Cuoco Tears Up Honoring John Ritter at Foundation Gala — SkimNews
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- Kaley Cuoco got emotional at the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health's 'Evening From the Heart' gala, recalling how John Ritter died of a thoracic aortic dissection on the '8 Simple Rules' set in 2003 at age 54.
- Cuoco recounted meeting Ritter at 16 at a table read, where he draped his jacket over her shoulders and told her never to wear that outfit again — 'It was the best.'
- Cuoco described Ritter's death as 'one of the worst days of my life,' saying, 'I remember for weeks after, I was like, Gosh, I feel like I lost my dad.'
- Amy Yasbeck, Ritter's widow, hosted the gala alongside son Tyson Ritter and reunited with 'Wings' co-stars Tim Daly, Steve Webber, and Tony Shalhoub for a Q&A.
- Joyce DeWitt made a surprise appearance to announce a nationwide tour of 'Three's Company' table reads benefiting the foundation.
- The foundation will host a fundraising dinner in October at the original Brady Bunch house in Los Angeles with Maureen McCormick as host.
- According to JRF, 20,000 Americans suffer an aortic dissection each year, with up to 50% dying — but 80% could survive with prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Why it matters: Cuoco's appearance underscores how Ritter's 2003 death from a thoracic aortic dissection — a condition the foundation says kills up to 50% of the 20,000 Americans it strikes annually — continues to fuel awareness and fundraising more than two decades later, with new initiatives including 'Three's Company' table reads and a Brady Bunch house dinner announced at the gala.
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