Kaley Cuoco paid tribute to the life and work of her late “8 Simple Rules” co-star John Ritter.
On Thursday, the 38-year-old actress, who co-starred with Ritter on the sitcom from 2002 to 2003, spoke warmly about the actor at “An Evening From The Heart,” a gala benefiting the John Ritter Aortic Health Foundation. Ritter died in 2003 at the age of 54 from an undetected thoracic aortic dissection.
“He was a very special person to me,” the “Big Bang Theory” star told Access Hollywood at the Sunset Room Hollywood in Los Angeles.
Kaley Cuoco paid tribute to her late co-star John Ritter at a charity event. (Getty)
“He was a special person to so many people,” Cuoco added. “He left behind many accomplishments, not only as a great actor, but also as a great human being.
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“When I think about it, I spent a year and a half just with him, but the impact he had on my life far exceeded that year and a half,” she said on the TV show. He talked about Ritter, who played his father in the film.
“So I’m always going to do anything that involves his name, and especially raising awareness about what happened to him and how horrible it is for some of the families. I will always be an advocate for this.”
Cuoco and Ritter played a daughter and father on the sitcom “8 Simple Rules.” (Gail M. Adler/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
The John Ritter Aortic Health Foundation works to raise awareness of thoracic aortic disease through research, education, and advocacy.
Cuoco also shared some words of advice from Ritter that she has taken to heart over the past 20 years.
“I remember when I failed in front of the audience, he said, ‘They love it! They love it! They love it when you fail,’ and I says, “What?” He said, “Sometimes I do it on purpose,” the “Flight Attendant” star told Access Hollywood.
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“I started watching him intentionally mess up and make mistakes so the audience would go wild,” she added.
“I’ve literally been carrying that around for 20 years,” Cuoco said. “He gave everyone what they wanted. He was the class clown. He never took himself too seriously. We never took ourselves too seriously. , I think we need to go back to that a little bit.”
Cuoco served as co-chair and co-host of the annual “An Evening of the Heart” to benefit the John Ritter Aortic Health Foundation. (Mike Tran/Variety, via Getty Images)
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The sitcom “8 Simple Rules” stars Ritter as Hennessey family patriarch Paul Hennessy, Katey Sagal as his wife Kate, Cuoco as daughter Bridget, Amy Davidson as Bridget’s sister Kelly, and Martin Spagers as brother Rory. He appeared in the role.
Ritter passed away unexpectedly during the filming of the series’ second season, and 8 Simple Rules returned after a hiatus to incorporate Paul’s death into the show. This sitcom was renewed for a third season from 2004 to 2005.
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Cuoco was joined by Ritter’s widow, Amy Yasbeck, and son, Tyler Ritter. (Mike Tran/Variety, via Getty Images)
In an interview with People magazine, Cuoco said Ritter “touched so many lives.” She told the media that she shares a close relationship with Ritter’s family, including his widow Amy Yasbeck and their four children.
Ritter had sons Jason and Tyler and daughter Carly with his first wife, Nancy Morgan. The two were married from 1977 to 1996.
He also has a son, Noah, with Yasbeck. The two married in 1999 and remained married until his death.
The Emmy nominee told People magazine that Ritter’s family has “worked extremely hard” to raise awareness of thoracic aortic disease.
“I would do anything for his wife and children,” Cuoco said. “And I’m really, really proud to be here and honor him.”
Ritter’s “Three’s Company” co-stars Joyce DeWitt (right) and Priscilla Barnes reunited on the red carpet and hugged each other. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Amy and Tyler attended the gala, which was co-chaired and co-hosted by Cuoco. Ritter’s former “Three’s Company” co-stars Joyce DeWitt and Priscilla Barnes were also in attendance, and they hugged when they reunited on the red carpet.
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Ritter rose to fame playing Jack Tripper, a culinary school student who lives with two female roommates, Janet Wood (DeWitt) and Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers), but his landlord refuses to let him stay. Pretending to be gay to get sex.
“Three’s Company” ran for eight seasons on ABC from 1977 to 1984. Summers left the sitcom during the fifth season, but Ritter and DeWitt remained on the show for its entire run. Burns joined the cast in season six, playing nurse Terry Alden, who becomes Jack and Janet’s new roommate after Chrissie moves out.
Also in attendance at the gala were Cary Elwes, Sheri Oteri, Holly Robinson Peete, Katherine Kelly Lang, Heather Tom, and Ashley Jones.
