Amy Yasbeck
Amy Yasbeck (born) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Casey Chappel Davenport on the sitcom Wings from 1994 to 1997 and for having played the mermaid Madison in the television film Splash, Too in 1988 (the role originated by Daryl Hannah in the film Splash). Yasbeck has guest-starred in several television shows and appeared in the films House II: The Second Story, Pretty Woman, Problem Child, Problem Child 2, The Mask, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
Amy Yasbeck

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- Name
- Amy Yasbeck
- Birthplace
- Blue Ash, Ohio, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actress
- Full name
- Amy Marie Yasbeck.
- Born
- 1962. · Blue Ash.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Education
- University of Detroit Mercy and Summit Country Day School.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Amy Yasbeck (born) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Casey Chappel Davenport on the sitcom Wings from 1994 to 1997 and for having played the mermaid Madison in the television film Splash, Too in 1988 (the role originated by Daryl Hannah in the film Splash). Yasbeck has guest-starred in several television shows and appeared in the films House II: The Second Story, Pretty Woman, Problem Child, Problem Child 2, The Mask, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
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wikidata · Q259703 · wikipedia · Amy Yasbeck
In this article
Biography
Biography
She is the widow of John Ritter.

Amy Yasbeck Q A: GalaxyCon Louisville 2019
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Amy Yasbeck Q A: GalaxyCon Louisville 2019
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Amy Yasbeck • Birthplace — Blue Ash, Ohio, U.S. • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1985–present • Children — 1
Early life
Early life
Yasbeck was born in Blue Ash, Ohio, the daughter of Dorothy Louise Mary (née Murphy), a homemaker, and John Thomas Yazbeck, a butcher and grocery store owner. Her father was of Lebanese descent, while her mother was of Irish ancestry. As a child, Yasbeck was featured on the package art for the Betty Crocker Easy-Bake Oven. Years later, in 2000, she was presented with a new Easy-Bake Oven on the show I've Got a Secret, for which she was a regular panel member. Yasbeck spent her primary and secondary years at two different Catholic schools: Summit Country Day School and Ursuline Academy. She then enrolled in the theater program at the University of Detroit but did not graduate, leaving to pursue her acting career in New York City in 1983.
Career
Career
Early in her acting career, she appeared in Rockhopper, an unsold television pilot from 1985. Yasbeck has had guest-starring roles in many television shows, including Dallas, Spies, Werewolf, J.J. Starbuck, Magnum, P.I., China Beach, and Murphy Brown. She auditioned for the role of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld. She played Olivia Reed for four months between 1986 and 1987 on the long-running daytime drama Days of Our Lives. She also played the starring role of the mermaid Madison in the Disney television film Splash, Too in 1988 (the role of Madison was originated by Daryl Hannah in the 1984 film Splash). Yasbeck also had starring roles in the sitcoms Wings, Alright Already, and Life on a Stick and in movies such as House II: The Second Story, Pretty Woman, Problem Child, Problem Child 2, and The Mask. She has twice worked with Mel Brooks: in 1993's Robin Hood: Men in Tights and 1995's Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Yasbeck also appeared once on the hit DCOS That's So Raven as the mother of the character Chelsea. The episode originally aired on September 22, 2006. In late 2007, plans surfaced of a potential That's So Raven spin-off featuring Yasbeck and Anneliese van der Pol, who portrayed her daughter, with occasional appearances by Raven-Symoné. The show was scrapped due to van der Pol signing onto a Broadway play, and Yasbeck wanting to take a break from acting to focus on her family. Yasbeck was a contestant on the syndicated version of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? in 2010. In 2016, Yasbeck was on a hiatus from acting to focus on her family, but expressed interest in returning later on. In 2025, she was cast in Jonathan Hammond's short film Fireflies in the Dusk.
Personal life
Personal life
Yasbeck is the widow of actor John Ritter, with whom she had worked in several projects. She first met him at director Dennis Dugan's house during a read-through of their film Problem Child. Yasbeck and Ritter also starred together in Problem Child 2 (1991) and guest-starred together in an episode of The Cosby Show that aired in 1991. Ritter also guest-starred on Wings as Yasbeck's estranged husband in the season-seven episode "Love Overboard". The couple welcomed a child who transitioned at the age of 18. They married the following year after their child's birth at the Murphy Theatre in Wilmington, Ohio. On September 11, 2003, Ritter experienced chest pain and extreme nausea while rehearsing for 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. He was taken to the hospital by paramedics. Initially, Ritter was thought to be suffering a heart attack. At 10:48 that night, Ritter died. The cause of death was later determined to be an aortic dissection stemming from a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Yasbeck gave her blessing to the continuation of the sitcom, as 8 Simple Rules, where it was ultimately decided that Katey Sagal's character would assume the lead role as a widow. Yasbeck appeared on Larry King Live on June 16, 2008, to discuss heart disease. On the September 5, 1990, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, she said that her "great-great-great uncle" Charles Webb Murphy was the owner of the Chicago Cubs during their 1907 and 1908 championships.
Wrongful death lawsuit
Wrongful death lawsuit
After John Ritter's death, Yasbeck filed a $67 million wrongful death lawsuit against Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and several doctors who treated him, alleging they misdiagnosed his condition and contributed to his death. Several of the defendants settled out of court for a total of $14 million, including Providence St. Joseph, which settled for $9.4 million. On March 14, 2008, a jury split 9–3 in favor of two doctors, clearing those physicians of any wrongdoing.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1985 — Rockhopper — Sonia Petrova — Unsold TV pilot • 1986–1987 — Days of Our Lives — Olivia Reed — — • 1987 — Dallas — Mary Elizabeth — 2 episodes • Spies — Margo — Episode: "Right or Wrong" • Werewolf — Deidra — Episode: "Nothing Evil in These Woods" • J.J. Starbuck — Doreen — Episode: "Pilot" • 1987–1988 — Magnum, P.I. — Diana — 4 episodes • 1988 — China Beach — Airplane Stewardess — Episode: "Pilot" • Splash, Too — Madison Bauer — Television film • 1989 — Trenchcoat in Paradise — Nan Thompson — Television film • Murphy Brown — Young Lady in Bar — Episode: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" • Little White Lies — Vicki — Television film • Generations — Carla — — • 1990 — Midnight Caller — Mary Lou Harper — Episode: "The Hostage Game" • Poochinski — Frannie Reynolds — Unsold TV pilot • 1990, 1993 — Matlock — Model Lauren Chadwick / Cheryl Atkinson — 2 episodes • 1991 — Murder, She Wrote — Connie Canzinaro — Episode: "Family Doctor" • Dillinger — Elaine — Television film • The Cosby Show — Alicia Evans — Episode: "Total Control" • 1992 — Get a Life — Evelyn — Episode: "Girlfriend 2000" • Designing Women — Tiffany — Episode: "A Little Night Music" • Quantum Leap — Frankie Washarskie — Episode: "Stand Up" • 1993 — Street Justice — Nancy — Rpisode: "The Wall" • 1994 — Diagnosis: Murder — Karen Davis — Episode: "The Restless Remains" • Dave's World — Julie — Episode: "The Funeral" • 1994–1997 — Wings — Casey Chappel Davenport — — • 1995 — Platypus Man — Wendy — Episode: "Pilot" • 1996 — Bloodhounds II — Sharon — Television film • Sweet Dreams — Laura Renault — Television film • 1997–1998 — Alright Already — Renee — — • 1998 — Dead Husbands — Betty Lancing — Television film • 1999 — It's Like, You Know... — Karen — Episode: "The Sweet Smell of Success" • 2002 — House Blend — Sally Harper — TV pilot • 2003 — Just Shoot Me! — Skyler — Episode: "For the Last Time, I Do" • 2005 — Life on a Stick — Michelle Lackerson — — • 2006 — That's So Raven — Joni Daniels — Episode: "The Ice Girl Cometh" • 2007 — Shorty McShorts' Shorts — Danielle — Voice, episode: "Flip-Flopped" • 2010 — Hot in Cleveland — Hailey Nash — Episode: "The Sex That Got Away" • 2013 — Bones — Diana Malkin — Episode: "The Archaeologist in the Cocoon" • Modern Family — Lorraine — Episode: "Larry's Wife" • 2015 — Workaholics — Annette — Episode: "Gramps Demamp Is Dead" • 2016 — Pretty Little Liars — Claudia — Episode: "Do Not Disturb"
Identity
Identity
Amy Yasbeck is recorded as a citizen of United States. Recorded with the occupation actor.
Books
*
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1987 — House II: The Second Story — Lana • 1990 — Pretty Woman — Elizabeth Stuckey • Problem Child — Florence "Flo" Healy • 1991 — Problem Child 2 — Annie Young • 1992 — The Nutt House — Diane Nutt • 1993 — Robin Hood: Men in Tights — Maid Marian • 1994 — The Mask — Peggy Brandt • 1995 — Home for the Holidays — Ginny Johnson Drewer • Dracula: Dead and Loving It — Mina Seward • 1998 — Denial — Claudia • The Odd Couple II — Stewardess • 2012 — Little Women, Big Cars — Meg • Little Women, Big Cars 2 • 2025 — Fireflies in the Dusk — Edith — Short film
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Amy Yasbeck”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q259703: Amy Yasbeck
Unverified · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Lee, Linda. A NIGHT OUT WITH: John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck; Clowning and Autographing. The New York Times. 2003-03-09.
- 2.Social Security Death Index
- 3.Budd, Lawrence. TV Stars Tie The Knot at Local Theater. Dayton Daily News. September 23, 1999.
- 4.Descendants of (Hanna Tonnus) John Thomas Yazbeck.
- 5.Yasbeck, Amy. With Love and Laughter, John Ritter. Gallery Books. 12-14. 2010. 978-1-4165-9841-1.
- 6.Lee, Linda. A Night Out With: John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck; Clowning and Autographing. The New York Times. March 9, 2003.
- 7.Rochester, Mark. Blue Ash Actress Gets TV Career Break. Cincinnati Enquirer. 1985-07-09.
- 8.Seinfeld: The Actresses Who Almost Played Elaine Benes. ScreenRant. 2022-01-01.
- 9.Lanae Brody. Amy Yasbeck Is Not Ready to Date 19 Years After Husband John Ritter's Death: 'I'd Miss Him More'. People.com. October 19, 2022.
- 10.Mike Hammer. John Ritter's Death Affected Widow Amy Yasbeck 'So Greatly': It's Become 'More Poignant and Painful'. Yahoo.com. August 7, 2024.
- 11.Ng, Alan. Fireflies in the Dusk. Film Threat. 2025-04-17.
- 12.John Ritter's 4 Children: All About Jason, Carly, Tyler and Noah. People.com.
- 13.Wangare, Jackline. Noah Lee Ritter's transgender transition story and photos. MSN.
- 14."John Ritter". Biography. Accessed 13 November 2014.
- 15.Snauffer, Douglas. The Show Must Go On: How the Deaths of Lead Actors Have Affected Television Series. McFarland. 14–15. 2015. 978-0-7864-5504-1.
- 16.Katie Couric Discuss Personal Loss, Career and Politics; Widow of Actor John Ritter's Speaks Out. CNN. 22 March 2008.
- 17.Ornstein, Charles. Ritter's family says he didn't have to die. Los Angeles Times. January 24, 2008.
- 18.Serjeant, Jill. Doctors cleared in death of John Ritter. Reuters. March 14, 2008.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
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Unverified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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