A truly great physical comedian with a smile that could tight up a room, John Ritter will be missed for a very long time.
His death at the age of 54 was a complete shock to the world.
He was rehearsing an episode of his hit sitcom Eight Simple Rules when he said he was not feeling well.
He was taken to the hospital that was just across the street from the studio. At the time no one knew that only 4 hour later
John Ritter would be dead.Three reasons to love John Ritter
2: Great actor and comedian
3: Truely one of the nicest people to ever walk this planet.
John Ritter at a Glance
Personal life
The son of singing cowboy matinee star Tex Ritter and American actress Dorothy Fay, Ritter was born in Burbank, California, on September 17, 1948. Ritter attended Hollywood High School, where he was Student Body President. He went on to the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity, majored in psychology and minored in architecture. He married twice, once to actress Nancy Morgan (married 1977-divorced 1996) and then to actress Amy Yasbeck (married 1999-his death). Yasbeck had played his wife or love interest in the first two Problem Child movies (interestingly, she played a different character in each movie). Yasbeck also played Ritter's wife in two sitcom appearances. In 1991, both were guest stars on The Cosby Show, where Yasbeck played the in-labor wife of Ritter's basketball coach character. In 1996, Ritter guest starred on Yasbeck's sitcom Wings as the estranged husband of Yasbeck's character Casey. Ritter and Morgan had three children: Carly, Tyler, and Jason. He and Yasbeck had one daughter, Stella.
Career
Ritter headlined several stage performances before he was made a star by appearing in the hit sitcom Three's Company (the Americanized version of the 1970s British Thames Television series Man About the House) in 1977, playing a single ladies' man and culinary student, Jack Tripper, who lived with two female roommates. Jack pretended to be homosexual to keep the landlords appeased over their living arrangement. The show spent several seasons at or near the top of the TV ratings in the U.S. before ending in 1984. Ritter went on for one more year on the spin-off Three's a Crowd. The original series has been seen continuously in reruns. It is also available on DVD. During the run of the show, he appeared in the feature films Hero At Large, Americathon, and They All Laughed. In 1978, he played Ringo Starr's manager on the television special Ringo, and in 1982, played the voice of Peter Dickinson in Flight of Dragons.
Previous to his role in Three's Company, he occasionally appeared in the first five seasons of The Waltons on CBS as the Reverend Matthew Fordwick (1972-1976). He appeared in the Charles Bronson film The Stone Killer alongside Norman Fell. He also guest starred in one episode of The Cosby Show in 1991.
After Three's Company, he appeared in a number of movies, notably Problem Child and its first sequel, Problem Child 2. He also appeared in the Academy Award-winning Sling Blade (almost unrecognizable as the discount store manager) and Noises Off. He also starred with Markie Post in the early-1990s sitcom Hearts Afire and on the 1980s police comedy-drama Hooperman.
He starred in many made-for-TV movies including It Came From the Sky in 1999 with Yasmine Bleeth and made guest appearances on TV shows such as Ally McBeal, Scrubs and Felicity. He also provided the voice for Clifford in the animated children's show Clifford the Big Red Dog, a role for which he received two Emmy nominations.
Ritter played Claude Pichon in The Dinner Party (2000) at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway, which was written by Neil Simon. It ran for three hundred and sixty-four performances. Ritter won the Theatre World Award in 2001 for his performance in The Dinner Party.
In 2002, he made a TV comeback with the ABC family sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.
Ritter's final two movie roles were as the store manager in Bad Santa (2003), starring personal friend Billy Bob Thornton and Bernie Mac, and Clifford's Really Big Movie.
Ritter has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6631 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.
Death
On September 11, 2003, Ritter became seriously ill during rehearsals for an episode of 8 Simple Rules that was to have Henry Winkler as a guest star. He was taken across the street from the studio to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, where he died hours later, a week before his 55th birthday, in the same hospital in which he was born. He died from an aortic dissection caused by a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Ritter was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.
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Jamie1968 wrote...
John Ritter was a fantastic actor! I really enjoyed the TV series Three's Company. I use to watch it every week when it was prime time and he really made me "LOL"! There really aren't too many shows these days that make me "LOL" except for Two And Half Men and My Name Is Earl. Anyways, R.I.P. Mr. Ritter and if there's a Heaven, I know you've got 'em all laughing up there!
Posted October 07, 2008
Nancy wrote
I am a HUGE John Ritter fan.I have loved him since I was 8 years old(now being 36).
I won the tux that he wore at the last award show he was on.
I miss him dearly :-(
Posted July 10, 2008
Katiyana wrote
He will be missed - its so tragic to lose someone so suddenly, and so young, with no warning like taht.
Posted October 18, 2007
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Movies and television shows John Ritter appeared in
John Ritter appeared in numerous television, movies and mini series
Although he appeared in over 100 television shows he will most likely always be best remembered was Jack Tripper from Three's Company.
Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (2006) (V) .... Great Uncle Stew
Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004) (voice) .... Clifford the Big Red Dog
Bad Santa (2003) .... Bob Chipeska
"8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter" .... Paul Hennessy (31 episodes, 2002-2003)
- Donny Goes AWOL (2003) TV Episode .... Paul Hennessy
- Sex Ed (2003) TV Episode .... Paul Hennessy
- Premiere (2003) TV Episode .... Paul Hennessy
- Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman: Part 2 (2003) TV Episode .... Paul Hennessy
- Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman: Part 1 (2003) TV Episode .... Paul Hennessy
"King of the Hill" .... Eugene Grandy (3 episodes, 1997-2003)
Witches of East Arlen (2003) TV Episode (voice) .... Eugene Grandy
What Makes Bobby Run? (2000) TV Episode (voice) .... Eugene Grandy
The Son That Got Away (1997) TV Episode (voice) .... Eugene Grandy
Manhood (2003) .... Eli
"Scrubs" .... Mr. Sam Dorian / ... (2 episodes, 2002)
-My Lucky Day (2002) TV Episode .... Mr. Sam Dorian
My Old Man (2002) TV Episode .... Sam Dorian
"Breaking News" .... Lloyd Fuchs (1 episode, 2002)
Pilot (2002) TV Episode .... Lloyd Fuchs
Man of the Year (2002) .... Bill
"Felicity" .... Mr. Andrew Covington (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
- Kiss and Tell (2002) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Mr. Andrew Covington
- A Perfect Match (2001) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Mr. Andrew Covington
- The Storm (2001) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Mr. Andrew Covington
- Oops... Noel Did It Again (2001) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Mr. Andrew Covington
- Kissing Mr. Covington (2000) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Mr. Andrew Covington
Tadpole (2002) .... Stanley Grubman
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" .... Dr. Richard Manning (1 episode, 2002)
Monogamy (2002) TV Episode .... Dr. Richard Manning
"The Ellen Show" .... Percy Moss (1 episode, 2002)
Gathering Moss (2002) TV Episode .... Percy Moss
Nuncrackers (2001) (V) .... Narrator
"Tucker" .... Marty (1 episode, 2001)
Homewrecker for the Holidays (2001) TV Episode .... Marty
"Clifford the Big Red Dog" .... Clifford the Big Red Dog (2 episodes, 2000-2003)
- Kakie Kakie (????) TV Episode (voice) .... Clifford the Big Red Dog
Who Moved My Bone/Clifford the Pirate King (????) TV Episode (voice) .... Clifford the Big Red Dog
Terror Tract (2000) .... Bob Carter (segment "Make Me An Offer")
TripFall (2000) .... Tom Williams
Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel (2000) .... Christian Therapist
"Family Law" .... Father Andrews (1 episode, 2000)
Possession Is Nine Tenths of the Law (2000) TV Episode .... Father Andrews
"Batman Beyond" .... Dr. David Wheeler (1 episode, 2000)
The Last Resort (2000) TV Episode (voice) .... Dr. David Wheeler
"Chicago Hope" .... Joe Dysmerski (1 episode, 2000)
Simon Sez (2000) TV Episode .... Joe Dysmerski
Panic (2000) .... Dr. Josh Parks
Lethal Vows (1999) (TV) .... Dr. David Farris
It Came from the Sky (1999) (TV) .... Donald Bridges
"Touched by an Angel" .... Mike O'Connor / ... (2 episodes, 1996-1999)
-Black Like Monica (1999) TV Episode .... Tom McKinsley
Random Acts (1996) TV Episode .... Mike O'Connor
Holy Joe (1999) (TV) .... Joe Cass
"Veronica's Closet" .... Tim (1 episode, 1999)
Veronica's Favorite Year (1999) TV Episode .... Tim
Dead Husbands (1998) (TV) .... Dr. Carter Elston
The World's Greatest Magic 5 (1998) (TV) .... Host
"Ally McBeal" .... George Madison (2 episodes, 1998)
Story of Love (1998) TV Episode .... George Madison
It's My Party (1998) TV Episode .... George Madison
Bride of Chucky (1998) .... Police Chief Warren Kincaid
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998) .... Robert Forrest
Shadow of Doubt (1998) .... Steven Mayer
Chance of a Lifetime (1998) (TV) .... Tom Maguire
Montana (1998) .... Dr. Wexler
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" .... Ted Buchanan (1 episode, 1997)
Ted (1997) TV Episode .... Ted Buchanan
"Over the Top" .... Justin Talbot (1 episode, 1997)
The Nemesis (1997) TV Episode .... Justin Talbot
Hacks (1997/I) .... Hank
A Gun, a Car, a Blonde (1997) .... Duncan/The Bartender
Nowhere (1997) .... Moses Helper
Dead Man's Gun (1997) (TV) .... Harry McDonacle (segment "The Great McDonacle")
A Child's Wish (1997) (TV) .... Ed Chandler
Mercenary (1997) (TV) .... Jonas Ambler
Loss of Faith (1997) (TV) .... Bruce Simon Barker
The World's Greatest Magic 3 (1996) (TV) .... Host
For Hope (1996) (TV) (uncredited) .... Date #5
Sling Blade (1996) .... Vaughan Cunningham
"Wings" .... Stuart Davenport (1 episode, 1996)
Love Overboard (1996) TV Episode .... Stuart Davenport
Unforgivable (1996) (TV) .... Paul Hegstrom
Totally Animals (1996) (TV) .... Host
"NewsRadio" .... Dr. Frank Westford (1 episode, 1995)
The Shrink (1995) TV Episode .... Dr. Frank Westford
The Colony (1995) (TV) .... Rick Knowlton
Gramps (1995) (TV) .... Clarke MacGruder
"Hearts Afire" .... John Hartman (3 episodes, 1992-1994)
-Birth of a Donation (1994) TV Episode .... John Hartman
The Big Date (1992) TV Episode .... John Hartman
Bees Can Sting You, Watch Out: Part 1 (1992) TV Episode .... John Hartman
"Dave's World" .... John Hartman (1 episode, 1994)
Please Won't You Be My Neighbor (1994) TV Episode .... John Hartman
North (1994) .... Ward Nelson
The Only Way Out (1993) (TV) .... Jeremy Carlisle
Heartbeat (1993) (TV) .... Bill Grant
Stay Tuned (1992) .... Roy Knable
Noises Off... (1992) .... Garry Lejeune/Roger Tramplemain
"Fish Police" (1992) TV Series (voice) .... Inspector Gil
"Anything But Love" .... Patrick Serreau (5 episodes, 1991)
Stop Me Before I... Again: Part 2 (1991) TV Episode .... Patrick Serreau
Stop Me Before I... Again: Part 1 (1991) TV Episode .... Patrick Serreau
Hello... Mali (1991) TV Episode .... Patrick Serreau
Martus Interruptus (1991) TV Episode .... Patrick Serreau
Say It Again, Han (1991) TV Episode .... Patrick Serreau
Problem Child 2 (1991) .... Ben Healy
The Summer My Father Grew Up (1991) (TV) .... Paul
"The Cosby Show" .... Ray Evans (1 episode, 1991)
Total Control (1991) TV Episode .... Ray Evans
The Real Story of O Christmas Tree (1991) (V) .... Piney
The Dreamer of Oz (1990) (TV) .... L. Frank Baum
It (1990) (TV) .... Ben 'Haystack' Hanscom
Problem Child (1990) .... 'Little' Ben Healy
My Brother's Wife (1989) (TV) .... Barney
"Hooperman" .... Detective Harry Hooperman (42 episodes, 1987-1989)
- Goodnight, Sweet Hooperman (1989) TV Episode .... Detective Harry Hooperman
- Some of That Jazz (1989) TV Episode .... Detective Harry Hooperman
- Take My Building, Please (1989) TV Episode .... Detective Harry Hooperman
- Love Bytes (1989) TV Episode .... Detective Harry Hooperman
- Dog Day Afternoon, Morning and Night (1989) TV Episode .... Detective Harry Hooperman
Skin Deep (1989) .... Zachary 'Zach' Hutton
Tricks of the Trade (1988) (TV) .... Donald Todsen (Cameo)
Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988) (TV) .... Dudley Goode
Real Men (1987) .... Bob Wilson/Agent Pillbox, CIA
Prison for Children (1987) (TV) .... David Royce
The Last Fling (1987) (TV) .... Phillip Reed
A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986) (TV) .... Judge Harold Benton
Unnatural Causes (1986) (TV) .... Frank Coleman
Living Seas (1986) (TV) .... Host
Letting Go (1985) (TV) .... Alex
"Three's a Crowd" .... Jack Tripper (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
... aka Three's Company Too (syndication title)
- A Star Is Born (1985) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- Jack Gets Trashed (1985) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- King for a Day (1985) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- The New Mr. Bradford (1985) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- Deeds of Trust (1985) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
"Pryor's Place" (1 episode, 1984)
- The Showoff (1984) TV Episode
-
"Three's Company" .... Jack Tripper / ... (171 episodes, 1976-1984)
- Friends and Lovers: Part 1 (1984) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- Friends and Lovers: Part 2 (1984) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- Cupid Works Overtime (1984) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- The Heiress (1984) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
- Forget Me Not (1984) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
Love Thy Neighbor (1984) (TV) .... Danny Loeb
"The Love Boat" .... Dale (3 episodes, 1977-1983)
Japan Cruise: When Worlds Collide/The Captain and the Geisha/The Lottery Winners/The Emperor's Fortune: Part 1 (1983) TV Episode
Japan Cruise: When Worlds Collide/The Captain and the Geisha/The Lottery Winners/The Emperor's Fortune: Part 2 (1983) TV Episode
A Oh Dale/Main Event, The/Tasteful Affair (1977) TV Episode .... Dale
Sunset Limousine (1983) (TV) .... Alan O'Black
In Love with an Older Woman (1982) (TV) .... Robert
Pray TV (1982) (TV) .... Tom McPherson
The Flight of Dragons (1982) (voice) .... Peter Dickenson
"Insight" .... Frankie (1 episode, 1981)
- Little Miseries (1981) TV Episode .... Frankie
-
They All Laughed (1981) .... Charles Rutledge
Wholly Moses! (1980) .... Satan (The Devil)
The Comeback Kid (1980) (TV) .... Bubba Newman
"The Associates" .... Chick (1 episode, 1980)
- The Censors (1980) TV Episode .... Chick
Hero at Large (1980) .... Steve Nichols
"The Ropers" .... Jack Tripper (1 episode, 1979)
The Party (1979) TV Episode .... Jack Tripper
Americathon (1979) .... President Chet Roosevelt
Leave Yesterday Behind (1978) (TV) .... Paul Stallings
Breakfast in Bed (1978) .... Paul
Ringo (1978) (TV) .... Marty
"Hawaii Five-O" .... Mike Welles / ... (2 episodes, 1971-1977)
Dealer's Choice -- Blackmail (1977) TV Episode .... Mike Welles
Two Doves and Mr. Heron (1971) TV Episode .
