Ask American Profile 5/30/2004

What can you tell us about Jason Ritter? Is he related to John Ritter?
—Albert D., Kansas

Yes, Jason Ritter, who plays Kevin Girardi on Joan of Arcadia, is the son of actor John Ritter, who died in 2003, and the grandson of famed film cowboy Tex Ritter. Ritter says his dad supported his choice to become an actor. “My father loved it so much, and he overcame all the difficulties of trying to become an actor. And in that struggle he decided he would support his children in whatever they wanted to do,’’ Ritter says. But he says his father insisted that he study acting, rather than to “just try to sort of ride in on whatever sort of natural thing I had.” He’s a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and he also studied at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was featured in the movies Swimfan and Freddy vs. Jason.

What happened to the old host of While You Were Out, Teresa Strasser?
—Joni S., Ohio

Teresa Strasser left TLC’s hip decorating show, While You Were Out, when her contract ended last year. She says she chose not to renew her contract because being on the road for more than 200 days a year was not the lifestyle she wanted. “After leaving While You Were Out, I metaphorically started dating other shows,” she says. “I went out with The View, E! News Live and Miss Match. I went out on some dates with Donny Osmond and Pyramid. I went out with a bunch of countdown shows for the E! network and some episodes of Style Court for the Style Network. I finally settled down with a daily, down-to-earth, dependable kind of show called Good Day New York on Fox.” She also writes for Us Weekly’s Fashion Police and the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles and maintains a website, www.teresastrasser.com. “I miss the old While You Were Out gang, but we actually stay in pretty good touch,” she says. (A side note for One Life to Live fans: Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord) is Teresa’s aunt.)

What can you tell me about the members of Lonestar? Are they married and do they have children?
—Linda P., Oregon

All but one are married, but the “lone” unmarried Lonestar is engaged. That’s drummer Keech Rainwater, and he’s getting married this September. And all of Lonestar’s members are fathers. Lead singer Richie McDonald and his wife, Lorie, have three—a boy, Rhett, and two girls, Mollie and Maisie. Dean Sams (keyboards) and his wife, Kim, have a boy, Bryson, and a girl, Britney. Michael Britt (lead guitar) and his wife, Renee, have a son, Ethan. And Rainwater has a son, Dakota. McDonald immortalized his family in the song, I’m Already There, which was inspired by a phone call from the road, when his then-2-year-old son asked, “Daddy, when are you coming home?” And My Front Porch Looking In describes his daughters (“a carrot-top that can barely walk” and “a little blue-eyed blonde with her shoes on wrong”). Both songs struck a nerve with the public. “I remember writing I’m Already There, thinking it was too close to my heart for anybody else to really get it,” McDonald says. “Then I played it for our producer, and he cried. I thought, ‘Whoa, that’s a good sign.’ My priorities changed when I got married and started having children. It made me realize what’s important.”

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