John :(
 
This was definitely a shock. John Ritter took the Jerry Lewis style comedy to new heights...and he did it with class.

Rest easy John.
 
of all the celebs in the world, I didnt expect him to die so soon.
 
How sad. I haven't even turned on the tv this morning, so this is the first I've heard of it. :(

During the first season of Three's Company, I got to meet John Ritter and had a major crush on him for many years after that. He was such a nice guy.
 
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