Jason Ritter is an American actor and producer born on February 17, 1980. He comes from a famous family the son of John Ritter and Nancy Morgan. Jason is best known for his roles on TV shows like Joan of Arcadia (2003–2005), Gravity Falls (2012–2016), Another Period (2015–2018), Kevin (Probably), Saves the World (2017–2018), and Raising Dion (2019–2022). His performance as Mark Cyr on NBC’s Parenthood (2010–2014) earned him a nomination for the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor.
In addition to his TV work, Jason has appeared in movies such as Swimfan (2002), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), Happy Endings (2005), The Education of Charlie Banks (2007), W. (2008), The Meddler (2015), Carrie Pilby (2016), The Tale (2018), and Frozen II (2019). He is married to actress Melanie Lynskey and together they have a daughter.
| Full Name | Jason Ritter |
| Date of Birth | February 17, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (175 cm) |
| Spouse | Melanie Lynskey |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Net Worth | $6 million |
Jason Ritter’s Early Life and Education
Jason Ritter was born on February 17, 1980, in Los Angeles California. His parents are actors Nancy Morgan and John Ritter. His grandfather was the late actor Tex Ritter and his grandmother was Dorothy Fay. Actress Amy Yasbeck is his stepmother. Jake has three siblings including actor Tyler Ritter.
When Jake was just a toddler he appeared in the opening credits of his father’s TV show Three’s Company.
Jake went to school at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica California where he met Simon Helberg. They became roommates at New York University (NYU). Jake graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where he studied at the Atlantic Theater Company. Later he continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Career
Jason Ritter started acting professionally when he was just 10 years old appearing as Harry Neal Baum in a TV movie called “The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story” in 1990. A few years later he played Martin Brockett in the movie Mumford directed by Lawrence Kasdan in 1999.
During the early 2000s, Ritter was involved in several films aimed at teenagers such as “Swimfan” (2002), “Freddy vs. Jason” (2003), and “Raise Your Voice” (2004). From 2003 to 2005 he played Kevin Girardi the brother of the main character in the CBS drama “Joan of Arcadia”. He also starred in the dark comedy “Happy Endings” (2005) where his performance was highly praised.
In 2007, Ritter received critical acclaim for his role as an Ivy League student in The Education of Charlie Banks. His acting was described as intense yet charismatic reminiscent of a young Matt Dillon.
After appearing in various roles including a part in the satirical comedy “The Deal” (2008) and as Jeb Bush in Oliver Stone’s W Ritter ventured into producing with the independent film “Good Dick” (2008) where he starred alongside Marianna Palka who also directed the film.
In 2010, Jason Ritter joined the cast of NBC’s Parenthood as Mark Cyr a role that earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. He continued to take on diverse roles in independent films like “A Bag of Hammers” (2011) and “The Perfect Family” (2011).
From 2012 to 2016, Ritter voiced Dipper Pines in the popular Disney Channel animated series Gravity Falls. During this time he also appeared in several independent films and starred in the sitcom Us & Them which unfortunately was canceled before airing.
Jason Ritter’s performances in “Wild Canaries” (2014) and “About Alex” (2014) received positive reviews showcasing his versatility in both comedy and drama. He later appeared in “The Meddler” (2015) and the historical sitcom “Another Period” (2015-2018).
In 2017, Ritter starred in the dark comedy Bitch and later played Kevin Finn in the TV series Kevin (Probably) Saves the World which garnered praise for his portrayal of a troubled man trying to prevent a catastrophe.
He continued to impress critics with his performance in the drama “The Tale” (2018) and as the voice of Ryder in Disney’s “Frozen II” (2019). Ritter also starred in the superhero series “Raising Dion” (2019-2022) on Netflix.
Recently, Ritter appeared in the Hulu miniseries “Candy” (2022) and voiced the character Jonathan Fall in the animated series Captain Fall (2023).
Looking ahead Ritter has been cast in the CBS reboot of Matlock scheduled to premiere in 2024.
Net Worth
Jason Ritter has an estimated net worth of $6 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Jason Ritter’s net worth primarily comes from his career as an actor in television and films. He has been part of various successful TV shows like “Parenthood” and “Joan of Arcadia,” and has appeared in movies such as “Frozen 2” and “The Meddler.” These roles have contributed significantly to his earnings over the years.
Additionally, like many actors, he likely earns income from endorsements, appearances, and possibly investments. His net worth reflects both his longstanding presence in the entertainment industry and his diverse roles across different media platforms.
Personal life
From October 1999 to 2013, Jason Ritter was in a relationship with Marianna Palka. They met while both were studying at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York City. In 2017, Ritter got engaged to Melanie Lynskey a New Zealand actress after dating for four years. They welcomed their first child a daughter in December 2018 and got married in 2020.
Reflecting on his father’s passing in 2010 Ritter shared “It made me realize how fragile life is. No matter how healthy or strong you are accidents can happen unexpectedly. It taught me to express my feelings more openly to those I care about.”
Jason Ritter has openly discussed his battle with alcoholism and credits his relationship with Lynskey for helping him achieve sobriety. He explained in 2023 “I didn’t think I was worthy of her at first. It took about a year of sobriety for me to realize I could be the person she deserved and start making promises for our future.
