8 Simple Rules for dating my daughter

[Bluerose]

Hi, on abc1 there's a great prog, called the above, I know that the lovely protective dad died in real life. Does anyone know how he died, and how it was portrayed in the actual series, which seems to have been carried on without him. Thanks

[chrissiekins]

It's a fab programme, isn't it? We've been wondering the same thing too, but had no idea he'd died in real life as well!! How did he die?

How sad :o(

[Narolines]

John Ritter died (on set, I believe -or at least he was at work when he collapsed) in 2003 at the age of 54 from an aortic dissection - a congenital flaw in the wall of the major blood vessel suplying the heart.

[Metz]

Is this the one who was in stay tuned,problem child etc?

[~Wingnut~]

Yeah that's him Metz, very sad loss. I also love 8 simple rules and feel they dealt with it in the programme in a very moving way.

[Bluerose]

Yes, but how did his character die?

[~Wingnut~]

Sorry BlueRose, I think they wrote it in as his character had a heart attack and died instantly. The way the whole thing was handled was very moving in my opinion. I kept on seeing the episode after he had died in the programme and only once saw the actual one where he died, so memory is a bit vague but pretty sure it was a heart attack.

[Pippa68]

I have read that there won't be a repeat of the episodes 'Goodbye' which is shame as I missed them :o(

I didn't think I would enjoy the show without John, but have been pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately the show has been cancelled so there will be no more (hooray for ABC1 & repeats!).

I have found that the show can be very emotionally moving ~ the episode where Bridget gets her driving licence gets me in tears, as does the following episdoes after Paul Hennesey died.

[PurpleParis]

The first answer was quite correct as to when and from what he died. I believe it wasn't on set, I was led to believe that it was after filming, he did feel ill during filming but dies later the same day.

I thought that in the series he had had a car accident, I could be wrong though. Lovely guy, such a shame.

[claireyfairy]

He died in his dressing room and in the series they wrote in that he had gone out for groceries and had a heart attack in the store