Jason Ritter
{{short description|American actor (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jason Ritter
| image = Jason Ritter TIFF 2015.jpg
| caption = Ritter in 2015
| birth_name = Jason Morgan Ritter
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|2|17}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = New York University
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1990–present
| father = John Ritter
| mother = Nancy Morgan
| relatives = {{plainlist|
- Tex Ritter (grandfather)
- Dorothy Fay (grandmother)
- Tyler Ritter (brother)
- Amy Yasbeck (stepmother)
}}
| children = 1
| partner = Marianna Palka (1999–2013)
| spouse = {{marriage|Melanie Lynskey|2020}}
}}
Jason Morgan Ritter (born February 17, 1980) is an American actor. The son of John Ritter and Nancy Morgan, he is known for his work in television series such as Joan of Arcadia (2003–2005), Gravity Falls (2012–2016), Another Period (2015–2018), Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (2017–2018), Raising Dion (2019–2022), and Matlock (2024–). For his portrayal of Mark Cyr on NBC's Parenthood (2010–2014), Ritter was nominated for the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor.
Ritter made his feature film debut in Mumford (1999). Subsequent credits include Swimfan (2002), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), Raise Your Voice (2004), Happy Endings (2005), The Education of Charlie Banks (2007), W. (2008), The Perfect Family (2011), Wild Canaries (2014), The Meddler (2015), Carrie Pilby (2016), Bitch (2017), The Tale (2018), and Frozen II (2019). Ritter is married to actress Melanie Lynskey, with whom he has a daughter.
Early life
Ritter was born on February 17, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, to actors Nancy Morgan and John Ritter.{{Cite web|title=The birth of Jason Ritter|url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/jason_morgan_ritter_born_1980_14628090|access-date=2020-10-02|website=californiabirthindex.org}} He is a grandson of actors Tex Ritter, who died six years before Ritter was born, and Dorothy Fay. His stepmother is actress Amy Yasbeck. Ritter has three siblings, including actor Tyler Ritter.{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/parents/all-about-john-ritter-children/|title=John Ritter's 4 Children: Everything to Know|website=People|first=Emily|last=St. Martin|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=November 13, 2023}}
Ritter appeared as a toddler in the opening credits of his father's show, Three's Company, with Joyce DeWitt who played Janet. His appearance was unplanned, but the producers liked the added touch, so kept it.{{cite journal|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jason-ritter|title=Jason Ritter Bio|journal=US Weekly |access-date=April 27, 2013}}
He attended middle and high school at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California, with Simon Helberg, who became his roommate at NYU.{{cite web|url=http://www.nerdist.com/2011/07/making-it-1-jason-ritter/|title=Making It #1: Jason Ritter|last=Lindhome|first=Riki|work=Nerdist|access-date=July 26, 2011}} Ritter attended and graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Atlantic Theater Company. He later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.{{Cite news|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/jason-ritter|title=Jason Ritter|website=Emmys.com|access-date=November 13, 2023}}
Career
= 1990–2007: Teen films and early career =
Ritter made his professional acting debut at age 10, playing Harry Neal Baum in the 1990 television film The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story. Several years later, he had a supporting role as Martin Brockett in the 1999 film Mumford, a dramedy directed by Lawrence Kasdan.
Ritter's film work throughout the early 2000s included prominent parts in teen-oriented projects such as Swimfan (2002), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), and Raise Your Voice (2004). Between 2003 and 2005, he appeared as Kevin Girardi, the disabled brother of the titular main character, on the CBS family drama series Joan of Arcadia. Next, he played a young man struggling to come terms with his sexuality in the dark comedy Happy Endings (2005), with Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post commenting, "The acting in this ensemble is of such a high order that the movie simply takes you in and makes you feel these lives as real".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/07/15/happy-endings-a-dizzying-ride-to-the-unknown/250eb7d6-256b-4ce5-a453-c5da97e0170e/|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|title='Happy Endings': A Dizzying Ride To the Unknown|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 15, 2005|access-date=July 10, 2023}}
Ritter's portrayal of an Ivy League college student in The Education of Charlie Banks (2007) was met with critical acclaim: The Hollywood Reporter referred to it as a "head-turner" performance that combined "a believably brooding intensity with a bad boy swagger that brings to mind [a] young Matt Dillon".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/education-charlie-banks-film-review-93006/|title=The Education of Charlie Banks — Film Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 26, 2009|access-date=July 12, 2023}}
= 2008–2016: Independent film roles =
Following a supporting role in the satirical 2008 comedy The Deal, Ritter appeared briefly as Jeb Bush in the biographical drama W, directed by Oliver Stone. On preparing for the role, he said, "I watched everything that I possibly could and read some books about [the] Bush family [and] Jeb".{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2008/10/w_star_jason_ritter_on_becomin.html|last=Simon|first=Brent|title='W.' Star Jason Ritter on Becoming Jeb|work=Vulture|date=October 15, 2008|access-date=July 10, 2023}} That same year, he produced and starred in the independent dramedy Good Dick with his girlfriend at the time, Marianna Palka, making her directorial debut.{{cite web|title=L.A. Is For Lovers: Jason Ritter & Marianna Palka |first=Whitney |last=Spaner |publisher=Paper Magazine |url=http://www.papermag.com/2009/01/la_is_for_lovers_jason_ritter_marianna_palka.php |date=January 2009 |access-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163250/http://www.papermag.com/2009/01/la_is_for_lovers_jason_ritter_marianna_palka.php |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }} A look at the relationship between an introverted girl (Palka) and the video store assistant (Ritter) vying for her attention, the film drew a mixed reception,{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_dick|title=Good Dick|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 11, 2023}} but Empire{{'}}s Anna Smith was enthusiastic in her appraisal: "Ritter's character — a romantic reformed druggie — is one to root for, and [the film] entertains enough to get by, marking Palka and Ritter as talents to watch".{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/good-dick-review/|last=Smith|first=Anna|title=Good Dick review|work=Empire|date=October 3, 2008|access-date=July 10, 2023}}
In 2010, Ritter began playing the recurring role of Mark Cyr on NBC's
Parenthood. The performance earned him a nomination for the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/parenthood-emmy-nominee-jason-ritter-talks-mark-sarahs-020033383.html|last=Masters|first=Megan|title=Parenthood Emmy Nominee Jason Ritter Talks Mark and Sarah's Future, New Foe Ray Romano|work=Yahoo!|date=July 20, 2012|access-date=July 10, 2023}} His next project was the 2011 independent comedy A Bag of Hammers, where he starred as a felon who winds up taking care of a neglected child; in a mixed review, The Hollywood Reporter felt that its tone was "muddled", but believed it "starts off strong, offering funny, well timed dialogue between Sandvig [and] Ritter".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/a-bag-hammers-sxsw-film-167162/|title=A Bag of Hammers: SXSW Film Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 13, 2011|access-date=July 11, 2023}} Also that year, he co-starred in The Perfect Family, which critic Frank Scheck felt worked solely on the strength of its performances: "Turner is deeply sympathetic as the religious matriarch ... while Ritter and Deschanel are thoroughly believable as the grown children who love their mother despite her oft-expressed disapproval of their actions".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/perfect-family-tribeca-review-182222/|first=Frank|last=Scheck|title=The Perfect Family: Tribeca Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 26, 2011|access-date=July 11, 2023}}
Between 2012 and 2016, Ritter starred in the voice role of Dipper Pines on the Disney Channel animated series Gravity Falls, a show about a pair of twins deciphering the weird goings-on in the mysterious titular town. The series was universally praised,{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gravity_falls/s02|title=Gravity Falls (2014 - 2016)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 11, 2023}} with Alasdair Wilkins of The A.V. Club calling it "funny, emotional, beautiful, and terrifying in equal measure".{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/gravity-falls-has-the-perfect-ending-1798186581|first=Alasdair|last=Wilkins|title=Gravity Falls has the perfect ending|work=The A.V. Club|date=February 15, 2016|access-date=July 11, 2023}} Ritter had prominent parts in five independent features between 2012 and 2013: The End of Love, Free Samples, I Am I,{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/jason-ritter-i-am-i-interview/|title=Jason Ritter Talks I AM I, How He Got Involved, Why the Kickstarter Campaign Was Successful, and More|first=Christina|last=Radish|date=June 17, 2014|website=Collider|access-date=November 14, 2023}} The Big Ask, and The East. It was announced in February 2013 that he would star as Gavin in Us & Them, a sitcom pilot based on the British television comedy Gavin & Stacey.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/02/jason-ritter-to-star-in-foxs-comedy-pilot-friends-family-430799/|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Jason Ritter To Star In Fox's Comedy Pilot 'Friends & Family'|work=Deadline|date=February 14, 2013|access-date=November 14, 2023}} While subsequently picked up as a series by Fox, Us & Them was cancelled before it could premiere,{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2014/06/09/us-them-alexis-bledel-jason-ritter-fox-air-date/|title=Us & Them Update: 6 Produced Episodes of Fox's Jason Ritter-Alexis Bledel Comedy Will Never Air|website=TVLine|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|date=June 9, 2014|access-date=September 30, 2018|archive-date=January 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123014659/http://tvline.com/2014/06/09/us-them-alexis-bledel-jason-ritter-fox-air-date/|url-status=dead}} with the show's seven episodes eventually being released by Crackle.{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2018/09/14/alexis-bledel-jason-ritter-us-and-them-streaming-sony-crackle-unaired-fox-sitcom/|title=Jason Ritter/Alexis Bledel Unaired Fox Sitcom Us & Them to Debut on Crackle|website=TVLine|first=Ryan|last=Schwartz|date=September 14, 2018|access-date=September 30, 2018}}
File:Jason Ritter Paleyfest 2013.jpg]]
Ritter's appearance in Wild Canaries (2014), a throwback to classic whodunits, was met with praise: Justin Chang of Variety called the film "eventful, plot-driven [and] fun", adding that "Corrigan and especially Ritter are solid in their hefty supporting roles".{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/sxsw-film-review-wild-canaries-1201128518/|title=SXSW Film Review: 'Wild Canaries'|work=Variety|first=Justin|last=Chang|date=March 10, 2014|access-date=July 11, 2023}} He headlined the independent drama About Alex that same year, playing a young man who finds solace in a group of old friends after attempting to take his own life. In his review for RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico said, "What's kind of refreshing about About Alex is that the predictable map through the clichés of this subgenre that seems to be charted in the opening scenes isn't quite followed", adding, "Ritter finds [the] emotional undercurrent that's often missing from these troubled characters. There's something honest in the way his voice quivers that makes his depression seem more genuine".{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/about-alex-2014|first=Brian|last=Tallerico|title=About Alex|work=RogerEbert.com|date=August 8, 2014|access-date=July 13, 2023}}
Ritter had a supporting role as the main character's movie star ex-boyfriend in the 2015 comedy-drama The Meddler, and began playing Lord Frederick Bellacourt—an illiterate twin—that same year on the acclaimed historical sitcom Another Period,{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/another_period/s01|title=Another Period (2015)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 11, 2023}} a parody of Downton Abbey.{{Cite web|url=https://theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jun/23/another-period-downton-abbey-satire-comedy-centra|title=Another Period: historical TV parody takes the starch out of Downton Abbey|first=Brian|last=Moylan|date=June 23, 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=November 14, 2023}} In their review of Period, which ran for three seasons on Comedy Central,{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/comedy-central-cancels-another-period-after-3-seasons.html|title=Comedy Central Cancels Another Period After 3 Seasons|first=Megh|last=Wright|date=November 29, 2018|website=Vulture|access-date=November 14, 2023}} The A.V. Club felt that Ritter brought "an earnestness" to the wacky material.{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/another-period-nails-two-genres-at-once-1798184150|title= Another Period nails two genres at once|first=Kayla|last=Kumari Upadhyaya|date=June 23, 2015|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=November 14, 2023}} Next, he starred as a man suffering from retrograde amnesia in the post-apocalyptic drama Embers (2015); Sight and Sound critic Anton Bitel called it "a reflection of the human condition as philosophically compelling as it is emotionally intelligent", adding, "No film has either moved or provoked me as much this year".{{cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/comment/festivals/lost-inner-space-ten-highlights-sci-fi-london|first=Anton|last=Bitel|title=Lost in inner space: ten highlights of Sci-Fi-London 2016|work=British Film Institute|date=April 28, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2023}} In 2016, Ritter co-starred in the well-reviewed ensemble comedy The Intervention and received positive notices for his role in Carrie Pilby, an adaptation of the novel of the same name.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_intervention|title=The Intervention|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=November 15, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/carrie-pilby-review-bel-powley-toronto-1201856412/|first=Dennis|last=Harvey|title=Toronto Film Review: 'Carrie Pilby'|work=Variety|date=September 9, 2016|access-date=November 15, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://thefilmstage.com/tiff-review-carrie-pilby/|first=Jared|last=Mobarak|title=[TIFF Review] Carrie Pilby|work=The Film Stage|date=September 18, 2016|access-date=November 15, 2023}}
= 2017–present: Television and film work =
In the satirical dark comedy Bitch (2017), Ritter re-teamed with director Marianna Palka to play Bill, a promiscuous husband whose wife suddenly takes on the mannerisms of a wild dog. Writing for IndieWire, Erick Kohn said, "The usually sweet-natured Ritter boldly plays against type ... an American Psycho-like creep ... leaving the care of his three young children to his clearly unstable wife", adding that "[the film] works best when it focuses on Bill's ongoing shock at the sudden demand for his responsibility, as he fights through the task of delivering his kids to school and suddenly loses traction in the workplace. A fierce portrait of unwieldy comeuppance, it's both hilarious and terrifying to watch Bill take in the strange events around him".{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/bitch-review-jason-ritter-marianna-palka-sundance-2017-1201771627/|first=Erick|last=Kohn|title=Palka's Vicious Feminist Satire Has Plenty of Bark and Bite — Sundance 2017|work=IndieWire|date=January 22, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2023}}
Ritter's portrayal of Kevin Finn—a depressed financial worker tasked with preventing humanity from self-destruction—in Kevin (Probably) Saves the World was warmly received by critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2017/10/03/kevin-might-not-save-the-world-but-jason-ritter-might-save-the-show.html|first=Johanna|last=Schneller|title=Kevin might not save the world, but Jason Ritter might save the show|work=The Toronto Star|date=October 3, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2023}}{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/recap/kevin-probably-saves-the-world-series-premiere/|first=Jodi|last=Walker|title= Kevin (Probably) Saves the World series premiere react: 'Pilot'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 3, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2023}} The show ran for a single season on ABC between October 2017 and March 2018.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/kevin-probably-saves-the-world-canceled-jason-ritter-abc-1202379823|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512022852/http://deadline.com/2018/05/kevin-probably-saves-the-world-canceled-jason-ritter-abc-1202379823/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 12, 2018|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|title='Kevin (Probably) Saves The World' Canceled After One Season On ABC|work=Deadline|date=May 11, 2018|access-date=November 14, 2023}} Next, he appeared in The Tale (2018), a drama based on the childhood sexual abuse suffered by Jennifer Fox—the film's writer and director—at the hands of her running coach. Ritter played perpetrator William "Bill" Allens, earning strong reviews for his performance: "Ritter has never been better" said Matt Goldberg of Collider,{{cite web|url= https://collider.com/the-tale-review-laura-dern-jennifer-fox/|first=Matt|last=Goldberg|title='The Tale' Review: One of the Bravest Movies You'll Ever See|work=Collider|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=July 11, 2023}} while The Atlantic{{'}}s David Sims commented, "Handed the tough roles of mentors who shift into monsters, Ritter and Debicki subtly calibrate their performances as necessary, projecting a protective edge in one moment and a predatory one in the next. Their transformations are extraordinary to watch, and necessary to reckon with".{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/05/the-tale-jennifer-fox-laura-dern-review/561104/|first=David|last=Sims|title=The Tale Is a Searing Investigation of Past Abuse|work=The Atlantic|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=July 11, 2023}} Ritter said the experience of making the film had been a challenging one, and that there were times after a day's shooting when he "had to go home and let it all out".{{Cite web|url= https://www.amny.com/entertainment/jason-ritter-the-tale-hbo-1-18663980/|title='The Tale' star Jason Ritter reveals the rage he felt playing a predator|first=Niki|last=Cruz|date=May 21, 2018|website=AM New York|access-date=July 11, 2023}}
In 2019, Ritter played the voice role of Ryder—a member of the Northuldra tribe—in Walt Disney's Frozen II, which broke box office records upon its release.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/frozen-2-box-office-all-records-broken-1257703/|title='Frozen 2' Box Office: All the Records Broken|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=November 14, 2023}} He began starring as biotech engineer Pat Rollins on the critically acclaimed superhero series Raising Dion the same year,{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/raising_dion/s01|title=Raising Dion (2019)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 11, 2023}} with Aaron Pruner of Thrillist commenting that Ritter's involvement "adds the nuanced character work he's known for".{{Cite news|url=https://www.thrillist.com/amphtml/entertainment/nation/netflix-raising-dion-superhero-review|title=Netflix's Superhero Origin Story 'Raising Dion' Is a Breath of Fresh Air|website=Thrillist|first=Aaron|last=Pruner|date=October 5, 2019|access-date=November 14, 2023}} The show ran for two seasons on Netflix before being cancelled in April 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a39839144/raising-dion-cancelled-season-3/|title=Why was Raising Dion cancelled?|website=Digital Spy|first=Janet A.|last=Leigh|date=April 27, 2022|access-date=July 11, 2023}}
In a casting choice that drew attention for being "meta",{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/candy-hulu-jessical-biel-justin-timberlake-1235145380/|title=Jessica Biel on the "Meta on Meta" Surprise Roles in Her and Melanie Lynskey's 'Candy'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Strause|last=Jackie|date=May 12, 2022|access-date=November 15, 2023}} Ritter appeared as Deputy Denny Reese in two episodes of the true crime Hulu miniseries Candy (2022), where the character—along with his colleague, played by Justin Timberlake—investigates the 1980 murder of Texan housewife Betty Gore. Gore was portrayed by Ritter's wife, Melanie Lynskey, while the perpetrator—Candy Montgomery—was played by Timberlake's wife, Jessica Biel. The following year, Ritter voiced principal character Jonathan Fall in the animated series Captain Fall, a dark comedy that ran for one season on Netflix.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/shadow-and-bone-glamorous-agent-elvis-captain-fall-farzar-canceled-strike-impact-1235611562/|title='Shadow And Bone', 'Glamorous' & 'Agent Elvis' Among 5 Series Canceled By Netflix Amid Strike Impact|website=Deadline|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=November 15, 2023|access-date=March 5, 2024}}
It was announced in March 2023 that Ritter had been cast in the CBS reboot of Matlock,{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/matlock-jason-ritter-cast-cbs-reboot-pilot-kathy-bates-1235299160/|title='Matlock': Jason Ritter Joins Cast Of CBS Reboot Pilot|website=Deadline|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=March 14, 2023|access-date=July 11, 2023}} which began airing in October 2024.{{Cite news|url=https://tvline.com/news/matlock-reboot-delayed-cbs-postponed-2024-2025-1235078975/|title=Matlock Reboot, Wayans Sitcom Poppa's House Pushed to 2024-25 Season at CBS|website=TVLine|first=Rebecca|last=Iannucci|date=November 13, 2023|access-date=November 15, 2023}} In his review of the first season, IndieWire{{'}}s Ben Travers found Ritter to be one of the show's biggest assets, writing, "Ritter has long deserved a regular showcase like [this]".{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/matlock-review-kathy-bates-new-matlock-twist-1235056040/|title=The New ‘Matlock’ Isn’t the Old ‘Matlock,’ but Is That Enough?|website=IndieWire|first=Ben|last=Travers|date=October 17, 2024|access-date=March 19, 2025}}
Personal life
From October 1999 to 2013, Ritter was in a relationship with Marianna Palka. They met while they were both studying at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York City.{{Cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/la-is-for-lovers-jason-ritter-marianna-palka-1425511987.html|title=L.A. Is for Lovers: Jason Ritter & Marianna Palka|date=January 30, 2009|website=PAPER|language=en|access-date=March 8, 2019}} In 2017, Ritter became engaged to New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey after four years of dating.{{cite web|last1=Heller|first1=Corinne|title=Jason Ritter and Melanie Lynskey Are Engaged|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/830039/jason-ritter-and-melanie-lynskey-are-engaged|website=E!|date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=February 16, 2017}} The couple had their first child, a daughter, in December 2018.{{cite web|last1=Vacco-Bolanos|first1=Jessica|title=Jason Ritter and Melanie Lynskey Quietly Welcome Their First Child|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/jason-ritter-melanie-lynskey-quietly-welcome-first-child/|website=US Weekly|date=January 27, 2019 |access-date=January 28, 2019}} They wed in 2020.{{cite web|title=I Want What They Have: Melanie Lynskey and Jason Ritter|last=Specter|first=Emma|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/i-want-what-they-have-melanie-lynskey-jason-ritter/|work=Vogue|date=March 14, 2022|access-date=July 11, 2023}}
Speaking in 2010 about the death of his father, Ritter said, "I think it helped me realize how fragile we all are. At the end of the day, you can be a health freak or a body builder, but a truck might hit you. Or you might be a huge, larger than life personality and it could all be taken away in the next second. I learned to tell people in my life how I feel about them a little bit more".{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/interview-actor-jason-rit_b_310599/|work=The Huffington Post| first=Zorianna|last=Kit|title=Interview: Actor Jason Ritter on his career, his insecurities and life with & without his father.|date=March 18, 2010|access-date=July 13, 2023}}
Ritter has been open about his struggle with alcoholism, and how his relationship with Lynskey gave him the strength to get sober: "I thought she would be incredible for someone who deserved her, basically," he said in 2023. "And I didn't feel like I was that person ... It was only after [a] year into not drinking where I started to go, 'Oh, maybe I can promise some things to someone else. Maybe I can be this person'".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jason-ritter-alcoholism-battle-melanie-lynskey-1235364144/|last=Perez|first=Lexy|title=Jason Ritter Reflects on How Alcoholism Battle Impacted Early Relationship With Melanie Lynskey|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 30, 2023|access-date=July 12, 2023}}
Filmography
=Film=
class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
1991
| The Real Story of Christmas Tree | Little Acorn |
1999
| Mumford | Martin Brockett | |
2001
| Earth Day | Jack | Voice, short film |
rowspan="2" | 2002
| PG | Paul | Short film |
Swimfan
| Randy | |
rowspan="2" | 2003
| Smash the Kitty | Josh | Short film |
Freddy vs. Jason
| Will Rollins | |
2004
| Paul Fletcher | |
rowspan="4" | 2005
| Perceptions | Michael | |
Happy Endings
| Otis McKeen | |
Our Very Own
| Clancy Whitfield | |
Placebo
| Daniel | Short film |
rowspan="2" | 2006
| Lenexa, 1 Mile | Sean Hickey | |
The Wicker Man
| Bar Guy #2 | |
2007
| The Education of Charlie Banks | Mick Leary | |
rowspan="3" | 2008
| The Deal | Lionel Travitz | |
Good Dick
| The Man | Also producer |
W.
| Jeb Bush | |
rowspan="3" | 2009
| The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll | Eric Genson | |
Oh My Soul
| {{n/a}} | Executive producer |
Peter and Vandy
| Peter | |
rowspan="2' | 2010
| Michael | |
Morning
| Hotel Receptionist | |
rowspan="6" | 2011
| Benjamin Platt | |
The Perfect Family
| Frank Cleary Jr. | |
The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best
| Kyle | |
They're with Me
| Isaac Solomon | Short film |
Atlantis
| Ben | Short film |
The Five Stages of Grief
| Orion | Short film |
rowspan="7" | 2012
| The Break In | Larry | Short film |
Angel of Death
| Victim 1 | Short film |
Trying
| Mark | Short film |
The Golden Age
| Mitch | Short film |
Manhattan Mixup
| Fritz | Short film |
The End of Love
| Jason | |
Free Samples
| Wally | |
rowspan="5" | 2013
| I Am I | Jonathan | |
The Big Ask
| Owen | |
The Sidekick
| Kid Loco | Short film |
The Goldfish
| Yoni | Short film |
The East
| Tim | |
rowspan="7" | 2014
| Hits | Julian | |
Wild Canaries
| Damien Anders | |
There's Always Woodstock
| Garret | |
About Alex
| Alex | |
7 Minutes
| Mike | |
You're Not You
| Will | |
We'll Never Have Paris
| Kurt | |
rowspan="4" | 2015
| Jeff | |
Embers
| Guy | |
The Meddler
| Jacob | |
Always Worthy
| Jeff Fredrick | |
rowspan="2" | 2016
| Matt | |
Carrie Pilby
| Matt | |
rowspan="2" | 2017
| The Labyrinth | Usher | |
Bitch
| Bill | |
2018
| The Tale | Bill | |
2019
| Ryder |
=Television=
class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! scope="col" width="250px" | Role ! Notes |
1990
| The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story | Harry Neal Baum | Television film |
rowspan="2" | 1999
| Todd | Supporting role (Season 34) |
Undressed
| Allan | Main role (Season 3) |
2001
| Nick Simms | Episode: "Teenage Wasteland" |
2002
| Hack | Teddy Griffin | Episode: "My Brother's Keeper" |
2003
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Billy Baker | Episode: "Dominance" |
2003–2005
| Kevin Girardi | Main role; 45 episodes |
2006–2007
| Ethan Haas | Lead role; 19 episodes |
rowspan="2" | 2007
| Mr. Fisk | Voice, episode: "What's Love Got to do With That?" |
This Is My Friend
| {{n/a}} | Executive producer |
rowspan="2' | 2009
| Jack Yusen | Voice, 2 episodes |
Mercy
| Gabe Tyler | Episode: "Some of Us Have Been to the Desert" |
2010–2011
| Sean Walker | Main role; 22 episodes |
2010–2014
| Mark Cyr | Recurring role; 32 episodes |
2012
| County | Jack Malloy | Pilot{{cite web|title='Parenthood' Reunion: Michael B. Jordan to Co-Star in Jason Katims/Jason Ritter Drama|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/parenthood-michael-b-jordan-jason-katims-county-289437|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 17, 2013|date=February 10, 2012}}{{cite magazine|title=Where Are NBC's 'The Office', 'Parks & Recreation' And 'Up All Night' Renewals?|url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/where-are-nbcs-the-office-parks-recreation-and-up-all-night-renewals-270010/|magazine=Deadline|publisher=PMC|access-date=June 17, 2013|date=May 10, 2012}} |
2012–2016 |
rowspan="2" | 2013
| Reindeer / Sergeant | Voice, episode: "Born Again Virgin Christmas Special" |
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
| Bruce | Television film, segment: "Lucy" |
2013–2018
| Various characters | 8 episodes |
rowspan="4" | 2014
| Gavin Shipman | Lead role; unaired |
Person of Interest
| Simon Lee | Episode: "Prophets" |
Key & Peele
| Male Customer | Episode: "Concussion Quarterback" |
Garfunkel and Oates
| Jason | Episode: "Maturity" |
2015–2016
| Girls | Scott | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
2015–2018
| Frederick Bellacourt | Main role; 26 episodes |
rowspan="3" | 2016
| Skipper (parody of Dipper Pines) |
Goliath
| FBI Agent Farley | 3 episodes |
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
| Ranger Bill | Episode: "Fall" |
rowspan="2" | 2017
| Troy Denomy | 3 episodes |
Tales of Titans
| Greg | Main role; 8 episodes |
rowspan="2" | 2017–2018
| Kevin (Probably) Saves the World | Kevin Finn | Main role; 16 episodes |
Skylanders Academy
| Dark Spyro | Voice, 12 episodes |
2019
| Quest | Michael | 8 episodes |
2019–2020
| Eric | 9 episodes |
2019–2022
| Pat |
2020
| Josh Simms | Episode: "Customer Safari" |
rowspan="3" | 2022
| Candy | Deputy Denny Reese | 2 episodes |
Amphibia
| Barrel | Voice, episode: "The Core & the King" |
Slumberkins
| Fox Dad | Voice, episode: "When Things Change/Bigfoot's First Sleepover" |
rowspan="4" | 2023
| Accused | Jack Fletcher | Episode: "Jack's Story" |
The Last of Us
| Clicker | Episode: "Endure and Survive" (uncredited cameo){{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=2023-03-18 |title=The Last of Us Had Jason Ritter As An Undercover Clicker In Wife's Episodes |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/the-last-of-us-had-jason-ritter-undercover-clicker-in-wife-episodes-1235303919/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} |
Captain Fall
| Captain Jonathan Fall |
Gen V
| Himself | Episode: "The Whole Truth" |
2024
| Matlock | Julian{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/matlock-reboot-elsbeth-poppas-house-series-cbs-1235607934/|title='Matlock,' 'Good Wife' Spinoff 'Elsbeth,' and Damon Wayans & Damon Wayans Jr. Comedy Ordered to Series at CBS|work=Variety|first=BreAnna|last=Bell|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=August 18, 2024}} | Main role |
2026
| Lanterns | Billy Macon | Filming |
= Web =
class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
2008
| T Takes | The Guest in Room 23 | Episode: "Lobby" |
rowspan="2" | 2012
| Haunches | Voice, main role |
Sketchy
| Tom | Episode: "You Got Retweeted" |
2013
| William / Brad Wojciehowicz | 2 episodes |
= Podcasts =
class="wikitable sortable" |
Year
! Title ! Role(s) ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
---|
2013–2020
|Various | 4 episodes |
2016
|Various | 1 episode |
=Music videos=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |
scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" | Artist ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
---|
2015
| "Waiting on Love" | Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers | Directed by Todd Hurvitz |
2016
| "Way We Won't" | Directed by Chris Grieder |
Theatre credits
class="wikitable sortable" |
scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Role !scope="col"| Venue !scope="col"|Notes |
---|
2000
|scope="row"|The Beginning of August | |
2002
|scope="row"|The Distance From Here |Tim |
2005
|scope="row"|Third |Woodson Bull III |
Accolades
class="wikitable"
! Year ! Association ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
2003
|Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite web |url=https://imdb.com/name/nm0728762/awards/?ref_=nm_awd|title=Jason Ritter - Awards|website=Internet Movie Database|access-date=July 12, 2023}} |
2004
|Breakout TV Star – Male |{{nom}} |
rowspan=2| 2006
|Most Promising Male | rowspan="2" |Third |{{won}} |
Martin E. Segal Award
|Outstanding Achievement |{{won}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/today/wbna11729152|title=Jason Ritter honored by Lincoln Center|work=Today|date=March 8, 2006|access-date=July 12, 2023}} |
2012
|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/nominations/2012/Outstanding%20Guest%20Actor%20In%20A%20Drama%20Series|title=Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for 2012 – Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series|work=Emmys.com|access-date=February 25, 2013}} |
2015
| rowspan="2" |Behind the Voice Actors Awards | rowspan="2" |Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series {{small|(shared with the cast)}} | rowspan="2" |Gravity Falls |{{nom}} |
2016
|{{nom}} |
2017
|Primetime Emmy Awards |Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series |Tales of Titans |{{nom}} |
rowspan=2| 2018
|International Online Cinema Awards |Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie | rowspan="2" |The Tale |{{nom}} |
Online Film & Television Association
|Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Limited Series |{{nom}} |
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons|Jason Ritter}}
- {{IMDb name|728762|Jason Ritter}}
- {{IOBDB name|30896}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes person|jason_ritter|Jason Ritter}}
- {{Instagram|jason_ritter}}
- {{Twitter|JasonRitter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritter, Jason}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Category:American male child actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American people of Scottish descent
Category:Clarence Derwent Award winners
Category:Crossroads School alumni