Jason Ritter family: Grandfather Tex Ritter, grandmother Dorothy Fay, father John Ritter, mother Nancy Morgan, stepmother Amy Yasbeck, brother Tyler Ritter

American actor and producer Jason Ritter recently opened up about alcoholism when he first began seeing his current wife, Melanie Lynskey. During his appearance on the Drew Barrymore Show, he opened up about his struggles with alcohol and how much he loved his wife. 

The 43-year-old Emmy-nominated star comes from a long line of successful artists in the field of singing and acting. Here is the family history of Jason Ritter.

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Tex Ritter

Tex Ritter, Jason’s grandfather, was a very popular actor and singer from the mid-1930s till the 60s. He was considered a pioneer in American country music. Born on 12th January 1905, he first debuted in motion pictures in a movie named Song of the Gringo. From there, he proceeded to appear in 70 films and 76 soundtracks. His song “The Ballad of High Noon” won him an Oscar for Best Song in 1953. He was one of the founding members of the Country Music Association, Nashville, and was included in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Due to his immense success in the recording industry, Ritter is also part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Dorothy Fay

Dorothy Fay, Jason’s grandmother, was born on 4th April 1915. She was an actress and had studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Dorothy married Tex Ritter on 14th June 1941. The marriage lasted till 1974 when Tex Ritter passed away. Together they had two children- Thomas and John Ritter. While she began her career by starring in B-grade Western movies, she soon starred opposite George Houston in Frontier Scout, garnering attention. She also starred in four films with husband Tex Ritter- Rollin’ Westward, Song of the Buckaroo, Rainbow Over the Range, and Sundown on the Prairie. 

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John Ritter

John Ritter was Jason Ritter’s father and Tex Ritter’s son. He has won prestigious accolades, including a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Jack Tripper on ABC’s Three’s Company. After his contribution to television, John Ritter appeared in 100 movies, the most notable being Problem Child. John Ritter married Nancy Morgan, an actress, and together they had three children- Jason, Carly, and Tyler Ritter. After the couple divorced in 1977, John Ritter married actress Amy Yasbeck after three years on 18th September. The couple was seen starring together in Problem Child. Ritter would pass away on 11th September 2003 of aortic dissection while rehearsing for his role in Disney’s “8 Simple Rules… for Dating My Teenage Daughter”. In 2010, Yasbeck and the John Ritter Foundation (JRF)  created the Ritter Rules, which are symptoms to keep in mind which help recognize and prevent aortic dissection. 

Nancy Morgan

Jason Ritter’s mother, Nancy Morgan, was born on 1st April 1949. She is an American Actress and the niece of John Morgan, who was a Medal of honor bearer during his actions in the Second World War. The couple co-hosted the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon with her husband, John Ritter. They co-starred in movies and feature films like Americathon, The Dreamer of Oz, and Heartbeat. Nancy Morgan starred in Grand Theft Auto alongside Ron Howard. Morgan and Ritter divorced after 19 years of marriage. 

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Amy Yasbeck

Born on 12th September 1962, American actress Amy Yasbeck is John Ritter’s second wife and Jason Ritter’s stepmother. Her most memorable role is in the sitcom Wings, where she played the role of Casey Chappel. In the movie Splash, Too, Yasbeck played the character of a mermaid. Over the years, Amy Yasbeck appeared in numerous shows and films such as Problem Child, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, The Mask, Pretty Woman, and many more. After the passing of her husband due to a severe condition, Yasbeck sued the hospital he was treated on account of misdiagnosis leading to his death. During a trial in 2008, the hospital and doctors were cleared of any malpractices. 

Tyler Ritter

Tyler Ritter, Jason’s brother, was born on 31st January 1985. After a brief career as a teacher in Argentina, Tyler returned to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. He made guest appearances in shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Modern Family. He got his big break when starring in the sitcom The McCarthys. He also had a guest appearance in a Julia Roberts-directed series named Homecoming.