The son of singing cowboy Tex Ritter and actress Dorothy Fay, John Ritter was born Sept. 17, 1948, in Burbank, Calif. He attended the University of Southern California, changing his major to theater after taking a class with acting coach Nina Foch.Ritter's father, who discouraged John's acting career, lived to see him land a recurring role on "The Waltons," Tex's favorite program. Ritter appeared on numerous TV shows before winning the role (in 1972) that launched his career: Jack Tripper, the ladies' man pretending to be gay, in the sitcom "Three's Company" (opposite Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt). The show, which ran eight years, earned Ritter an Emmy and enduring fame.
After the series' demise, Ritter continued to appear on television and in films such as Noises Off (1992) and Sling Blade (1996). Ritter died on Sept. 11, 2003; his last movie was Bad Santa (with Billy Bob Thornton).
Lethal VowsAfter suffering from a mysterious illness for 15 years, Ellen Farris begins to suspect that her former husband may have been responsible for her poor health when his present wife displays similar symptoms before her untimely death. Read More
Clifford: Big Fun in the SunWith a bit of imagination and a lot of energy, Clifford and company find fun ways to soak up the sun in their very own backyard on Birdwell Island in these four episodes based on the best-selling books and TV series on PBS Kids. Episodes include "Camping It Up," "Hooray for Cleo," "Home Is Where the... Read More
Nature: DogsWhy are dogs considered man's best friend? Find out the answer in this gripping episode of PBS' longest-running -- and one of its most notable -- series. First up: examining the ties that bind pet owners with their canine companions; in the second half, join late comedian John Ritter as he visits... Read More
Three's CompanyThree affable young adult roommates -- Jack (John Ritter), Janet (Joyce DeWitt) and (for the first five seasons) Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) -- share the challenges and joys of single life in this breezy sitcom that was a hit from the moment it made its 1977 debut. The coed living arrangement compels... Read More
8 Simple RulesWriter Paul Hennessy (John Ritter) becomes a stay-at-home dad to his daughters, Bridget and Kerry, and son, Rory, when his wife, Cate (Katey Segal), returns to work full-time in this hilarious family sitcom that took a sharp turn following the beloved Ritter's untimely death. Now the head of the... Read More
