History Creator / JohnRitter

Ritter is remembered for his extremely likeable characters and how well he performed physical comedy. Don Knotts (with whom Ritter Co-Starred on ''Three's Company'') once called him the "Greatest physical comedian on the planet". As a son of Hollywood and known to be an easy-to-work-with NiceGuy, he is still remembered fondly by co-stars and friends. His son Jason went on to star in ''Series/TheEvent'' and ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''.

Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the Creator/{{ABC}} sitcoms ''Series/ThreesCompany'' and ''Series/EightSimpleRules'' respectively.

John Ritter was born in Burbank, California, the son of {{Creator/Dorothy Fay}}, an actress, and singing cowboy/matinée-star {{Creator/Tex Ritter}}. Ritter headlined several stage performances before his StarMakingRole in the hit sitcom ''Three's Company'' (the Americanized version of the 1970s British Television series ''Man About the House'') in 1977, playing a single ladies' man and culinary student, Jack Tripper, who lives with two female roommates while pretending to be gay to appease their conservative land lords (the first played by Norman Fell, the second by Creator/DonKnotts). Ritter became known as one the most down-to-earth and friendly guys, as well as an exceptional physical comedian.

Ritter is remembered for his extremely likeable characters and how well he performed physical comedy. Don Knotts (with whom Ritter Co-Starred on ''Three's Company'') once called him the "Greatest physical comedian on the planet". His son Jason went on to star in ''Series/TheEvent'' and ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''.

On September 11, 2003, Ritter felt ill while rehearsing scenes for the second season of ''8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter''. He was taken across the street to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (the same hospital he was born in). Doctors believed Ritter suffered a heart attack, but it turned out it was actually an aortic dissection, and he died that evening around 10:45 pm PST. He was 54 years old, six days short of his 55th birthday.

John Ritter was born in Burbank, California, the son of Dorothy Fay, an actress, and singing cowboy/matinée-star Tex Ritter. Ritter headlined several stage performances before his StarMakingRole in the hit sitcom ''Three's Company'' (the Americanized version of the 1970s British Television series ''Man About the House'') in 1977, playing a single ladies' man and culinary student, Jack Tripper, who lives with two female roommates while pretending to be gay to appease their conservative land lords (the first played by Norman Fell, the second by Creator/DonKnotts). Ritter became known as one the most down-to-earth and friendly guys, as well as an exceptional physical comedian.

On September 11, 2003, Ritter felt ill while rehearsing scenes for the second season of ''8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter''. He was taken across the street to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (the same hospital he was born in). Doctors believed Ritter suffered a heart attack, but it turned out it was actually an aortic dissection, and he died that evening that evening, around 10:45 pm PST. He was 54 years old, six days short of his 55th birthday.

Jonathan Southworth Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the Creator/{{ABC}} sitcoms ''Series/ThreesCompany'' and ''Series/EightSimpleRules'' respectively.

On September 11, 2003, Ritter felt ill while rehearsing scenes for the second season of ''8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter''. He was taken across the street to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, where he died later that evening, around 10:45 pm PST. He was 54 years old, six days short of his 55th birthday. The cause of his death was an aortic dissection caused by a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. His father had died of a heart attack almost thirty years earlier. Ritter was interred at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. His mother died less than two months later. ''8 Simple Rules'' integrated his untimely death [[RealitySubtext into the show]] and it could be argued that his memory is what helped the show continue on for several more seasons. ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' also featured the offscreen death of his character (J.D.'s father) with a similar ode to his legacy.

Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the Creator/{{ABC}} sitcoms ''Series/ThreesCompany'' and ''Series/EightSimpleRules'' respectively. John Ritter was born in Burbank, California, the son of Dorothy Fay, an actress, and singing cowboy/matinée-star Tex Ritter.

Ritter headlined several stage performances before his StarMakingRole in the hit sitcom ''Three's Company'' (the Americanized version of the 1970s British Television series ''Man About the House'') in 1977, playing a single ladies' man and culinary student, Jack Tripper, who lives with two female roommates while pretending to be gay to appease their conservative land lords (the first played by Norman Fell, the second by DonKnotts). Ritter became known as one the most down-to-earth and friendly guys, as well as an exceptional physical comedian.

* ''Film/BadSanta'' (his final role was as the mall manager--the film is [[InMemoriam dedicated to him]])

* ''Skin Deep'': Creator/BlakeEdwards' 1989 film

** With Ritter's death, the show went back in time to cover Clifford's puppy days.

* ''Hearts Afire'': Early 1990's sitcom with Markie Post.

* Guest appearances on ''Series/AllyMcBeal'', ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', ''Series/{{Felicity}}'' and ''WesternAnimaiton/BatmanBeyond''.

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'''Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter''' (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the Creator/{{ABC}} sitcoms ''Series/ThreesCompany'' and ''Series/EightSimpleRules'' respectively. John Ritter was born in Burbank, California, the son of Dorothy Fay, an actress, and singing cowboy/matinée-star Tex Ritter.

* ''Film/ProblemChild'' and its first sequel.

'''Johnathan Southworth "John" Ritter''' (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the Creator/{{ABC}} sitcoms ''Series/ThreesCompany'' and ''Series/EightSimpleRules'' respectively. John Ritter was born in Burbank, California, the son of Dorothy Fay, an actress, and singing cowboy/matinée-star Tex Ritter.

Johnathan Southworth "John" Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the Creator/{{ABC}} sitcoms ''Series/ThreesCompany'' and ''Series/EightSimpleRules'' respectively. John Ritter was born in Burbank, California, the son of Dorothy Fay, an actress, and singing cowboy/matinée-star Tex Ritter.

* ''[[Film/ChildsPlay Bride of Chucky]]''

* ''Film/BadSanta'' (his final role was as the mall manager)

* ''Film/BadSanta'' (his final role)

* Guest appearances on ''Series/AllyMcBeal'', ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', and ''Series/{{Felicity}}''.