“Sept. 12, 2003 — Popular TV and movie star John Ritter has died from an undetected flaw in his heart called an aortic dissection.  An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge that occurs in the wall of the major blood vessel (aorta) that carries blood from your heart to your body. Aortic aneurysms can occur anywhere in your aorta and may be tube-shaped (fusiform) or round (saccular). Aortic aneurysms include: Abdominal aortic aneurysm.”

MAYO CLINIC