John Ritter’s brother Tom displays on the legacy he left behind.
Jul. 3 2024, Printed 6:00 a.m. ET
Actor and comic John Ritter knew from a younger age what profession path he’d take — he would observe his well-known dad and mom into showbiz, his older brother Tom Ritter recalled.
Tom, 77, remembered his youthful brother being “mesmerized” by theatre at an early age as he mirrored on the lasting legacy John left behind, RadarOnline.com has discovered.
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John died of a coronary heart assault at age 54 in 2003.
With singing cowboy Tex Ritter as his father and Dorothy Fay, who starred with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant in The Philadelphia Story, as his mother, John did not fall removed from the tree when it got here time to forge his profession path.
“I bear in mind he was mesmerized once we went to see our cousin Jamie in a play,” Tom stated. “John was about eight-years-old, and he was decided to be an actor.”
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Tom stated John was ‘mesmerized’ by theatre as early as eight-years-old.
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However slightly than pursuing singing or drama like his dad and mom, John was drawn to comedy. He dreamed about being like his idols, Dick Van Dyke and Jerry Lewis, and made an earnest effort to check their craft.
“He practiced their strikes and got here up with loads of his personal,” John’s massive brother informed the Examiner. “There was lots of pleasure and laughter in the home. And lots of play.”
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Tom stated there was ‘lots of pleasure and laughter’ rising up with John.
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Regardless of rising up the kids of stars, Tom stated he and his brother had a “pretty typical suburban upbringing.”
Whereas reflecting on their childhood, Tom — who’s 20-months older and was born with cerebral palsy — revealed how John was fiercely protecting of him, particularly when it got here to being picked on because of his incapacity.
“Rising up, John supported me like an enormous brother, despite the fact that I used to be older,” Tom stated. “He caught up for me and guarded me in opposition to bullying.”
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Tom additionally famous the values their guardian’s instilled in them, “We discovered to be affected person and cordial with individuals by watching Mother and Dad.”
“My mother was essentially the most optimistic and upbeat particular person on Earth,” he added.
John went to the College of Southern California to check psychology; nevertheless, he quickly switched his main to check on the USC Faculty of Dramatic Arts, which initially made his father uncertain.
Tom stated he additionally had reservations when his little brother landed a job on Three’s Firm in 1976.
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John left behind 4 kids when he handed in 2003.
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“The taboo of single individuals dwelling collectively appeared passé by the tip of the 70s,” Tom defined. “However John and the forged made it a lot enjoyable that America tuned in week after week.”
Sadly, John handed away far too younger at age 54 in 2003 after struggling a coronary heart assault. He left behind a spouse and 4 kids. The household fashioned the John Ritter Basis for Aortic Well being to fund analysis for the situation that killed him.
“John’s legacy is the butterfly impact he set in movement when he was right here,” Tom stated of his late brother. “The love and the laughter are nonetheless shifting by way of the world on that golden thread.”