All About John Ritter’s Kids, Including Actors Jason and Tyler Ritter
The ‘Three’s Company’ icon was a father of four.
The late John Ritter is beloved by TV fans all over the world, but no one remembers him more fondly than his children. “He is a comedy genius,” Ritter’s eldest son, Jason, recalled in the 2021 ABC special Superstar: John Ritter. “He was a very loving and supportive dad. I never felt like I was jealous that I had to share him with the world.”
By the time Ritter and ex-wife Nancy Morgan welcomed Jason in 1980, Ritter was already famous, having made his Three’s Company debut as Jack Tripper in 1977. He continued working steadily for the rest of his life. When he died at age 54 of aortic dissection in September 2003, Ritter was leading the sitcom 8 Simple Rules. He had also filmed a part in Bad Santa, which hit theaters two months after his death.
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While Ritter’s family no doubt wishes they had more time with him, Jason has said that he’s made peace with his father’s passing by focusing on the positive. “One of the things that I try to do is look at his life,” Jason explained in Superstar. “Instead of feeling like I was reading this beautiful book and all of a sudden the last 10 chapters were ripped out, I started to look at it as ‘That was the whole book. That’s the whole story. And what’s the beauty in that?’ And there was so much beauty in his life.”
Keep scrolling for a complete guide to John’s family.
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How many kids did John Ritter have?
John Ritter had four children before his September 2003 death: Jason Ritter (born in 1980), Carly Ritter (born in 1982), Tyler Ritter (born in 1985) and Noah Ritter (born in 1998).
Who are the mothers of John Ritter’s children?
Nancy Morgan
John Ritter welcomed his three eldest children—Jason, Carly and Tyler—with ex-wife Nancy Morgan, whom he wed in 1977 after one year of dating. Morgan is also an actor, having appeared in shows including Diff’rent Strokes and The Love Boat. In 1990, she starred in the TV movie The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story, which featured her then-husband and marked their son Jason’s TV debut. More recently, she starred in the 2020 TV movie Life’s a Bit. Ritter and Morgan divorced in 1996.
Amy Yasbeck
After his split from Nancy Morgan, John Ritter moved on with Amy Yasbeck, who played his love interest in 1990’s Problem Child and its 1991 sequel. The couple welcomed son Noah in September 1998 and tied the knot one year later. They were together until Ritter’s death.
Who are John Ritter’s Children?
Jason Ritter (b. Feb. 17, 1980)
Jason Ritter is the eldest child of John Ritter and Nancy Morgan. Born on Feb. 17, 1980, Jason followed in his dad’s footsteps as a child actor, making his professional debut in the 1990 TV movie The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story. After graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Jason went on to star in films including Swimfan, The Education of Charlie Banks, and more.
In 2017, Jason got engaged to fellow actor Melanie Lynskey. The Yellowjackets star revealed in 2022 that the duo secretly tied the knot in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. They welcomed a daughter in late 2018.
These days Jason is starring opposite Kathy Bates in the new reboot of ’80s classic Matlock.
Related: Melanie Lynskey Shares Sweet Throwback Wedding Photo for Anniversary with Jason Ritter
Carly Ritter (March 1, 1982)
Carly and Jason Ritter
Carly and Jason Ritter
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Clear Channel
John Ritter and Nancy Morgan welcomed their second child and only daughter, Carly, on March 1, 1982. Like her older brother Jason, Carly pursued a career in the arts, but as a singer rather than an actor. In 2013, she debuted a self-titled country album. While she hasn’t released another full-length album, her latest single dropped in 2021.
A decade before their split, John Ritter and Nancy Morgan welcomed their third child, son Tyler, on Jan. 31, 1985. Tyler tried his hand at acting in high school but ultimately decided to pursue another career after his father’s death. Following his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, Tyler worked as a teacher for several years. At 25, however, he decided to give acting another go and moved to Los Angeles for a career change. He has since appeared in shows including Arrow, Chicago P.D. and The Good Doctor. He recently turned up on the 2023 Netflix series Painkiller, playing John L. Brownlee, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia from 2001 to 2008 who testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee regarding his investigation of Purdue Pharma and its executives.
