Market Data 
Yes, he comes from a family of celebrated actors, but two-time Emmy nominee Jason Ritter has spent his career selecting roles and projects that allow him to showcase his own unique skill set. Currently playing the somewhat troubled lawyer Julian Markston, alongside Emmy winner Kathy Bates, on the hit CBS drama series Matlock, Ritter, 45, is arguably at the top of his acting game today, with even more much-anticipated television projects in the works.
Speaking with Ritter last Friday in Denver, Colorado, where he was awarded with this year’s Distinguished Artist Award at SeriesFest, what is it about his acting work as Julian on Matlock that is fulfilling him, perhaps more than ever?
“Gosh, that’s a great question. I think that there are sides of myself that I get to kind of explore in Julian – maybe being too worried about what other people will think of me or trying to get people to like me or something like that. Julian can have good day and bad day, and that’s sort of freeing to be this person who can get annoyed. I feel like I’m getting to explore some parts of my personality that I don’t often get to explore.”
As for receiving SeriesFest’s Distinguished Artist Award, Ritter said, “It’s so nice, I have to say. I’m having a tough time accepting it. There’s the part of me that doesn’t feel quite like I deserve something like this, but I’m ignoring that. I’m pushing that to the side and just taking the lovely compliment.”
Being the son of fellow actors Nancy Morgan and the late John Ritter, as well as the husband to Yellowjackets star Melanie Lynskey, Ritter has remained in and around Hollywood for his entire life. So, what is he seeing within the entertainment industry today that he is liking, and what parts of yesteryear’s ways does he miss?
“Another great question. One of the things that I really love is there are so many shows – there’s so much content coming out, whether it’s on network TV or streamers or the internet. You can find so many incredible things for whatever you like. That’s absolutely wonderful and it creates a lot of work for everybody.”
As for what he misses, Ritter said, “It’s a similar answer. It’s a double-sided coin. There are so many shows, that you can be excited about a show and you go to tell somebody else and they go – Oh no, that’s not one of my seven shows that I watch. I did like that feeling of say with Lost or something like that, where everybody was watching it – there are still some shows that have that. At the same time, it really feels like television is just getting better and better, and the writing and the acting is going up. There used to be kind of a separation between movie stars and TV stars, and all of these incredible movie actors are coming and doing television because that’s how good the writing is.”
Beyond his acting work on Matlock, which is in its first season, Ritter will soon be seen playing Billy Macon on the DC/HBO series Lanterns, which is currently in development. So, where exactly within the production process is this project at right now?
“We are about to start shooting,” Ritter said, “We’ve shot four episodes so far and we’re about to start shooting episodes three and four. We’re doing it all a little out of order. The story is kind of jumping all around, but it’s been so fun and it’s a really well-written, really fun show. I’m just trying to fit into that world and maybe put a little silliness in there.”
As for his marriage to Lynskey since 2020 and raising a daughter together, I wondered what it means to Ritter to be with someone that understands the schedule of an actor, but can also level each other out as a supportive spouse and co-parent.
Ritter said of Lynskey, “We both have an understanding of the spontaneous nature of this business and that you may have to leave. I always feel like we have had each other’s back through this period of time that our daughter’s been – that we’ve been a family of three. Basically, every job or audition that comes in – we audition for everything – but if we get it, we always have to sort of talk to each other before we officially take it, to figure out how is this going to work with our lives – is it possible or not. I really feel like we both want to help it happen for the other person so much. We both very much feel like we’re in each other’s corner, which is nice.”
Having learned how to effectively craft his own career, what advice does Ritter have for other creatives that are trying to navigate within this ever-evolving entertainment industry?
“My advice would be to follow your creative instincts. Some of the success stories that I’ve heard have been people – friends of mine – having an idea, pooling resources, coming together to shoot a little thing, and nine times out of ten, they put it on the internet and it wouldn’t go anywhere. Every once in a while, something will start to gain traction and people can build their careers without waiting for help from the powers that be – or going the normal route where someone has to give you permission to make something. So, I would advise people to give yourselves permission to try to make whatever you can with your friends, and at the very least, you have a calling card to show somebody else.”
This September will mark 22 years since Ritter’s popular dad, John, passed away. These more than two decades later, I was curious if Ritter feels his dad’s presence at all lately within his everyday life.
Ritter said, “Oh boy. You know, it’s so funny – I flew into Denver Airport every year from when I was maybe 11 to 17 or 18, going to a Colorado camp. On the little shuttle, my dad did this joke where he was pretending – like these two-second little songs that come on in-between stops – he was just doing a joke that he had written those songs. He was like – Look at the joy that it’s giving to all these people! Everyone just standing, having just traveled, looking bored and couldn’t care less about the music. He just would do things like that, that would make us laugh, just off-the-cuff, and I cannot take that shuttle without thinking of that weird character. Today, I had that moment where he was with me in that little tram at Denver Airport. I could see him doing that old bit. So, I do feel his presence all the time. He made such a huge impression on me and my family and the world. It’s nice to have those moments where I remember a little silly thing that he used to do.”
Concluding the conversation with Ritter, I wondered what he would say to his Matlock character Julian, after embodying him on-screen so far, if only he could.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. You have to accept the consequences of your actions – and hopefully, you learn from it and stop lying.”
