With Love and Laughter, John Ritter

With Love and Laughter, John Ritter
by Amy Yasbeck [Biography Ritter]

John Ritter was one of my TV heroes -- a comedic actor, adept at both witty dialog and absurd pratfalls, but who managed to remain a "good guy" in real life. From his early parts and recurring role as the paster on The Waltons, to his star turns on Three's Company, Hearts Afire and Hooperman, I had followed his career with pleasure, enjoying each of his performances, but enjoying reading about his behind-the-scenes life almost as much. His death in 2003 was so sudden and shocking, it threw me for a loop, and hearing after-the-fact that it was due to an undiagnosed medical condition was all the more alarming. Ritter's second wife, Yasbeck, does a tender job of looking back at Ritter's life -- the celebrity of his parents Tex and Dorothy Ritter, and his innate need to perform. Counter-balancing Ritter's career trajectory, Yasbeck shares her own background and upbringing, leading to their relationship and the child they had together. Though the last couple of chapters deal with the heartbreak of Ritter's death and the medical issues associated with the condition he fell victim to, the majority of this book is a feel-good tribute to one of our best comic actors, taken from us too early. I enjoyed this tremendously. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official John Ritter Foundation web site ] | [ John Ritter entry on Wikipedia ]
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