John Ritter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Ritter
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Ritter in 1988
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Johnathan Southworth Ritter
September 17, 1948 Burbank, California, U.S.
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| Died | September 11, 2003 (aged 54) Burbank, California, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Aortic dissection |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S. |
| Education | Hollywood High School |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–2003 |
| Known for | Three's Company Three's a Crowd |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 4; including Jason and Tyler |
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Johnathan Southworth Ritter (born September 17, 1948 – died September 11, 2003) was a famous American actor. He was the son of Tex Ritter, a well-known "singing cowboy" movie star. John Ritter also became a father to actors Jason and Tyler Ritter.
He is best known for playing Jack Tripper on the TV show Three's Company from 1977 to 1984. For this role, he won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 1984. He also briefly played Jack Tripper again in the show's spin-off, Three's a Crowd.
John Ritter appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows. He also performed on Broadway stages. Some of his other notable roles include adult Ben Hanscom in It (1990), Problem Child (1990), and Problem Child 2 (1991). He also had a serious role in Sling Blade (1996) and appeared in Bad Santa (2003), which was his last live-action film.
In 2002, fellow comedian Don Knotts called Ritter the "greatest physical comedian on the planet." John Ritter also used his voice for the main character, Clifford the Big Red Dog, in the PBS children's cartoon Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000–2003). He was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for this voice role. His final TV role was as Paul Hennessy in the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules (2002–2003).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Johnathan Southworth Ritter was born on September 17, 1948, in Burbank, California. His father, Tex Ritter, was a famous singing cowboy and movie star. His mother, Dorothy Fay, was an actress. John had an older brother named Thomas.
He went to Hollywood High School, where he was the student body president. After high school, he attended the University of Southern California. He first studied psychology, thinking about a career in politics. However, he later changed his major to theater arts and studied at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. While in college, Ritter performed in plays in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and West Germany. He graduated in 1970.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting in Film and Television
After graduating from college in 1970, John Ritter began his acting career. His first TV role was in the series Dan August. He made his movie debut in the 1971 Disney film The Barefoot Executive.
He also made guest appearances on popular TV shows like Hawaii Five-O and M*A*S*H. From 1972 to 1976, he had a recurring role as Reverend Matthew Fordwick on the drama series The Waltons. This allowed him to take on other roles before he landed his big break.
Becoming a Household Name with Three's Company
In 1977, John Ritter became very famous for his starring role in the hit sitcom Three's Company. This show was an American version of a British TV series. Ritter played Jack Tripper, a cooking student who lived with two female roommates. To make their old-fashioned landlords happy, Jack pretended to be gay. Much of the show's humor came from this misunderstanding.
He starred alongside Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, and later Jenilee Harrison and Priscilla Barnes. Three's Company was one of the top-rated shows in the United States for several seasons. It ended in 1984. A spin-off show called Three's a Crowd followed, where Jack Tripper had a girlfriend and ran his own restaurant. The original series is still shown in reruns today.
Later Television and Film Roles
After Three's Company, Ritter starred in Hooperman (1987–1989), playing Detective Harry Hooperman. For this role, he was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award and won a People's Choice Award. From 1992 to 1995, he played John Hartman in the TV series Hearts Afire.
John Ritter also appeared in many movies. He was well-known for his roles in Problem Child and Problem Child 2. He also starred in Blake Edwards' 1989 film Skin Deep. He reunited with actor Billy Bob Thornton in the Oscar-winning film Sling Blade (1996), where he played a kind store manager.
He acted in many made-for-TV movies, including Gramps (1995) with Andy Griffith, and Stephen King's It (1990). Ritter also made guest appearances on popular TV shows like Felicity, Ally McBeal, Scrubs, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
One of his beloved roles was voicing Clifford the Big Red Dog in the animated children's show Clifford the Big Red Dog and its movie Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004). He received four Emmy nominations for his voice work as Clifford. His last film was Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (2006), an animated movie released after his death. At the time of his passing, he was starring in the TV show 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter.
Theater Performances
In 2000, John Ritter performed on Broadway in Neil Simon's play The Dinner Party with Henry Winkler. The play ran for 364 performances, and Ritter won the Theatre World Award in 2001 for his role. His final stage appearance was in the play All About Eve in 2003.
Personal Life
On October 16, 1977, John Ritter married actress Nancy Morgan. They had three children together: Jason, Carly, and Tyler. They divorced on September 1, 1996.
He then married actress Amy Yasbeck on September 18, 1999. They had one child together, born in 1998. Amy Yasbeck played his love interest in the first two Problem Child movies, though as different characters. They also played a married couple in guest roles on two sitcoms: The Cosby Show in 1991 and Wings in 1996.
Death
On September 11, 2003, John Ritter was rehearsing at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, when he suddenly felt very sick. He had problems with his heart and was taken to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.
Doctors first thought he was having a heart attack. However, his condition quickly worsened. He was then diagnosed with an aortic dissection, which is a serious tear in the body's main artery. He had surgery but passed away at 10:48 p.m. that night, at the age of 54.
A private funeral was held for John Ritter in Los Angeles on September 15, 2003. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.
Awards and Honors
John Ritter received many awards and honors throughout his career.
- In 1984, he won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his role as Jack Tripper in Three's Company.
- He was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for his voice work as Clifford in Clifford the Big Red Dog.
- In 1988, he won a People's Choice Award for his role in Hooperman.
- In 1983, John Ritter received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6627 Hollywood Boulevard. He and his father, Tex Ritter, were the first father-and-son pair to be honored with stars in different categories.
Images for kids
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The Barefoot Executive (1971 film).jpg
John Ritter in The Barefoot Executive (1971)
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Three's Company cast.jpg
The cast of Three's Company (1977-1984)
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Problem Child 2 poster.jpg
John Ritter in the movie Problem Child 2 (1991)
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Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000 TV series).jpg
John Ritter voiced Clifford in Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000-2003)
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8 Simple Rules cast.jpg
The cast of 8 Simple Rules (2002-2003)
See also
In Spanish: John Ritter para niños
