Emmy Award-winning actor John Ritter, who gained fame playing bumbling and lovable characters in two television comedies decades apart, has died, a representative said early Friday morning.

Ritter collapsed on Thursday evening while filming "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," the ABC television comedy which had reinvigorated his career and was a centerpiece of the network's upcoming fall season.

He was taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, across from the studio where he had been working.

The cause of death was a dissection of the aorta, the result of an unrecognized flaw in a main artery from the heart, said his publicist, Lisa Kasteler.

Ritter died at the hospital shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday. Ritter was accompanied by producers and co-workers, his wife, Amy Yasbeck, and 23-year-old son Jason, said Susan Wilcox, his assistant of 22 years.

Ritter was best known for his portrayal of Jack Tripper in the 1970s situation comedy "Three's Company," which won him Emmy, Golden Globe and People's Choice awards.

A prolific actor, Ritter recently reinvigorated his career as the star of "8 Simple Rules."

Ritter, a Southern California native who lived in Beverly Hills, came to prominence for his role in "Three's Company" and had appeared in more than 25 television movies and a number of films.

Ritter, who would have turned 55 on Wednesday, made a successful return to sitcom acting with "8 Simple Rules" last year, and the ABC show was scheduled to begin its second season on Sept. 23.

Ritter played Paul Hennessy in the family comedy about a father dealing with his precocious daughters which was one of the network's new hits in the 2002 season.

Born into a Hollywood family, Ritter was the youngest son of Western film star and country musician Tex Ritter. He graduated from Hollywood High School and earned a degree in drama from USC.

Ritter appeared in more than 50 plays nationwide and won critical acclaim for his recent nine-month role in the Broadway premiere of Neil Simon's "The Dinner Party."

He received an Emmy and other awards for his "Three's Company" role and was honored by the Los Angeles Music Center in June with a lifetime achievement award.

He is survived by his wife and their daughter, Stella, and three children, Carly, Tyler and Jason, from his first marriage to Nancy Morgan.

For a complete listing of John Ritter tributes, visit:
http://jacksbistro.freeservers.com/...ertributes.html

TV Barn has complied of list of statements regarding Ritter since his passing:
http://www.tvbarn.com/ticker/archives/014972.html

The entertainment industry has lost a great performer. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well as his "Three's Company" and "8 Simple Rules" co-stars. I believe ABC is planning to air a tribute special some time this week.

yeah 'jack tripper will sadly be missed as
of today i still watch three's company.
i stayed shock when i heard it on tv
i mannaged to tape it so i can treasure it .
jack was an awsome guy .
like the saying goes he'll be gone but not

forgotten..................
love ya jack