John Ritter

John Ritter, in an August 2002 publicity photo, returned in 2002 to series television in "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," a comedy, based on W. Bruce Cameron's best-selling book. Ritter died Sept. 11, 2003, after falling ill on the set of his show.

Tex Ritter, John's father, was a country singer who was a radio, stage and screen performer. Here, he is shown on his birthday in New York City, Jan. 12, 1942. He was born Woodward Maurice Ritter in 1905. He died in 1974 at age 69.

The cast of the 1970s sitcom "Three's Company" pose together in this undated photo; from left, Joyce DeWitt, John Ritter and Suzanne Somers.

In 1979, the cast of "Three's Company" posed together: from left, Audra Lindley, Joyce DeWitt, John Ritter, Suzanne Somers, Don Knotts, and Norman Fell.

Ritter arrives with his then-wife, actress Nancy Morgan, at the Emmy Awards Sept. 23, 1984. (Ritter was married from 1977 to 1996 to Morgan, the mother of his three oldest children, Jason, Carly and Tyler.) Later that night, he would win the Emmy for outstanding actor in a comedy series for "Three's Company."

From Sept. 23, 1984: Winners pose backstage at the Emmy Awards presentation in California. From left, Jane Curtin (best actress in a comedy series for "Kate and Allie"), John Ritter (outstanding actor in a comedy series for his role in "Three's Company"), and Tyne Daly (best actress in a dramatic series for "Cagney and Lacey").

John Ritter in 1992.

Ritter applies a playful stranglehold to Richard Wolpert, CEO of Checkout.com, during a good-natured dispute over their respective college alma maters at the 24th annual Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America testimonial dinner Oct. 21, 1999, in Beverly Hills. Wolpert was on hand to be honored at the dinner.

Ritter and actresses Betty Garrett, center, and Marge Champion smile during the annual American Theatre Wing "Tony" Time Party May 20, 2001, in New York. At the time, Ritter was starring on Broadway in the play "The Dinner Party."

Ritter poses with actress Amy Yasbeck, then his girlfriend, on Feb. 24, 1998, in Studio City, Calif. They married Sept. 18, 1999.

Ritter arrives with wife Amy Yasbeck for the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Sept. 22, 2002, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Yasbeck and Ritter arrive at the 30th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards May 16, 2003, in New York. She turned 40 on Sept. 12, 2003, the day after her husband's death. Their daughter, Stella, marked her fifth birthday Sept. 11, the same day her father died.

Ritter, left, Kaley Cuoco and Thad Luckinbill appear in a scene from ABC's "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," in this undated publicity photo.

Actors from left Amy Davidson, Cuoco and Ritter appear in a scene from the ABC network pilot of "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," in this undated promotional photo.

Ritter, right, and Cuoco ride a roller coaster at Disney's California Adventure, Aug. 24, 2002.

Ritter reacts as he accepts the award for favorite new television comedy series for his show "8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter" at the 29th Annual People's Choice Awards Jan. 12, 2003, in Pasadena, Calif. Behind Ritter are actress Katey Segal, left, and Kaley Cuoco, right.

Ritter, center, along with co-star Katey Sagal, right, accepts the award for Best Comedy from his son Jason Ritter at the 2003 Family Television Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Aug. 14, 2003.