In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the former Wings actress, Amy Yasbeck, opens up about the profound impact of her late husband John Ritter's absence, 19 years after his passing.
"I always feel like he's with me, and that would be weird because in that case, three is not company," Yasbeck confides about the late Three’s Company star.
Having navigated nearly two decades without John physically by her side, the 60-year-old widow confesses her yearning for John as a life partner.
"I miss John as a partner," she reveals exclusively to PEOPLE from her Los Angeles home.
Despite her efforts to honor his memory and move forward, the prospect of opening her heart to someone new remains a daunting challenge.
"I don't date," Yasbeck asserts. "It could happen. I'm not in the mood. I think I would miss John more if I was dating, as weird as that sounds. But because I always feel like he's with me, and that would be weird because in that case, three is not company."
The couple's story began in 1990 during a table read for Problem Child at director Dennis Dugan's house. Bonding over their shared love for the arts, they eventually tied the knot in September 1999.
"John and I bonded over comedy, watching old comedies," Yasbeck reminisces. "He would do moves and teach me how to trip or take a fake punch or spit take. I was learning physical comedy from the master, which John was."
However, tragedy struck on Sept. 11, 2003, when Ritter fell ill on the set of 8 Simple Rules. Initially treated for a heart attack at a Burbank hospital, he succumbed later that evening to an undetected aortic dissection at 54.
Yasbeck reflects on their collaborative projects, emphasizing Ritter's impactful presence on and off the set. Despite his physical absence, Yasbeck keeps John's memory alive by dedicating herself to the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.
Her dedication extends beyond personal grief, as she actively works to raise awareness and prevent similar heartbreaks in other families, including Ritter's relatives.
"Our family doesn't know the Ritter genetic anomaly to look for, but we know there is one," Yasbeck reveals. Her commitment involves regular scans for first-degree relatives, ensuring preventative measures against aortic dissection.
As Yasbeck continues her mission, she strives to spare others the pain of unforeseen heart-related complications, a cause fueled by her own experience of John's misdiagnosed condition.
