John Ritter's widow, Amy Yasbeck, has revealed that the actor's death from a rare heart condition prompted a critical screening that saved the life of his brother, Tom.
Ritter, known for his roles in "Three's Company" and "8 Simple Rules," died in 2003 at age 54 from an aortic dissection, a tear in the inner layer of the body's main artery. Yasbeck told People that Tom underwent lifesaving surgery after this screening revealed he was at risk for the same condition.
Approximately 20 percent of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections have a hereditary component, according to the Mayo Clinic. Ritter's father, country singer Tex Ritter, also died suddenly in 1974 of what was then believed to be a heart attack, but is now thought to have been an aortic dissection.
"Four years on from when John passed away, Tom’s showed an aneurysm in the ascending portion, which is right where John’s was," Yasbeck explained. "So he had lifesaving surgery. He had his aortic arch replaced." She added, "Then it was like, 'Okay, this is on. This is genetic.'"
Speaking at an event for the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, Yasbeck encouraged individuals with a family history of aortic dissection to undergo echocardiograms to monitor their heart health. She noted that misdiagnosis of aortic dissection is common, and emphasized that the condition is not as rare as previously believed.
Ritter died on September 11, 2003, shortly after becoming ill on the set of "8 Simple Rules." He was taken to Providence St. Joseph Hospital, where doctors initially believed he had suffered a heart attack. His official cause of death was later determined to be an aortic dissection.
Yasbeck founded The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health to support research aimed at preventing deaths from thoracic aortic disease and aortic dissection. She reportedly received over $14 million in settlements from a wrongful-death lawsuit against the hospital and medical professionals who misdiagnosed Ritter.