Jason Ritter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Ritter
Jason Ritter in 2015
Born	Jason Morgan Ritter (1980-02-17) February 17, 1980 (age 45) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Melanie Lynskey ​ (m. 2020)​
Partner(s)	Marianna Palka (1999–2013)
Children	1
Parents	John Ritter (father) Nancy Morgan (mother)
Relatives	Tex Ritter (grandfather) Dorothy Fay (grandmother) Tyler Ritter (brother) Amy Yasbeck (stepmother)

Jason Morgan Ritter (born February 17, 1980) is an American actor. He is the son of famous actor John Ritter. Jason is known for his roles in many TV shows and movies.

Some of his popular TV roles include Joan of Arcadia, Gravity Falls, and Raising Dion. He also voiced Ryder in the movie Frozen II. Jason Ritter was even nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in the TV series Parenthood. He is married to actress Melanie Lynskey and they have a daughter.

Early Life and Family

Jason Ritter was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 1980. His parents, Nancy Morgan and John Ritter, were both actors. His grandfather was also a famous actor named Tex Ritter. Jason has three siblings, including his brother Tyler Ritter, who is also an actor. His stepmother is actress Amy Yasbeck.

Jason first appeared on TV when he was very young. He was in the opening credits of his father's show Three's Company.

He went to the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. Later, he studied acting at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He also studied acting in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Acting Career

Starting Out (1990–2007)

Jason Ritter began acting professionally at age 10. His first role was in the 1990 TV movie The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story. In 1999, he had a role in the film Mumford.

In the early 2000s, Jason appeared in several movies for teens. These included Swimfan (2002), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), and Raise Your Voice (2004). From 2003 to 2005, he played Kevin Girardi in the TV show Joan of Arcadia. Kevin was the disabled brother of the main character.

Jason Ritter in 2007

Critics praised his acting in the 2007 film The Education of Charlie Banks. The Hollywood Reporter called his performance "a head-turner."

Independent Films and Voice Acting (2008–2016)

After appearing in the 2008 comedy The Deal, Jason played a small role as Jeb Bush in the movie W.

In 2010, he started playing Mark Cyr on the TV show Parenthood. This role earned him a nomination for an Emmy Award in 2012. He also starred in the 2011 comedy A Bag of Hammers.

From 2012 to 2016, Jason Ritter was the voice of Dipper Pines in the animated series Gravity Falls. This popular Disney Channel show was about twin siblings solving mysteries in a strange town. Critics loved the show, calling it "funny, emotional, beautiful, and terrifying."

Jason Ritter at Paleyfest in 2013

He also acted in several independent films during this time. These included The End of Love, Free Samples, and The East. In 2013, he was cast in a TV show called Us & Them, but it was cancelled before it aired.

In 2014, Jason appeared in Wild Canaries, a mystery film that received good reviews. He also starred in the drama About Alex. In this film, he played a young man who finds comfort with old friends after a difficult time.

In 2015, Jason had a role in the comedy-drama The Meddler. He also began playing Lord Frederick Bellacourt in the historical comedy Another Period. This show was a funny parody of Downton Abbey. He then starred in the 2015 drama Embers. In 2016, he was in the comedy The Intervention and Carrie Pilby.

Recent Work (2017–Present)

In 2017, Jason Ritter played Kevin Finn in the TV show Kevin (Probably) Saves the World. He played a financial worker who had to prevent humanity from self-destruction. The show was well-received by critics.

In 2019, Jason voiced Ryder in Walt Disney's movie Frozen II. This movie was a huge success at the box office. The same year, he started playing Pat Rollins in the superhero series Raising Dion on Netflix.

In 2022, Jason appeared in the true crime miniseries Candy. He played Deputy Denny Reese, who investigates a murder. His wife, Melanie Lynskey, also starred in the series. In 2023, he voiced the main character, Jonathan Fall, in the animated series Captain Fall.

It was announced in 2023 that Jason Ritter will star in a new TV show called Matlock, which is expected to air in 2024.

Personal Life

Jason Ritter was in a relationship with Marianna Palka from 1999 to 2013. They met while studying acting in New York City. In 2017, Jason got engaged to New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey. They had their daughter in December 2018 and got married in 2020.

Jason has spoken about how his father's death helped him understand how precious life is. He learned to tell people he cares about how he feels.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Podcasts

Music videos

Theatre credits

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jason Ritter para niños