Jason Ritter is still close with his late dad John Ritter‘s 8 Simple Rules costars.
“I see them all the time,” the Matlock star, 46, exclusively told Us Weekly in a recent interview. “They are super supportive of my stepmom [Amy Yasbeck]’s foundation, The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.”
In 2003, John was on set rehearsing for 8 Simple Rules when he suddenly began experiencing heart attack-like symptoms. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and diagnosed with an aortic dissection, which the Mayo Clinic defines as a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s main artery. The actor was taken into surgery but pronounced dead hours later at the age of 54.
The 8 Simple Rules cast took a brief hiatus from filming season 2 of the sitcom in the wake of the tragedy. Ultimately, ABC executives and the show’s producers decided to write off John’s character, Paul Hennessy. In the “Goodbye” episode, which aired later that year, Paul’s wife, Cate (Katey Sagal), received a phone call informing her that he had collapsed and died in a grocery store, leaving her and their three teenage kids, Bridget (Kaley Cuoco), Kerry (Amy Davidson) and Rory (Martin Spanjers), to pick up the pieces.
“In some weird way, especially with Kaley, Amy and Martin, it almost feels like we all lost the same dad at the same time,” Jason told Us. “He was such a wonderful set dad to them. They clearly love him so much, and so do we. It kind of bonded us forever in a way. And Katey Sagal is also just so lovely and wonderful.”
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While TV reboots and revivals have become increasingly popular in recent years, Jason admitted he has “never talked” to the 8 Simple Rules cast about staging a reunion.
“As a fan, I would love to see that,” he said before wondering, “Would it be too sad and strange?”
After Us suggested Cuoco, 40, Davidson, 46, Spanjers, 39, and Sagal, 72, join Matlock instead, Jason smiled and replied, “That would be amazing! I would like to see all four of those people on Matlock.”
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Jason was the eldest child of John and the Three’s Company alum’s first wife, Nancy Morgan. John also shared daughter Carly, 44, and son Tyler, 41, with Morgan, in addition to son Noah, 27, with Yasbeck.
ABC canceled 8 Simple Rules in 2005 after three seasons, largely due to ratings slipping in the wake of John’s death.
