Kaley Cuoco was among the stars that stepped out to celebrate the late John Ritter at The John Ritter Foundation Evening From The Heart gala last weekend.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) Martin Spanjers, Amy Yasbeck, Amy Davidson, Joyce DeWitt, and Kaley Cuoco attend the “Wings” Reunion featuring Tony Shalhoub, Amy Yasbeck, Steven Weber, and Tim Daly at The John Ritter Foundation Evening from the Heart LA at Sunset Room Hollywood on September 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health)
“I just love that they still do this every year, and that we can still honor him, and that through his name and through his family, we’re doing such amazing work for aortic health, and it’s spectacular,” Cuoco told PauseRewind’s Elizabeth Stanton.
Cuoco played Ritter’s daughter on the sitcom “8 Simple Rules” until his untimely death from a misdiagnosed aortic dissection in 2003 at the age of 54.
“He’s he still as real and alive to me today as he was 20 plus years ago. I tell everybody that. So he meant a lot to me then. He means a lot to me now, and I make it a point to make sure I’m here for this event every single year. So it’s always an honor to be here,” Cuoco said.
8 SIMPLE RULES (FOR DATING MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER) Paul Meets His Match psycho dad. (Photo by Ron Tom/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)AMY DAVIDSON;JOHN RITTER;KALEY CUOCO
The star reunited with her onscreen sister, Amy Davidson, on the purple carpet for the event and revealed they’re still close.
“Oh my God, I met her when I was 16,” Cuoco said. “We have a group chat, and yeah, we stay in touch. This was a really special moment in our lives a long time ago, and so it’s very serious to us. So I love being able to see everybody at this event every year.”
During the event, Cuoco delivered a heartfelt speech that brought her and many to tears as she recalled Ritter’s death as “one of the worst days of my life.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) Amy Davidson and Kaley Cuoco attend the “Wings” Reunion featuring Tony Shalhoub, Amy Yasbeck, Steven Weber, and Tim Daly at The John Ritter Foundation Evening from the Heart LA at Sunset Room Hollywood on September 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health)
“I remember having to remind myself that I wasn’t his kid. I remember for weeks after, I was like, ‘Gosh, I feel like I lost my dad,’” she said.
She also shared a funny story about first meeting him at a table read, playing “the hot girl before I was knocked up” and wearing “he hottest outfit I could ever find for this table read, like nothing. It had these little spaghetti straps, just ridiculous.”
Cuoco recalled Ritter walked over to her at the table read to greet her and displayed some genuine dad instincts. “He gives me a big hug, and he looks at me, and he takes off his jacket, and he puts it on me and says, ‘Don’t ever wear that again,’” Cuoco said. “It was the best.”
Speaking of pregnancy, Cuoco highlighted her bump on the carpet, but joked, “I tried to cover today. It’s just out. I’m literally gonna have this baby like in an hour. It’s very, very close. I better be careful and not laugh too hard.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 12: Kaley Cuoco attends the “Wings” Reunion featuring Tony Shalhoub, Amy Yasbeck, Steven Weber, and Tim Daly at The John Ritter Foundation Evening from the Heart LA at Sunset Room Hollywood on September 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health)
She added, “I feel great. Like, I feel totally great. I’m excited.”
Cuoco also attended the Emmys Monday night with her husband, Tom Pelphrey, who won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on “Task.”
Pelphrey adorably thanked Cuoco and their daughter, Matilda, as well as the baby on the way, who also happens to be a girl. The moment brought Cuoco to tears as well.
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