Last fall we learned that Zoe Kazan and Paul Dano had a baby together over the summer although we never heard she was pregnant. They both stay under the radar, she wore loose clothing on red carpets, and they didn’t talk about it. I know they’re not incredibly famous, but they’re well known enough that they could have Instagrammed it and it would have gotten coverage. That’s what came to mind with the news that Melanie Lynskey and her fiance Jason Ritter had a baby together! I’m similarly pleased by this, because I know them both from separate projects, I didn’t realize they were a couple, and now they have a baby. We only are hearing about it secondhand from a friend of theirs who Instagrammed about it, and someone who spotted them at the airport. Us Magazine confirmed that they did welcome a baby girl sometime last year but no one knows when or what her name is. They got engaged in early 2017 and if they got married we never heard about it.
Jason Ritter and his longtime love, Melanie Lynskey, quietly welcomed their first child together, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm.
[Ritter], 38, and the New Zealand actress, 41, never announced news of their pregnancy or the birth of their little one, and the name has yet to be revealed. Though it’s unknown when the couple welcomed their newborn, Ritter’s pal Neema Barnette congratulated the pair in early December 2018.
More recently, an onlooker spotted Ritter and Lynskey with their baby girl on Saturday, January 26, and tweeted about their encounter — which even got a “like” from the Kevin (Probably) Saves the World alum.
“I saw @JasonRitter and @melanielynskey at the airport and I smiled at her and I hope she took that as ‘I love you, you’ve been in so many movies I adore and your baby is adorable,’” the fan wrote.
[Lynskey] announced her engagement to Ritter during a Hollywood Today Live interview in February 2017. “Now he’s my fiancé,” Lynskey gushed at the time. “Yes, I know, I’m announcing it…”
[Ritter] is the son of the late Three’s Company star John Ritter, who died at age 54 in 2003.
Am I dumb for not knowing that Jason Ritter is John Ritter’s son? I know Jason from Parenthood and Girls and he’s a good actor. Melanie is more famous probably, she was on Two and a Half Men and I just saw her on Castle Rock. (That’s on Hulu, it’s crazy good but it can be hard to wrap your mind around. Also check out I Don’t Feel At Home in This World Anymore on Netflix.) How is she from New Zealand? Her American accent is perfect. I know we’re not going to see baby photos and we probably won’t get a confirmation of their kid’s name, but I like to hear this random happy news about celebrities who stay undercover most of the time. Congratulations to Melanie and Jason!
Here’s the congratulations post. It’s old but US just got confirmation now.
Photos credit: WENN and Getty
Congratulations.
I will never forgive the Parenthood writers for the annoying back and forth between Mark (Jason Ritter) and Sarah and I’m glad they didn’t end up together.
THANK YOU. One of the most annoying parts of an otherwise amazing show.
Not THE most annoying. I just power-watched Parenthood and the most annoying was that sad sack Amber who cried in every single episode. She cried when she was happy and she cried when she was sad. My daughter and I started joking, “She’s crying again!” Constantly crying on cue does not a great actor make.
I assumed he was J. Ritter’s son but I didn’t know he is with Rose. I love her.
I’ve always thought that Melanie is so pretty, and she is a scene-stealer (great acting is her weapon) onscreen.
If you haven’t, find time to watch Shattered Glass (for so many reasons) and enjoy her nuanced performance in a not-so-large role.
Absolutely agree. She’s severely underrated. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend Heavenly Creatures. She gets slightly overshadowed by Kate Winslet (her first major role) but is still incredibly memorable. And also Away We Go. Another small part but a heartbreaking standout.
Congrats to her and Jason! I had no idea they were even a couple.
she was incredible in Heavenly creatures
Heavenly Creatures is the first role I remember Lynskyey for!
THAT’S what I know her from. TY.
Yes, I first saw her in Heavenly Creatures. Then she had a completely different small role in Sweet Home Alabama, as well as Shattered Glass.
Me too, Heavenly Creatures, she’s brilliant and that movie stuck with me!
Just jumping on the “Heavenly Creatures” bandwagon. My stomach was in knots the whole time!
I’m quite surprised people don’t know she’s a Kiwi because … HEAVENLY CREATURES! She and Kate Winslet, in their very first film roles, were soooo good. And it’s still the best film Peter Jackson has ever made, imo (sorry Lord of the Rings fans). My God, the scene where they attack her mother … it’s burned into my brain.
Sweet Home Alabama – THANK YOU! Baby in a Bar, lol!
I think I’d seen a photo of them together a while back because this didn’t actually surprise me. I only really know him as John’s son and from Joan of Arcadia, but I’ve always found him likable. I’ve always thought she was incredibly beautiful – that kind of throwback to a different era sort of gorgeous. I can only imagine any baby they had together is going to be freaking adorable.
I used to love Joan of Arcadia!!
Dipper Pines is a dad now? Congratulations to them both.
I think he is just adorable. He has such a great smile, one of those that you can’t help smile back. Loved watching him on Parenthood. I do not know who she is but congratulations on a healthy baby and may their life together be wonderful.
When he smiles he looks exactly like his dad. Especially beardless. I loved John Ritter so much, even if Three’s Company is dated.
John Ritter was an incredible physical comedian. I learned of his death from a Haiku my bf at the time left for me. I love that Jason is successful in his own right. He’s hilarious on Drunk History. Congrats to both of them!
I love John Ritter too, and his son looks so much like him IMO.
I had no idea they were a couple! Congrats to them.
I’ve loved her since Ever After
I’m just here for the food!
Shut up, I LOVE her! She was in Rose Red and Ever After, and Sweet Home Alabama where her accent was spot on, and she was in But I’m A Cheerleader… shes so great and she has a hot husband and a cool baby and that’s awesome.
I adore Melanie — I thought she was just as good in Heavenly Creatures as Winslet was. I knew she was engaged but had no idea she’d had a baby. I hope she and Jason are over-the-moon happy.
I’ve loved Melanie since Rose Red (she was previously married to former co-star and Westworld actor Jimmi Simpson), and she and Jason seem adorable together. Knew they were engaged but the baby announcement was definitely a surprise. Congratulations to them!
I watched a cute little hipster film where they played a couple with a lot of issues but I remember thinking that they would make a nice couple irl! It’s called “The Intervention” and it’s on Netflix.
I watched that movie too, then immediately googled her because I loved her performance so much! That’s how I found out she was married to Ritter! (First time commenter, long time reader)
I remember my shock when they got engaged a couple of years ago that they had already been dating for 4 years! I loved both of them, so I was very excited at this news. Ever After was on tv the other day – Melanie is so great in everything I’ve seen her in. I hope Jason finds something that sticks. I only saw a couple of episodes of his last show, but he’s charming in everything.
I loved her in Ever After and Sweet Home Alabama.
You have a baby! In a bar….
Congrats to them! He looks so much like his dad.
I love Jason Ritter! Like, I love him to the point that I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch The Tale from last year because I know he’s a good actor and idk if I’ll be able to unsee him as that character after.
Congrats to them! I love low key celeb relationships, I get so burnt out on the ones that are always in our faces.
Smart move, because now that’s ALL I can see him as….that creep from The Tale.
I thought she was still with Jimmie Simpson. So that marriage came and went.
I almost choked on my oatmeal when I read the part about you not knowing Jason was John Ritter’s son. Lol. I have been a Melanie Lynskey fan dating back to Heavenly Creatures. And one of my favorite lines in Sweet Home Alabama is when Reese runs into her character and goes, “you have a baby! In a bar!” Jason is just solid. He’s been in so many things I’ve loved. I was sad when Kevin (probably) Saves the World was canceled. It was actually really good. I hated his character on Parenthood but that was the writer’s fault.
HC fan here too, I hated she was on Two and a Half Men. It seemed so beneath her talent wise. And to be 2nd banana to that POS Sheen.
Jason seems to be a good man like his Dad. Happy for her.
Smart on her part though. Syndication for that show is still going strong and she was a named cast member well over 4 seasons of its original run.
I remember her from Ever After with Drew Barrymore and Heavenly Creatures. I really like her!
She was in Coyote ugly. Sow her few nights ago.
I love both of these actors and had zero idea they were together!! Awesome! I also did not know that his dad is John Ritter?!
Don’t forget her lovely low key role in Up in the Air.
I’ve loved her all her career. She elevates everything she’s in…
Aw, this is nice! I had no idea they were dating. She is a gem and I will always love John Ritter so it makes me happy to see his son do well.
He’s so adorable and she’s a hell of an actress. Castle Rock is amazing BTW. I was disappointed when Kevin (Probably) Saves the World was cancelled even though I never got the chance to watch it. I planned to damn it!
He looks so much like his dad it’s incredible. John Ritter was an amazing actor himself. I loved his more serious roles.
Yes — Sling Blade and Panic, two astonishing performances. He had started taking on some really interesting roles. I hate that he didn’t have the chance to continue.
would have never known she’s a kiwi, her american accent is on point af
I knew they were a couple when I first decided to read up on her and saw she was with him but it wasn’t clear how long they had been together. They make a good looking couple though I had no idea she was pregnant! Good for them😊
I thought he was with Marianna Palka.
guy is super charming-old interview on conan’s late night show and I still remember how adorable he was talking about telling a long time friend he wanted to date her and suddenly ‘I didn’t know where to put my hands, how stand’ and moved suddenly in his chair in these odd positions. So stinkin cute. And I love that hes an actor not ‘my dad was a star so I want to be in this industry because of nepotism’ like will smiths’ kids or bruce willis’ daughter. And her accent is amazing-shes very good. No idea she was from new Zealand. Great excuse to visit-supposed to be one of the most beautiful places in the world
So random I just found out they were a thing last week because I am watching Castle Rock so was nosing around IMDB. I love her in everything I have seen her in, my fave performances are probably Togetherness and I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore. I don’t know much of Jason’s work but I grew up crushing on his dad in Three’s Company and it’s still so sad that John Ritter died so young when it could have maybe been prevented. Anyway they seem cute together, always happy to see a Mom having a baby in slightly later life.
I love love love both of them so much and I’m so happy to hear this! Now *I* feel super dumb for not realizing that Melanie Lynskey was in Two and Half Men. I know her from a smattering of indie movies in which she is always superb, and just had my mind blown when I found that she was the “other” girl in Heavenly Creatures! Guess you get to do a lot of cool indies if you have Two and Half Men money. Good for her!
ETA: I will always love Gravity Falls and Jason seems so nice and genuine on Twitter.
I’ve always been apathetic about Ritter ever since they tried to make him “a thing” but I’ve always enjoyed everything that Mel has been in, and I wish her well. She’s so talented, versatile, and sweet that I can’t help but want the best for her.