On Saturday, September 12, Kaley Cuoco paid tribute to the late John Ritter. The duo worked together on 8 Simple Rules until Ritter suddenly passed away from a fatal thoracic aortic dissection while on set.
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"I always cry when I talk about him," Cuoco said, via Variety.
Cuoco has long spoken fondly of Ritter, who she believes was like an on-set father figure. When speaking at the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health's annual Evening From the Heart Gala, Cuoco recalled how John would look out for her.
The Big Bang Theory actress shared that during her time on 8 Simple Rules, she played the "hot girl," jokig about how she sometimes dressed around the set.
"Young and cool and hot, so I wore like the hottest outfit I could ever find for this table read, like nothing. It had these little spaghetti straps, just ridiculous," Cuoco recalled. "He (Ritter) gives me a big hug, and he looks at me, and he takes off his jacket, and he puts it on me and says, 'Don't ever wear that again. It was the best."
8 Simple Rules ran for three seasons between 2002 and 2005. It ended shortly after Ritter's passing.
Kaley Cuoco Recalls John Ritter's Death as One of the Worst Days of Her Life
As Cuoco continued addressing the crowd, she recalled Ritter's passing and the profound impact it had on her.
"When he passed away, I don't want to get dramatic, but I can truly say that was one of the worst days of my life," Cuoco explained. "I remember having to remind myself that I wasn't his kid. I remember for weeks after, I was like, 'Gosh, I feel like I lost my dad.'"
Cuoco continued by remembering Ritter's personality, while admitting that he's been the 'north star' throughout her career.
"He was so funny," she said. "I took all that with me in life and the jobs I had after. He always has been the north star in my career and somebody who I adore."
Cuoco has been highly successful since 8 Simple Rules came to an end. However, it's clear that she still carries the pain of Ritter's death. Fortunately, she's found healthy and productive ways of working through that pain. Hopefully, Cuoco's willingness to speak on what led to Ritter's death will help raise awareness for thoracic aortic dissection, which impacts over 20,000 people within the U.S. every year.
