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Who is Amy Yasbeck?
Amy is an American actress, known for her roles in both film and television. She gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Casey Chapel Davenport in the television series “Wings”. Additionally, she’s well remembered for her performance as Maid Marian in the film “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”.
What Happened to Amy Yasbeck?
Despite the challenges she’s faced, she‘s continued to thrive in her acting career, embracing various on-screen roles in hit shows. However, Amy’s dedication goes beyond the silver screen. A year after husband John Ritter’s passing in 2003, she founded the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, a cause close to her heart due to the circumstances surrounding her husband’s misdiagnosis and subsequent wrongful death lawsuit, in which her attorney Michael Plonsker played a pivotal role in securing $14 million in compensation. Through her Instagram page, Yasbeck actively raises awareness about aortic dissection, using her platform for the greater good. Moreover, she made a significant decision in 2017, selling the cherished Beverly Hills home she once shared with John for a staggering $6.55 million.
According to reports, she’s single, though some sources have linked her with her lawyer Michael Plonsker.
Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Amy Marie Yasbeck was born on 12 September 1962, in Blue Ash, Ohio, USA. She comes from a diverse heritage, as her father was Lebanese, and her mother of Irish ancestry. During childhood, she appeared on the package art for the Betty Crocker Easy-Bake Oven. She attended Summit Country Day School and Ursuline Academy for primary and secondary education. Although she started studying theater at the University of Detroit, she didn’t graduate, but in 1983, after the deaths of both her parents, she moved to New York City.
Career Beginnings
In 1985, Amy Yasbeck began her acting journey with a role in the unsold CBS TV pilot “Rockhopper”, in which she portrayed Sonia Petrova. However, from 1986 to 1987, she gained more prominence when she joined the popular daytime drama “Days of Our Lives” as Olivia Reed, featuring in 30 episodes of the long-running soap opera, and during her time on the show, Amy shared the screen with established stars such as Deidre Hall (Dr. Marlena Evans), Drake Hogestyn (John Black), Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams Brady), Peter Reckell (Bo Brady), and Stephen Nichols (Steve “Patch” Johnson) among others.
After her stint on “Days of Our Lives”, Amy Yasbeck continued her acting career with minor roles in several TV shows. In 1987, she appeared as Mary Elizabeth in two episodes of “Dallas”, and took on guest roles in other series, such as “Spies” as Margo in the episode “Right or Wrong” and “Werewolf” as Deidra in the episode “Nothing Evil in These Woods”. Additionally, she played Doreen in the pilot episode of “J.J. Starbucks”.
Continuing her television journey, Yasbeck featured in four episodes of “Magnum, P.I”. as Diana from 1987 to 1988, and before the decade ended, Amy Yasbeck further expanded her television career by taking on notable roles in several TV productions. She portrayed Madison Bauer in the television film “Splash, Too” and starred as Nan Thompson in another TV movie entitled “Trenchcoat in Paradise”. Additionally, Yasbeck made a guest appearance in the popular sitcom “Murphy Brown”, playing the role of Young Lady in Bar in the episode entitled “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?”.
Rise to Stardom
In 1991, Amy Yasbeck continued to make her presence felt on television with appearances in various popular shows. She co-starred alongside Angela Lansbury in “Murder, She Wrote”, portraying Connie Canzinaro in the episode “Family Doctor”. In the television film “Dillinger”, she acted alongside Mark Harmon, appearing as Elaine. Additionally, Yasbeck shared the screen with Bill Cosby in “The Cosby Show”, guest-starring as Alicia Evans in the episode “Total Control”.
The following year, Yasbeck appeared in the comedy series “Get a Life”, starring opposite Chris Elliott, and played Evelyn in the episode “Girlfriend 2000”. She also featured as Tiffany in “Designing Women”, acting alongside Delta Burke and Dixie Carter in the episode “A Little Night Music”. Furthermore, she showcased her acting range in an episode of “Quantum Leap”, in which she co-starred with Scott Bakula, portraying Frankie Washarskie, and the same year, she took on the iconic role of Maid Marian in the comedy film “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”, a Mel Brooks production that parodied the classic legend of Robin Hood.
In 1993, Yasbeck continued her television work, playing Nancy in an episode of “Street Justice” entitled “The Wall”, and the following year, she made a guest appearance in “Diagnosis: Murder” as Karen Davis in the episode “The Restless Remains”.
Years of hard work paid off when Amy was selected for the lead role of Casey Chappel Davenport in the TV series “Wings” from 1994 to 1997. She starred in 74 episodes of the critically acclaimed sitcom set at the fictional Tom Nevers Field airport on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The series revolved around the lives and adventures of the Hackett brothers, Joe and Brian, who owned and operated the struggling one-plane airline Sandpiper Air. Yasbeck shared the screen with talented co-stars such as Tim Daly, Steven Weber, Crystal Bernard and Thomas Haden Church among others – “Wings” received widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences, becoming a beloved part of NBC’s “Must See TV” line-up. The show’s success and popularity earned it a loyal fan base and numerous award nominations, cementing its place as one of the beloved sitcoms of the 1990s. Yasbeck’s portrayal of Casey earned her high praise, though she didn’t win any award for her contribution to the acclaimed series.
Happy Birthday Amy Yasbeck (Peggy Brandt)! pic.twitter.com/yckKBQqfEV
— The Mask Fansite (@themaskfansite) September 12, 2014
In 1994 Amy Yasbeck portrayed Peggy Brandt in the comedy film “The Mask” alongside Jim Carrey. The film was a box office hit and received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, remaining an iconic film to this day.
Concurrently, Amy continued to work on various projects. In 1995, she appeared in the film “Home for the Holidays” alongside a cast that included Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr; Yasbeck played Ginny Johnson Drewer, adding her comedic flair to the Thanksgiving family gathering chaos.
The same year, she shared the screen with Leslie Nielsen in the comedy film “Dracula: Dead and Loving It”, in which she portrayed Mina Seward. The movie, directed by Mel Brooks, humorously parodied the classic vampire tale.
In 1996, Yasbeck took on the lead role of Laura Renault in the television film “Sweet Dreams”, then after her successful run in “Wings”, Yasbeck joined the cast of the TV series “Alright Already” from 1997 to 1998, starring alongside Carol Leifer in this comedy series, playing Renee, a witty and sassy friend of the main character.
The 2000s and Recent Work
Following the death of her husband, Amy Yasbeck focused on other interests but didn’t let go of her acting career. She made several guest-starring appearances on popular TV shows. In 2003, she played Skyler in an episode of “Just Shoot Me!”, then in 2005, she joined the cast of “Life on a Stick” as Michelle Lackerson, and the following year appeared as Joni Daniels in “That’s So Raven”.
In 2007, Yasbeck lent her voice to Danielle in an episode of the animated series “Shorty McShorts’ Shorts”. In 2010, she made a guest appearance as Hailey Nash in “Hot in Cleveland”.
In 2013, she demonstrated her acting skills again in two hit shows – in “Bones”, she portrayed Diana Malkin, and in played Lorraine “Modern Family”.
In 2015, Yasbeck guest-starred as Annette in “Workaholics”, while a year later, she appeared as Claudia in an episode of “Pretty Little Liars”, which is her last on-screen appearance.
Net Worth
According to authoritative sources, Amy Yasbeck’s net worth is estimated at $16 million, as of mid-2023.
Personal Life, Marriage, Husband, Children, Death of John Ritter
Amy Yasbeck and John Ritter first met in 1989 while working on the film “Problem Child” during a read-through at the director’s house. They continued to collaborate in “Problem Child 2”, and made a joint guest appearance on “The Cosby Show” in 1991. Ritter also appeared in “Wings” as Yasbeck’s estranged husband. The couple married in 1999, after having a child together in 1998.
Tragedy struck in 2003 when Ritter lapsed into a coma during rehearsing for “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter”. He passed away that night due to an aortic dissection from a congenital heart defect.
After Ritter’s death, Yasbeck supported the continuation of “8 Simple Rules”, with Katey Sagal taking on the lead role as a widow.
Yasbeck appeared in “Larry King Live” in 2008, to discuss heart disease and raise awareness about its impact.
Lawsuit
Following John Ritter’s passing, Amy Yasbeck took legal action by filing a $67 million wrongful death lawsuit against Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and several doctors involved in his treatment. She alleged that they misdiagnosed his condition, leading to his tragic death. As the legal process unfolded, several of the defendants settled out of court for a total of $14 million, with Providence St. Joseph settling for $9.4 million. However, on 14 March 2008, a jury’s decision split 9–3 in favor of the doctors, ultimately clearing them of any wrongdoing.
Appearance and Body Measurements
Amy Yasbeck has blue eyes and red hair. She stands at a height of 5ft 7ins (1.7m), weighs approximately 120lbs (54kgs), with vital statistics of 33-25-35, bra size 38B.
