Jason Ritter is a well-known actor in the American entertainment industry who has appeared in both films and television shows. Jason began his career in front of the camera when he was just a year old, as the son of actors Nancy Morgan and John Ritter. After finishing his studies, he made his acting debut in 1990 with the made-for-TV biographical film ‘The Dreamer of Oz: The L Frank Baum Story.’ His performance as Kevin Girardi in the television series ‘Joan of Arcadia’, however, catapulted him to fame. His acting abilities were not only recognized by industry heavyweights, but also by the general public, who praised his portrayal and the perspective he took on the character. Following that, he was presented with a slew of opportunities. Ritter improved his craft throughout his career, from playing Ethan Haas in ‘The Class’ to Sean Walker in the NBC series ‘The Event,’ and even as the voice of Dipper Pines in ‘Gravity Falls.’ He was even nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of Mark Cyr in the NBC television series “Parenthood.” ‘Another Period’ and ‘Kevin (Probably) Saves the World’ are two of his current and forthcoming releases.
Childhood and Adolescence of Jason Ritter
Jason Ritter was born in Los Angeles, California on February 17, 1980 to Nancy Morgan and John Ritter. His grandparents, Tex Ritter and Dorothy Fay, worked as musicians and actors, so his family had a history in the entertainment industry. Amy Yasbeck, his stepmother, was also an actress. Tyler Ritter, an actor, is one of his three siblings.
Ritter received his official education from the Santa Monica, California-based Crossroads School. He subsequently went to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he studied with the Atlantic Theatre Company. He also completed a degree at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art after graduating from the same.
The Career of Jason Ritter
‘Three’s Company,’ Ritter’s father’s sitcom, was his first onscreen debut. He was only a year old at the time. From Seasons 6 through 8, he was seen in the opening credits standing next to ‘Janet Wood’ as she petted a goat.
In 1990, Ritter made her big screen debut in the made-for-television biographical picture ‘The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story.’ Ritter disappeared from the screen after ‘The Dreamer of Oz,’ only to reappearance in 1999 as the lead in the third season of the television series ‘Undressed.’
Ritter made her acting debut on the popular soap opera ‘Days of Our Lives’ in 1999. He also dabbled in acting, portraying Martin Brockett in the film ‘Mumford.’
In 2002, Ritter has two films in the works: ‘PG’ and ‘Swimfan.’ Meanwhile, he had a guest appearance in ‘Hack’ as Teddy Griffin. Ritter went on to star in the horror film ‘Freddy vs Jason’ the following year. Before landing a starring part in the television series ‘Joan of Arcadia,’ he made a few guest appearances. Ritter’s acting career was forever changed as a result of it.
Ritter was constantly busy, with his hands full of assignments, despite the fact that a significant breakthrough in film eluded him. He appeared in films such as ‘Raise Your Voice,’ ‘Happy Endings,’ ‘Our Very Own,’ ‘The Wicker Man,’ ‘The Deal,’ and ‘W,’ among others.
Ritter’s television appearances expanded as well, as he was no longer considered a guest star. Following his full-time portrayal as Kevin Girardi in ‘Joan of Arcadia,’ he received a flurry of offers. He starred in ‘The Class’ from 2006 to 2007, and then in ‘WWII in HD’ as Jack Yusen.
Aside from films and television, Ritter was also a stage performer. In Wendy Wasserstein’s ‘Third,’ he played the title character. The audience adored the play, and he received two honors for it: the Clarence Derwent Award and the Martin E. Segal Award. He appeared in Neil LaBute’s play ‘The Distance from Here’ and an Off-Broadway production of ‘The Beginning of August.’
Ritter was last seen assuming the role of Sean Walker on the NBC thriller ‘The Event’ in 2010. Around the same time, he landed a recurring part in ‘Parenthood’ as Mark Cyr. In 2012, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on the show.
In the 2012 film ‘Gravity Falls,’ Ritter provided the voice of Dipper Pines. In addition to his appearances in numerous television shows, he appeared in the comedy picture ‘Free Samples’ throughout the year.
Ritter had a hectic year in 2013. While ‘The Big Ask’ was his lone film appearance of the year, he was kept busy on television. He appeared in episodes of ‘Robot Chicken,’ ‘Modern Family,’ ‘Call Me Crazy,’ and ‘Drunk History,’ among others.
In the same year, he signed on to portray Gavin on FOX’s sitcom ‘Us & Them,’ opposite Alexis Bledel’s Stacey. Unfortunately, the show was never broadcast.
Ritter found a wide range of assignments come his way after establishing his flexibility as an actor. In 2014, he appeared in seven films as a supporting actor in a variety of roles. He worked in a variety of genres, including drama, romcom, crime thriller, and dramedy. ‘Hits,’ ‘There’s Always Woodstock,’ ‘7 Minutes,’ ‘You Are Not You,’ and others are among his flicks.
Ritter was cast in a recurring role in the television series ‘Girls’ in 2015. In the same year, he landed the starring role of Lord Federick Bellacourt in ‘Another Period,’ a character he continues to play.
The ABC sitcom ‘Kevin (Probably) Saves the World,’ a high concept angelic inspired fantasy drama, is one of his next ventures. On October 3, 2017, the show is set to premiere.
His Major Projects
Though Ritter has a long list of films and television series to his credit, ‘Joan of Arcadia’ is the most promising and well-known of them all. Ritter’s first break as a lead actor came with the fantasy television series.
Kevin Girardi, a paraplegic youngster who began his career working for the local newspaper before finally becoming a local news anchor, did something truly remarkable.
It also paved the way for Ritter to work on several fantastic projects and roles in both cinema and television, the best of which was undoubtedly his Emmy Award-nominated performance in ‘Parenthood.’
Personal History and Legacy
Ritter and actress Melanie Lynskey got engaged in 2017 after four years of dating. Marianna Palka, an actress, was his previous girlfriend.
Estimated Net Worth
Jason Ritter net worth: Jason Ritter is a $6 million dollar actor from the United States. Jason Ritter was born in Los Angeles, California, and attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He also studied at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.