Biography
Since actor Jason Ritter hails from a long line of successful entertainers, it seemed only natural that he would eventually try his hand at performing. The son of late
Three's Company star
John Ritter and the grandson of Hollywood Western star
Tex Ritter, young Jason has proven more than capable of carrying on his family's impressive showbiz legacy with roles in such features as
Mumford and Freddy vs. Jason. Born in Los Angeles in February of 1980, Ritter made his screen debut opposite father John in the 1990 made-for-television L. Frank Baum biopic
The Dreamer of Oz. Though he remained relatively inactive on the screen for much of the 1990s, Ritter continued to train as an actor at both New York University and London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts before founding New York City's Irreputable Theater Company. Subsequent roles in the MTV series
Undressed and the fantasy-flavored CBS drama
Joan of Arcadia quickly elevated Ritter to teen-icon status. A segue into feature territory followed with parts in Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and
Swimfan (2002), with his continuing role on
Joan of Arcadia serving well to balance his feature and television careers. In 2004, performances in the made-for-television Who's Your Mama? and the
Hilary Duff movie
Raise Your Voice were quick to follow, and Ritter could also be seen opposite such screen heavies as
Steve Coogan,
Tom Arnold, and
Maggie Gyllenhaal in director
Don Roos' ensemble comedy drama
Happy Endings. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide