September 16, 2003

MDA Mourns John Ritter

MDA mourns the loss of John Ritter, the talented Emmy Award-winning comedic actor and enthusiastic Jerry Lewis fan, who died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed heart condition. Ritter passed away on Sept. 11 after becoming ill during a rehearsal of his ABC sitcom “Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.”

Just a few days earlier, from the set of his show, Ritter made his first appearance on the MDA Telethon via videotape, with a humorous and heartfelt appeal outlining “Eight Simple Rules for Watching the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.” (Click here to view the video.) He demonstrated to the audience how to keep healthy and comfortable during the long broadcast and explained the importance of tuning in and making a pledge. Ritter finished his appeal by doing an affectionate impersonation of the legendary Jerry Lewis – a role model for him and many other comedians.

Ritter was no stranger to fighting incurable diseases. He took on the battle against cerebral palsy after his brother, Tom, received a diagnosis of the disorder in the late 1970s. John Ritter belonged to the United Cerebral Palsy family for more than 20 years and remained an active volunteer with a specific goal in mind — to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

“We honor the memory of this great comic performer and compassionate volunteer,” said Robert Ross, MDA’s President & CEO. “His family is in our thoughts and prayers, and we pay tribute to his deep commitment to bettering the future for people with disabilities.”