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TV Star John Ritter Dies Suddenly

By Beth Lipton

Friday September 12, 2003 11:00 AM EDT

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The younger of musician Tex Ritter and actress Dorothy Fay's two sons, John Ritter was raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from Hollywood High School and earned a drama degree from the University of Southern California in 1971. "I was the class clown, but I was also student body president in high school," Ritter told AP in a 1992 interview. "I had my serious side – I idolized Bobby Kennedy, he was my role model. But so was Jerry Lewis."

A stint in regional theater focused his career path: "I remember thinking, This is what I want to do for the rest of my life," he told PEOPLE. After playing guest roles on shows such as The Waltons, he landed Three's Company in 1977.

In the past few years, Ritter appeared on shows such as Felicity, Scrubs and Ally McBeal before taking on the starring role in 8 Simple Rules. "John keeps everyone laughing," costar Katey Sagal told PEOPLE. "He's paternal, but he's also a cool guy. Just by being at ease, he puts us at ease. He doesn't have any of that elitist energy."

Ritter met his wife, actress Amy Yasbeck, on the set of the 1990 movie comedy Problem Child, and the two began dating in 1994, about a year after Ritter separated from his first wife, Nancy Morgan. Ritter and Yasbeck wed in Ohio in September 1999, a week after their daughter, Stella, was born. "There wasn't anything I didn't like about him," Yasbeck told PEOPLE last year. "He's very idealistic. His philosophy of life is, if we treat each other's children like they're our own, the whole thing will work."

Ritter is survived by Yasbeck and their daughter, Stella; his three children from his first marriage, Jason, Carly and Tyler; and a brother, Tom.

Pick up the Sept. 29 issue of PEOPLE for more on John Ritter's life.