Amy Yasbeck: Glee Should Move Forward Without Cory Monteith

Amy Yasbeck knows what it’s like to experience an unexpected loss of a loved one.

Following the death of Amy’s husband, John Ritter, in 2003, the cast and crew of “8 Simple Rules” made the tough decision to continue on with the show, despite the loss of their leading man.

In the wake of Cory Monteith’s death, Amy told Access Hollywood that she thinks it’s important for “Glee” to also carry on without one of its key figures.

“It was really important for ‘8 Simple Rules’ to go on because John cared about not just the audience at home, which is one thing, but all those people on the set that have jobs,” Amy told Access over the weekend at the 15th annual Designcare event, benefiting the Hollyrod Foundation. “It’s not just the actors that show up… there’s sound, there’s light, there’s makeup…”

Amy – who noted she is friends with Romy Rosemont, the actress who plays Cory’s on-screen mother on “Glee” – said the big picture very much comes into play when showrunners are forced to face similar decisions.

WATCH: How Will ‘Glee’ Pay Tribute To Cory Monteith?

“It’s like a village and you’re a part of that village. When somebody passes away or leaves for any reason, there’s a threat to the rest of the people and their jobs and their lives,” the actress, who married John Ritter in 1999, added. “If there’s a classy way to do it, it’s so great to go on.”

— Eric Anderson