Kaley Cuoco had such a bad audition when she was a teenager that she almost blew her career. But producers could see she was right for the show and called her agent, asking if she would try again. In 2002, at age 17, she got her breakout role when she was cast as Bridget Erin “Beach” Hennessy on ABC’s “8 Simple Rules,” starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal. As Bridget, Cuoco played the oldest child in the Hennessy family, a beautiful, ditzy blond preoccupied with boy drama. She embraced the role.
“So I did end up getting the job, which totally changed the course, truly, of, actually, my life and my career,” she told Sidewalks. “It kind of put me on the map and made me realize how much I love sitcom.”
When Ritter died suddenly in 2003, Cuoco was heartbroken, and the show faced an unexpected challenge. New characters were introduced and portrayed by actors including David Spade, James Garner, and Suzanne Pleshette. “8 Simple Rules” continued until 2005, and Cuoco knew she would never forget her time there. “To this day if anyone asks me [about] John Ritter, I get this chill because I love him so much,” she told Entertainment Tonight.