Most people know the name Andrea Barber because she played the quirky, lovable neighbor Kimmy Gibbler on the hit sitcom Full House. But for twelve years, her life off-screen revolved around a man who had nothing to do with Hollywood sets or laugh tracks. Jeremy Rytky is often just called “Andrea Barber’s ex-husband,” but that label misses the real story. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran and a dedicated lawyer helping schools and students.
While his ex-wife grew up in front of cameras, Rytky built a career based on service and discipline. He went from the structured world of the military to the complex halls of law school, eventually becoming an attorney who specializes in special education. His journey is not about red carpets; it is about hard work, fatherhood, and navigating a high-profile divorce while keeping his dignity intact.
Quick Reference Biography
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jeremy James Rytky |
| Famous As | Ex-husband of Andrea Barber (Full House star) |
| Profession | Attorney (Special Education Law) |
| Military Service | United States Marine Corps (Veteran) |
| Education | University of Oklahoma, Whittier Law School (J.D. 2007) |
| Employer | WACSEP (Whittier Area Cooperative Special Education Program) |
| Children | Tate James Rytky (b. 2004), Felicity Rytky (b. 2007) |
| Marriage Date | September 1, 2002 |
| Divorce Date | 2014 |
| Current Residence | Whittier, California (Greater Los Angeles Area) |
Who is Jeremy Rytky?
It is easy to look at a celebrity spouse and assume they are just along for the ride. Jeremy Rytky breaks that mold. He is a private professional who has spent his adult life serving his country and his community. Before he ever wore a suit and tie for court, he wore a uniform for the United States Marines.
He is currently a practicing attorney in California. But unlike the lawyers you see on TV who shout in dramatic courtrooms, Rytky works in a much more specific and helpful field. He focuses on education law. Specifically, he works with the Whittier Area Cooperative Special Education Program (WACSEP). This agency helps local school districts provide the right support for students with special needs. It is a serious job that requires a deep understanding of rules and a desire to help the public sector run smoothly.
From the Marine Corps to Law School
Jeremy Rytky’s story starts with service. Long before he met a sitcom star, he joined the Marines. Serving in the Marine Corps requires a level of discipline and mental toughness that stays with a person for life. This background likely gave him the focus he needed for his next big challenge: law school.
After his time in the military, Rytky focused on his education. He attended the University of Oklahoma, but his path eventually led him west to California. He enrolled at Whittier Law School, a place that would shape his future career. Law school is notoriously difficult. It involves reading thousands of pages, understanding complex cases, and learning how to think like a lawyer.
Rytky graduated with his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 2007. This was a busy time in his life. He wasn’t just a student; he was also a young father. Balancing the heavy workload of law school exams while raising a toddler is a massive challenge. It shows a strong work ethic. He passed the California State Bar exam that same year, officially becoming a licensed attorney ready to work.
Jeremy Rytky Attorney at Law
Many articles online simply list Jeremy as a “lawyer,” but that doesn’t explain what he actually does day-to-day. The legal field is huge, covering everything from criminal defense to corporate contracts. Rytky chose a path that serves the community.
He found his niche working as General Counsel for WACSEP. This isn’t a corporate firm where the goal is just to make money for big businesses. WACSEP is a public agency. It supports several school districts in the Whittier, California area. His job involves navigating the complicated laws that protect students with disabilities.
In the United States, special education laws are very strict to ensure every child gets a fair chance to learn. As a staff attorney here, Rytky helps the schools understand these rules. He makes sure the districts are following federal and state laws. This role suggests he is patient, detail-oriented, and cares about education. It is a stable, respectable career that is worlds apart from the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry.
Marriage to Andrea Barber
Jeremy Rytky and Andrea Barber met when she was living a “normal” life. After Full House ended in the mid-90s, Andrea left Hollywood behind. She wanted to go to college and experience the real world. She wasn’t looking for fame; she was looking for a degree.
The couple got married on September 1, 2002. At this point, Andrea was working in international education, and Jeremy was on his path to becoming a lawyer. They settled in Whittier, California, a suburb of Los Angeles that feels more like a hometown than a movie set. For a long time, they lived a quiet, suburban life. They were not chasing paparazzi. They were just a young couple starting a family.
They had two children together. Their son, Tate James Rytky, was born in 2004. Their daughter, Felicity Rytky, followed in 2007. For over a decade, they appeared to be the picture of a happy, stable family. Jeremy was building his legal practice, and Andrea was a stay-at-home mom who occasionally did public speaking.
The Divorce and Mental Health Context
After twelve years of marriage, things changed. In 2014, Jeremy Rytky and Andrea Barber decided to divorce. In the world of celebrity news, a divorce usually leads to wild rumors and gossip. People assume there was a big fight or a scandal. However, the reality of their split was much more human and complicated.
Andrea Barber later wrote a memoir titled Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life. In her book, she opened up about the personal struggles she faced during that time. She did not blame Jeremy for everything. Instead, she spoke bravely about her battle with anxiety and depression.
She described a cycle where undiagnosed postpartum anxiety made it hard for her to function. This naturally put a lot of pressure on their marriage. When one partner is suffering from severe mental health issues, it affects the whole household. The divorce was the result of these long-term struggles, not a sudden explosion of anger.
It is important to note that they handled the separation with maturity. They focused on their children, Tate and Felicity. They worked to keep the details private, avoiding the messy public battles that many other famous couples go through.
Jeremy Rytky Wife and Personal Life Today
Since the divorce in 2014, Jeremy Rytky has done something very rare for someone connected to a celebrity: he stayed completely offline. He did not try to become an influencer. He did not write a “tell-all” book. He simply went back to his life.
There is no confirmed information about a new wife. If Jeremy Rytky has remarried, he has kept it entirely out of the public eye. He does not have public social media accounts like Instagram or Twitter where he shares updates.
This silence speaks volumes about his character. It suggests he values his privacy and the privacy of his children above all else. His ex-wife, Andrea, returned to TV with Fuller House, bringing the spotlight back to her family. Despite this, Jeremy has remained in the background, likely focusing on his job at WACSEP and his role as a dad. He co-parents with Andrea, and by all accounts, they have found a way to be friends and support their kids together.
Jeremy Rytky Net Worth
When people search for Jeremy Rytky, they often want to know about his money. The internet is full of guesses, but looking at the facts gives us a better answer. Jeremy is not a movie star with millions of dollars in royalties. He is a public sector attorney.
In California, attorneys working for school districts or public education agencies usually earn a good salary, but not a “celebrity” salary. Based on data for lawyers in similar positions in the Los Angeles area, a professional with his level of experience likely earns between $100,000 and $180,000 per year.
This is a solid, upper-middle-class income. It allows for a comfortable life in California. His net worth is built on his steady career, his military benefits, and his smart decisions, rather than Hollywood paychecks. He is financially independent and successful in his own right, proving that he was never just “Mr. Andrea Barber.” He is Jeremy Rytky: Marine, lawyer, and father.
