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. 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. She is the widow of John Ritter.

Early life Yasbeck was born in Blue Ash, Ohio, the daughter of Dorothy Louise Mary (née Murphy), a homemaker,Social Security Death Index 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 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 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 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 had starring roles in the sitcoms Wings, Alright Already, and Life on a Stick and in films 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 appeared once on 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. She expressed interest in returning later on. In 2025, she was cast in Jonathan Hammond's short film Fireflies in the Dusk.

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 starred together in Problem Child 2 (1991) and guest-starred together in an episode of The Cosby Show that aired in 1991. Ritter 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."John Ritter". Biography. Accessed 13 November 2014.

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 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.

Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1987House II: The Second StoryLana1990Pretty WomanElizabeth StuckeyProblem ChildFlorence "Flo" Healy 1991Problem Child 2Annie Young 1992The Nutt HouseDiane Nutt 1993Robin Hood: Men in TightsMaid Marian 1994The MaskPeggy Brandt1995Home for the HolidaysGinny Johnson DrewerDracula: Dead and Loving ItMina Seward1998DenialClaudiaThe Odd Couple IIStewardess2012Little Women, Big CarsMegLittle Women, Big Cars 22025Fireflies in the DuskEdithShort film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1985Rockhopper Sonia Petrova Unsold TV pilot 1986–1987Days of Our Lives Olivia Reed— 1987Dallas Mary Elizabeth 2 episodesSpies Margo Episode: "Right or Wrong"Werewolf Deidra Episode: "Nothing Evil in These Woods"J.J. Starbuck Doreen Episode: "Pilot" 1987–1988Magnum, P.I. Diana 4 episodes 1988China Beach Airplane Stewardess Episode: "Pilot"Splash, Too Madison Bauer Television film 1989Trenchcoat in Paradise Nan Thompson Television filmMurphy Brown Young Lady in Bar Episode: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?"Little White Lies Vicki Television filmGenerations Carla— 1990Midnight Caller Mary Lou Harper Episode: "The Hostage Game"Poochinski Frannie Reynolds Unsold TV pilot 1990, 1993Matlock Model Lauren Chadwick / Cheryl Atkinson 2 episodes 1991Murder, She Wrote Connie Canzinaro Episode: "Family Doctor"Dillinger Elaine Television filmThe Cosby Show Alicia Evans Episode: "Total Control" 1992Get a Life Evelyn Episode: "Girlfriend 2000"Designing Women Tiffany Episode: "A Little Night Music"Quantum Leap Frankie Washarskie Episode: "Stand Up" 1993Street Justice Nancy Rpisode: "The Wall" 1994Diagnosis: Murder Karen Davis Episode: "The Restless Remains"Dave's World Julie Episode: "The Funeral" 1994–1997Wings Casey Chappel Davenport— 1995Platypus Man Wendy Episode: "Pilot" 1996Bloodhounds II Sharon Television filmSweet Dreams Laura Renault Television film 1997–1998Alright Already Renee— 1998Dead Husbands Betty Lancing Television film 1999It's Like, You Know... Karen Episode: "The Sweet Smell of Success" 2002House Blend Sally Harper TV pilot 2003Just Shoot Me! Skyler Episode: "For the Last Time, I Do" 2005Life on a Stick Michelle Lackerson— 2006That's So Raven Joni Daniels Episode: "The Ice Girl Cometh" 2007Shorty McShorts' Shorts Danielle Voice, episode: "Flip-Flopped" 2010Hot in Cleveland Hailey Nash Episode: "The Sex That Got Away"2013BonesDiana Malkin Episode: "The Archaeologist in the Cocoon"Modern Family Lorraine Episode: "Larry's Wife"2015Workaholics Annette Episode: "Gramps Demamp Is Dead"2016Pretty Little Liars Claudia Episode: "Do Not Disturb"

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