John Ritter’s brother Tom reflects on the legacy he left behind.
July 3, 2024, published at 6:00 am ET
Actor and comedian Johannes Ritter knew from an early age what career path he would follow: he would follow his famous parents into showbiz, his older brother Tom Ritter remembered.
Tom, 77, remembers his younger brother being “mesmerized” by theater at a young age as he reflected on the lasting legacy John left behind. RadarOnline.com has learned.
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John died of a heart attack in 2003 at the age of 54.
With singing cowboy Tex Ritter as his father and Dorothy Faywho played with Katherine Hepburn And Cary Grant in The Philadelphia StoryLike his mother, John didn’t fall far from the tree when it came time to chart his career path.
“I remember he was mesmerized when we went to see our cousin Jamie in a play,” Tom said. “John was about eight years old and he was determined to become an actor.”
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Tom said John was “mesmerized” by theater from the age of eight.
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But instead of pursuing singing or drama like his parents, John was drawn to comedy. He dreamed of being like his idols, Dick Van Dijk And Jerry Lewisand made a serious effort to study their craft.
“He practiced their moves and came up with a lot of them himself,” John’s big brother told the Examiner. “There was a lot of joy and laughter in the house. And there was a lot of playing.”
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Tom said there was “lots of joy and laughter” growing up with John.
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Johannes Ritter
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Despite growing up as the children of stars, Tom said he and his brother had a “fairly typical suburban upbringing.”
Reflecting on their childhood, Tom – who is 20 months older and was born with cerebral palsy – revealed how John was fiercely protective of him, especially when it came to being bullied because of his disability.
“Growing up, John supported me like a big brother, even though I was older,” Tom said. “He stood up for me and protected me from bullying.”
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Tom also noted the values their parents instilled in them: “We learned to be patient and warm-hearted with people by watching Mom and Dad.”
“My mother was the most positive and cheerful person on earth,” he added.
John attended the University of Southern California to study psychology; however, he soon switched majors to study at the USC School of Dramatic Arts, which his father initially doubted.
Tom said he also had reservations when his little brother got a role Three company in 1976.
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John left behind four children when he passed away in 2003.
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“The taboo of living together without being married seemed to be over in the late 1970s,” Tom explains. “But John and the cast made it so much fun that America joined in week after week.”
Sadly, John died far too young in 2003 at the age of 54 after a heart attack. He left behind a wife and four children. The family founded the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health to fund research into the condition that killed him.
“John’s legacy is the butterfly effect that he started when he was here,” Tom said of his late brother. “Love and laughter still move through the world on that golden thread.”