John Ritter’s Son Jason Welcomes First Baby With Longtime Love Melanie Lynskey

Congratulations are in order for Jason Ritter — he’s a new dad! Late actor John Ritter‘s son recently welcomed his first child, a baby girl, with his longtime love Melanie Lynskey, Us Weekly revealed on Sunday, January 27.

Though Jason, 38, and Melanie, 41, did not announce their pregnancy nor their baby’s birth, the actor’s friend Neema Barnette spoke out about the happy news via Instagram in mid-December 2018. “Congrats to [my] Raising Dion costar Jason Ritter and his wife on the birth of their beautiful Sag baby girl,” Neema captioned a photo of herself posing with Jason last month. “Babies are a blessing and so is Jason! What a hands down brilliant talent and exceptional human being he is! I’m blessed to have shared creative energy with you. Thank you for giving me a seamless performance.”

According to Us Weekly, a fan of Jason and Melanie also recently spotted the longtime couple out with their baby girl and tweeted about the encounter. “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 person wrote online.

Melanie — a New Zealand actress who is known for appearing in films including Ever After, Sweet Home Alabama, Coyote Ugly, Flags of Our Fathers and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, among others — became engaged to Jason after four years of dating in February 2017. At the time, the star announced her engagement during a Hollywood Today Live interview. “Now he’s my fiancé. Yes, I know, I’m announcing it,” she said.

Though this is the first child for both actors, Melanie was previously married once before to actor Jimmi Simpson from 2007 until 2012. In the past, Jason dated Scottish actress Marianna Palka from 1999 to 2013. In addition to being a performer, Jason is known for being the eldest of late star John’s four children. The Three’s Company actor — who passed away in September 2003 at age 54 from an Aortic dissection — is also a dad to actress Carly Ritter, 36, actor Tyler Ritter, 33, and actor Noah Ritter, 20.

Congrats again to Jason and Melanie on the birth of their baby girl!