Jason Ritter was solely three levels of separation from authentic Matlock star Andy Griffith, however he by no means bought an opportunity to satisfy the long-lasting actor.
On Sunday, March 23, Ritter, 45, joined costars Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, David Del Rio and Leah Lewis for a particular screening and panel dialogue of CBS’s Matlock reboot as a part of PaleyFest L.A. Forward of the occasion on the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Ritter informed PEOPLE that he has some “unusual and fascinating connections” to the unique collection.
The actor’s father, the late John Ritter, starred reverse Don Knotts on the beloved ABC sitcom Three’s Firm from 1979 to 1984. Knotts, who joined the Three’s Firm solid it its fourth season, beforehand co-starred with Griffith on The Andy Griffith Present from 1960 to 1968. Griffith, in fact, starred because the titular protection legal professional, Ben Matlock, within the authentic Matlock, which aired on NBC from 1986 to 1992 earlier than transferring to ABC, the place it aired till 1995.
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Regardless of the connection, nonetheless, Ritter stated he by no means bought to satisfy Griffith, who died in 2012 on the age of 86.
“I’d’ve cherished to,” Ritter informed PEOPLE. “It has been enjoyable watching plenty of the previous Matlocks, attending to see what the present was earlier than and the way it’s bought the identical kind of bleeding coronary heart components of the very satisfying factor of somebody being underestimated and being higher than everyone else. However yeah, he is such a stunning actor and it is so enjoyable to see that candy character.”
Nevertheless, Ritter, who performs lawyer Julian Markston on the brand new Matlock, does have fond recollections of assembly Knotts from his dad’s time on Three’s Firm.
“As a child I positively met him a bunch of occasions after which I noticed him a few occasions,” Ritter recalled of Knotts, who died in 2006. “However I feel a lot of the occasions I bumped into him had been after my dad handed [in 2003], at numerous occasions and issues like that, or TV Land Awards, I feel in some unspecified time in the future.”
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Ritter stated he solely “turned aware” of Three’s Firm after Knotts joined the solid. The actor’s character, Ralph Furley, was launched in 1979 to switch Norman Fell and Audra Lindley’s Mr. and Mrs. Roper, who got their very own short-lived spin-off, The Ropers.
“He made me snort a lot,” Ritter recalled of Knotts. “And his facial expressions and simply his entire vibe was so humorous to me on that present. And so it was a thrill for me to see him, to satisfy him.”
