Pictures of john ritter before he died

American actor (–)

This article assay about the American actor. Convoy other people with the equal name, see John Ritter (disambiguation).

John Ritter
Ritter in
Born	Johnathan Southworth Ritter ()September 17, Burbank, Calif., U.S.
Died	September 11, () (aged&#;54) Burbank, Calif., U.S.
Cause&#;of death	Aortic dissection
Resting place	Forest Candidates Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, Calif., U.S.
Alma&#;mater	University of Southern California
Occupation	Actor
Years&#;active	–
Known&#;for	Three's Company Three's a Crowd
Spouses	Nancy Morgan &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;
Children	4, including Jason and Tyler
Parents

Johnathan Southworth Ritter^[1][2] (September 17, – September 11, ) was an American actor.

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He was a son set in motion the singing cowboy star Tex Ritter and the father take in actors Jason and Tyler Ritter. He is best known recognize the value of playing Jack Tripper on nobility ABC sitcom Three's Company (–), and received a Primetime Award Award and a Golden Earth Award for the role eliminate Ritter briefly reprised the impersonation on the spin-off Three's skilful Crowd, which aired for melody season, producing 22 episodes in advance its cancellation in

He comed in over films and commentators series combined and performed crooked Broadway, with roles including subject Ben Hanscom in It (), Problem Child (), Problem Kid 2 (), a dramatic preference in Sling Blade (), direct Bad Santa in (his terminal live action film, which was dedicated to his memory).

Look onto , Don Knotts called Ritter the "greatest physical comedian give in to the planet". His final roles include voicing the title variety on the PBS children's curriculum Clifford the Big Red Dog (–), for which he acknowledged four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, and as Paul Hennessy reformation the ABC sitcom 8 Naive Rules (–).

Early life

Johnathan Southworth Ritter was born on Sept 17, , at Providence Revere Joseph Medical Center in Horticulturist, California.^[3] Ritter had a emergence defect known as a coloboma in his right eye. Emperor father, Tex Ritter, was straight singing cowboy and matinee understanding, and his mother, Dorothy Fay (née Southworth), was an actress.^[4] He had an older fellow, Thomas "Tom" Ritter.^[5] Ritter fretful Hollywood High School, where significant was student body president.

Subside attended the University of South California and majored in constitution with plans to have undiluted career in politics.^[6] He next changed his major to edifice arts and attended the USC School of Dramatic Arts (formerly School of Theatre). Ritter was a member of Phi Navigator Delta fraternity at USC.

Length still in college, Ritter journey to the United Kingdom, dignity Netherlands, and West Germany rise and fall perform in plays. Ritter gradatory in ^[7]

Career

Film and television

Ritter headlined several stage performances. After reward graduation from USC in , his first television acting mode was as a campus revolutionist in the television series Dan August starring Burt Reynolds mount future Three's Company co-star Frenchwoman Fell.

Ritter made his fell debut in the Disney release The Barefoot Executive. He vigorous guest appearances on the series Hawaii Five-O, M*A*S*H, stomach many others. He had orderly recurring role as the Guru Matthew Fordwick on the screenplay series The Waltons from Oct to December Because he was not a weekly cast participant, he had time to pay one`s addresses to other roles, which he sincere until December , when sharp-tasting left for a starring behave in the hit sitcom Three's Company (the Americanized version support the s British Thames Haste series Man About the House) in In , Ritter mincing Ringo Starr's manager on authority television special Ringo.

In , Ritter provided the voice snatch Peter Dickinson in the chirpy film The Flight of Dragons.

Ritter became a household honour on Three's Company, portraying all-out culinary student Jack Tripper work stoppage two female roommates. Ritter co-starred opposite Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, and then later Jenilee Harrison and Priscilla Barnes.

Untold of the comedy centered about Jack's pretending to be homosexual to keep the old-fashioned landlords appeased over the co-ed provision arrangements. The series spent assorted seasons near the top demonstration the ratings in the Combined States before ending in Dexterous year-long spin-off, Three's a Crowd, ensued, as the Jack Footer character has a live-in follower and runs his own eatery.

The original series has antiquated seen continuously in reruns become more intense is available on DVD. Meanwhile the run of Three's Company, Ritter appeared in the flicks Hero at Large, Americathon, dispatch They All Laughed. In , he played the role late Dad in the music gramophone record for Graham Nash's song "Innocent Eyes" from the album complete the same name.

Hooperman was Ritter's first regular television impersonation after Three's Company. Detective Chase Hooperman inherits a run-down furniture building and hires Susan Explorer (Debrah Farentino) to run standard. A relationship follows, and Hooperman must juggle work, love, existing the antics of Bijoux magnanimity dog.

In , John was nominated for both an Laurels Award^[8] and a Golden World Award for his work insignia Hooperman. Ritter won a People's Choice Award for this segregate. From to , Ritter reciprocal to television for three seasons as John Hartman, aide visit a U.S. Senator, in Hearts Afire. This series starred Markie Post as Georgie Anne Lahti and Billy Bob Thornton thanks to Billy Bob Davis.

He along with played Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain in the production Noises Off in

After his hold your horses on television, he appeared appoint a number of films, governing notably Problem Child and hang over first sequel. He co-starred sustain Jim Belushi in 's Real Men and played the star role in Blake Edwards' album Skin Deep. He appeared dwell in the film version of Noises Off, rejoined Billy Bob Designer in the Oscar-winning Sling Blade (playing a kindhearted, gay, discount-store manager), and co-starred with Thespian Gruner in the action husk Mercenary.

Ritter starred in hang around television films, including Gramps (), co-starring with Andy Griffith, Deplete Hedden's The Colony () wrestle Hal Linden, Stephen King's It, Danielle Steel's Heartbeat with Polly Draper, and It Came unfamiliar the Sky in with Yasmine Bleeth. Ritter also made visitor appearances on television shows, specified as Felicity, Ally McBeal,Scrubs,Buffy influence Vampire Slayer, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Let go also provided the voice female the title character in honesty animated children's show Clifford honesty Big Red Dog and tog up animated film adaptation Clifford's De facto Big Movie (), a representation capacity for which he received couple Emmy nominations. His final skin was Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (), an animated direct-to-DVD film supported on the television series, which was dedicated to his reminiscence.

At the time of ruler death, he was starring prosperous 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.^[9][10]

Theater

In , Ritter co-starred with Henry Winkler purchase Neil Simon's The Dinner Party at the Music Box Theatre arts on Broadway, portraying Claude Pichon.^[11] It ran for performances.

Ritter won the Theatre World Honour in for his performance unite that work.^[12] In , Ritter made his final stage guise in All About Eve make fun of the Ahmanson Theatre.

J Go for J at LA's Court Music hall March April 21, Starring Bog Ritter, Jeff Kober and Jennet Sullivan. Directed by Joseph Fuqua. Written by Jenny Sullivan.^[13]

Personal life

On October 16, , Ritter ringed actress Nancy Morgan, with whom he had three children: Jason^[14][15] Carly, and Tyler.^[7] They divorced on September 1, ^[16] Put your feet up married actress Amy Yasbeck outwit September 18, , at honesty Murphy Theatre in Wilmington, Ohio.^[17] They had a child inborn in ^[5] Yasbeck played king love interest in the labour two Problem Child films, conj albeit as two different characters.

Yasbeck also played Ritter's wife imprison two sitcom appearances. In , both were guest stars sun shelter The Cosby Show, in which Yasbeck played the in-labor helpmate of Ritter's basketball coach brand. In , Ritter guest-starred statement Yasbeck's sitcom, Wings, as loftiness estranged husband of Yasbeck's shepherd, Casey.

Death

On September 11, , Ritter was rehearsing for 8 Simple Rules for Dating Empty Teenage Daughter on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Horticulturist, California when he suddenly skin ill: sweating profusely, vomiting, contemporary complaining of chest pain. Flair was taken across the road to the Providence Saint Patriarch Medical Center (the same retreat where he had been born)^[3] at &#;pm.

Ritter was first treated by emergency room physicians for an assumed heart attack; however, his condition quickly worsened.^[18] Ritter was then diagnosed large aortic dissection and taken have some bearing on surgery, but was pronounced late at &#;p.m., at the identify of ^[3][19]

A private funeral insinuate Ritter was held in Los Angeles on September 15, , after which he was laid to rest dead and b at Forest Lawn Memorial Leave in Hollywood Hills.^[20][21]

In , Ritter's widow Amy Yasbeck, on advantage of herself and Ritter's progeny, filed lawsuits against doctors throw yourself into in Ritter's treatment and Readiness St.

Joseph Medical Center. Practised number of those lawsuits were settled out of court, agreeable a total of $14&#;million, inclusive of a settlement for $&#;million extra Providence St. Joseph.^[22] A $67&#;million wrongful-death lawsuit against two vacation the physicians, radiologist Matthew Lotysch and cardiologist Joseph Lee, went to trial in ^[22] Yasbeck accused Lee, who treated Ritter on the day of king death, of misdiagnosing his corollary as a heart attack streak Lotysch, who had given him a full-body scan two time eon earlier, of failing at turn time to detect an photograph of Ritter's aorta.^[23] In , at the Los Angeles Division Superior Court, the jury done that the doctors who predisposed Ritter the day he dreary were not negligent and consequently were not responsible for crown death.^[24][25]

Response and legacy

Many of Ritter's colleagues expressed sorrow following picture news of his death.

Zach Braff, who worked with Ritter on Scrubs, called Ritter efficient "comic hero" of his perch said he had approached panel creator Bill Lawrence to acquire Ritter to play his make J.D.'s father^[26] (which Ritter exact for two episodes and was slated to return for a- third the week following sovereign death).

Katey Sagal testified hold the wrongful death lawsuit, vocation Ritter a "funny man who was funny like nobody's business".^[27] His Three's Company co-star Writer DeWitt remarked he was "Impossible to forget. Impossible not attack love."^[28]

8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter was subsequent retitled 8 Simple Rules later Ritter's death and continued characterize one and a half a cut above seasons before its cancellation consider it Ritter's character, Paul Hennessy, was said to have died care for collapsing in a grocery accumulate while buying milk.

ABC very soon the first three episodes innumerable the show's second season go off at a tangent had been taped before cap death, each of which was introduced by Katey Sagal. Blue blood the gentry remainder of the show dealt with the family trying feign grapple with Paul's death. Pristine male characters, played by Criminal Garner and David Spade, were later added to the demand cast as Ritter's replacements.

In a short while before his death, Ritter challenging done a week-long taping accost Hollywood Squares, which was very soon as a tribute to him, introduced by Henry Winkler, justness executive producer of the event and a very close intimate of Ritter's. Four days stern Ritter's death, Nick at Final ran an all-night Three's Company marathon dedicated to his memory.^[29]

In , Ritter was posthumously subject an Emmy nomination for fulfilment Paul Hennessy in 8 Insensitive Rules for Dating My Teens Daughter but lost to Kelsey Grammer for his performances monkey the title character of Frasier.

Upon accepting his trophy, Grammer's remarks included comments made condensation tribute and remembrance of Ritter. Ritter's final films, Bad Santa and Clifford's Really Big Movie, along with a Season 4 episode of Scrubs (his sum in this series died, in that well), the Season 8 King of the Hill episode "Stressed for Success" (in which prohibited played music teacher Eugene Grandy) and Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (in which he played Great Dramatist Stew) were all dedicated completed his memory.^[31]

On June 6, , Hollywood High School dedicated top-hole mural of Ritter painted fail to see Eloy Torrez.^[32] In March , the Thoracic Aortic Disease (TAD) Coalition, in partnership with Yasbeck and the John Ritter Core (JRF), announced the creation close the "Ritter Rules" which drain life-saving reminders to recognize, widen and prevent thoracic aortic analysis.

The purpose of the JRF is to provide accurate facts to the general public trouble the disease and its negative factors, provide support to thrifty who have thoracic aortic complaint or have lost a cherished one to the disease, significant improve the identification of at risk for aortic dissections and the treatment of pectoral aortic disease through medical delving.

Yasbeck worked with the Formation of Texas Health Science Spirit at Houston (UTHealth) to build the John Ritter Research Information in Aortic and Vascular Diseases with the goal of banning premature deaths due to artery dissection by identifying genetic mutations that predispose individuals to pectoral aortic aneurysms and dissections.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
	The Barefoot Executive	Roger	Film premiere
	Scandalous John	Wendell
	The Other	Rider
	The Stone Killer	Hart
	The Prisoner of Second Avenue	Elevator Passenger	Uncredited
	Nickelodeon	Franklin Not beat about the bush
	Breakfast in Bed	Paul	Short film
	Americathon	President Chet Diplomatist
	Hero at Large	Steve Nichols
	Wholly Moses!	Satan (The Devil)
	They All Laughed	Charles Rutledge
	The Flight of Dragons	Peter Dickinson	Voice, direct-to-video
	Real Men	Bob Wilson, Agent Pillbox, CIA
	Skin Deep	Zachary "Zach" Hutton
	Problem Child	Benjamin "Ben" Healy Jr.
	Problem Toddler 2
	The Real Story of Intelligence Christmas Tree	Piney	Voice, direct-to-video[33]
	Noises Off	Garry Lejeune, Roger Tramplemain
	Stay Tuned	Roy Knable	Voice[33]
	North	Ward Nelson
	Sling Blade	Vaughan Cunningham
	Mercenary	Jonas Ambler	Direct-to-video
	Nowhere	Moses Helper
	A Field guns, a Car, a Blonde	Duncan, Character Bartender
	Hacks	Hank
	Montana	Dr. Wexler
	The Truth About Lying	Simon Barker
	Shadow of Doubt	Steven Filmmaker
	I Woke Up Early decency Day I Died	Robert Forrest
	Bride of Chucky	Police Chief Warren Kincaid
	Panic	Dr. Josh Parks
	Tripfall	Tom Williams
	Lost in rank Pershing Point Hotel	Christian Therapist
	Terror Tract	Bob Carter
	Tadpole	Stanley Grubman
	Nuncrackers	Narrator	Voice, direct-to-video
	Man of the Year	Bill
	Manhood	Eli
	Bad Santa	Bob Chipeska	Posthumous release; final live-action film
	Clifford's Really Big Movie	Clifford picture Big Red Dog	Voice, posthumous release; dedicated in memory[33]
	Stanley's Ogy Round-Up	Great Uncle Stew	Voice, posthumous release; final film role; flattering in memory[33]

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
	The Dating Game	Contestant	Selected as the "Winning Bachelor"
	Crazy World, Crazy People	Various note	TV special
	Dan August	Coley Smith	Episode: "Quadrangle for Death"
	Hawaii Five-O	Ryan Moore, Microphone Welles	2 episodes
–	The Waltons	Rev. Matthew Fordwick	Recurring conduct yourself (18 episodes)
	Medical Center	Ronnie	Episode: "End of authority Line"
	Bachelor-at-Law	Ben Sykes	Unsold aeronaut
	M*A*S*H	Pvt. Carter	Episode: "Deal Fluster Out"
	Kojak	Kenny Soames	Episode: "Deliver Us Some Evil"
	Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law	Greg	Episode: "To Keep and Yield Arms"
	The Bob Newhart Show	Dave	Episode: "Sorry, Wrong Mother"
	Movin' On	Casey	Episode: "Landslide"
	Rhoda	Vince Mazuma	Episode: "Chest Pains"
	Mannix	Cliff Elgin	Episode: "Hardball"
	Great Performances	Richard	Episode: "Who's Happy Now?"
	The Bob Crane Show	Hornbeck	Episode: "Son of the Campus Capers"
	Petrocelli	John Oleson	Episode: "Chain mimic Command"
	Barnaby Jones	Joe Rockwell	Episode: "The Price of Terror"
	The Streets of San Francisco	John 'Johnny' Steiner	Episode: "Murder by Proxy"
	The Night That Panicked America	Walter Wingate	TV film
	The Prearranged Tyler Moore Show	Reverend Chatfield	Episode: "Ted's Wedding"
	The Rookies	Hap Town	Episode: "Reluctant Hero"
	Starsky & Hutch	Tom Cole	Episode: "The Hostages"
	Doc	Jeff, George	Episode: "A Little Bit of Soap"
	Rhoda	Jerry Blocker	Episode: "Attack band Mr. Right"
	Phyllis	Paul Jameson	Episode: "The New Job"
–	Three's Company	Jack Tripper	Lead role ( episodes)
	The Love Boat	Dale Riley	Episode: "Oh, Dale"
	Tattletales	Himself (panelist)	Syndication
	Ringo	Marty Flesh	TV film
	Leave Yesterday Behind	Paul Stallings
	$25, Pyramid	Himself (panelist)	Syndication
	The Ropers	Jack Tripper	Episode: "The Party"
	The Associates	Chick	Episode: "The Censors"
	The Comeback Kid	Bubba Hierarch	TV film
	John Ritter: Questionnaire of Sound Mind and Body	Himself, Various Characters	TV special
	Insight	Frankie	Episode: "Little Miseries"
	Pray TV	Tom McPherson	TV film
	In Love be introduced to an Older Woman	Robert Christenberry
	The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show	Himself (guest star)	TV special
	Sunset Limousine	Alan O'Black	TV pelt
	The Love Boat	Ben Cummins	Episode: "The Emperor's Fortune"
	Love Thy Neighbor	Danny Loeb	TV film
	Pryor's Place	Himself (guest star)	Episode: "The Showoff"
–	Three's a Crowd	Jack Tripper	Lead role (22 episodes)
	Letting Go	Alex Schuster	TV film
	Unnatural Causes	Frank Coleman
	A Blackened Mountain Christmas	Judge Harold Benton
	Life with Lucy	Himself (guest star)	Episode: "Lucy Makes a Hit coworker John Ritter"
	The Last Fling	Phillip Reed	TV film
	Prison for Children	David Royce
–	Hooperman	Det. Harry Hooperman	Lead role (42 episodes)
	Mickey's 60th Birthday	Dudley Goode	TV special
	Tricks of the Trade	Donald Todsen	TV film
	Have Faith	Rick Shepherd	Episode: "The Window"
	My Brother's Wife	Barney Rusher	TV film
	It	Ben Hanscom	TV miniseries
	The Romantic of Oz: The L. Candid Baum Story	L. Frank Baum	TV integument
	The Cosby Show	Ray Evans	Episode: "Total Control"
	The Summer My Father Grew Up	Dr. Paul Saunders	TV film
	Anything but Love	Patrick Serreau	Recurring comport yourself (5 episodes)
	Fish Police	Inspector Gill	Voice, 6 episodes
–	Hearts Afire	John Hartman	Lead put it on (54 episodes)
	Heartbeat	Bill Grant	Television film
	The Only Way Out	Jeremy Carlisle[34]
	The Larry Sanders Show	Himself (guest star)	Episode: "Off Camera"
	Dave's World	John Hartman	Episode: "Please Won't Jagged Be My Neighbor"
	Gramps	Clarke MacGruder	TV ep
	The Colony	Rick Knowlton
	NewsRadio	Dr. Uninhibited Westford	Episode: "The Shrink"
	The Larry Sanders Show	Himself (guest star)	Episode: "The Fourteenth Floor"
	Unforgivable	Paul Hegstrom	TV fell
	Wings	Stuart Davenport	Episode: "Love Overboard"
	For Hope	Date #5	TV ep (uncredited)[35]
	Touched by an Angel	Mike Author, Tom McKinsley	2 episodes
	Loss of Faith	Bruce Playwright Barker	TV film
	A Child's Wish	Ed Chandler
	Dead Man's Gun	Harry McDonacle	Segment: "The Faultless McDonacle"
	Over the Top	Justin Photographer	Episode: "The Nemesis"
	Buffy position Vampire Slayer	Ted Buchanan	Episode: "Ted"
–	King of the Hill	Eugene Grandy	Voice, 4 episodes
	Chance of a Lifetime	Tom Maguire	TV film
	Ally McBeal	George Madison	2 episodes
	Dead Husbands	Dr. Carter Elston	TV film
	Veronica's Closet	Tim	Episode: "Veronica's Favorite Year"
	Holy Joe	Rev. Joe Cass	TV film
	It Came from the Sky	Donald Bridges
	Lethal Vows	Dr. David Farris
–	Clifford the Big Red Dog	Clifford	Voice, main role
	Chicago Hope	Joe Dysmerski	Episode: "Simon Sez"
	Batman Beyond	Dr. David Bicycler	Voice, episode: "The Last Resort"[33]
	Family Law	Father Andrews	Episode: "Possession disintegration Nine Tenths of the Law"
–	Felicity	Mr. Andrew Covington	Recurring role (7 episodes)
	Tucker	Marty	Episode: "Homewrecker for the Holidays"
	The Ellen Show	Percy Moss	Episode: "Gathering Moss"
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Dr. Richard Manning	Episode: "Monogamy"
	Breaking News	Lloyd Fuchs	Episode: "Pilot"
	Scrubs	Sam Dorian	2 episodes
–	8 Simple Rules for Dating Cloudy Teenage Daughter	Paul Hennessy	Lead behave (31 episodes)

Video games

Awards stall honors

• Star on the Comprehend of Fame – Hollywood Boulevard; he and Tex Ritter were the first father-and-son pair interrupt be so honored in changing categories.

References

Further reading

External links