Person
John Ritter
Acting · 1948–2003 · Burbank, California, USA
Biography
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 ABC sitcoms "Three's Company" and "8 Simple Rules," respectively. Don Knotts called him the "greatest physical comedian on the planet." Ritter's final films "Bad Santa," "Clifford's Really Big Movie" and "Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up" were all dedicated in his memory.
Known for
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Dr. Richard Manning
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
King of the Hill
Eugene Grandy (voice)
Scrubs
Sam Dorian
Saturday Night Live
Audience Member (uncredited)
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Ted Buchanan
The Love Boat
Dale Riley
Mannix
Cliff Elgin
Wings
Stuart Davenport
Filmography
- 2021SuperstarSelf (archive footage)
- 2015Behind Closed Doors with Natalie MoralesHimself (archive footage)
- 2006Stanley's Dinosaur Round-UpGreat Uncle Stew (voice)
- 2005Mr. Thornton Goes to HollywoodSelf (archive footage)
- 2004Clifford's Really Big MovieClifford the Big Red Dog (voice)
- 2003Bad SantaBob Chipeska
- 2003ABC's 50th Anniversary CelebrationSelf
- 2003TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
- 2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self
- 2003ManhoodEli
- 2003Time Machine: When Cowboys Were KingSelf
- 2003The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait SeriesNarrator (voice)
- 20028 Simple RulesPaul Hennessy
- 2002TadpoleStanley Grubman
- 2002Breaking News
- 2002Man of the YearBill
- 2002Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)John Ritter
- 2001NuncrackersNarrator
- 2001ScrubsSam Dorian
- 2000TV FunhouseNarrator (voice)
- 2000PanicJosh
- 2000Terror TractBob Carter
- 2000Clifford the Big Red DogClifford (voice)
- 2000TripFallTom Williams
- 2000Lost in the Pershing Point HotelChristian Therapist
- 1999The Early ShowSelf
- 1999Lethal VowsDavid Farris
- 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDr. Richard Manning
- 1999Family LawFather Andrews
- 1999It Came from the SkyDonald Bridges
- 1999Holy JoeJoe Cass
- 1999Batman BeyondDr. David Wheeler (voice)
- 1998Dead HusbandsDr. Carter Elston
- 1998Bride of ChuckyChief Warren Kincaid
- 1998Loss of FaithBruce Simon Barker
- 1998FelicityMr. Andrew Covington
- 1998Hollywood SquaresSelf - Panelist
- 1998I Woke Up Early the Day I DiedRobert Forrest
- 1998Shadow of DoubtSteven Mayer
- 1998Chance of a LifetimeTom Maguire
- 1998MontanaDr. Wexler
- 1997Over the TopJustin
- 1997Veronica's ClosetTim Margolin
- 1997Sink Or SwimHank
- 1997Ally McBealGeorge Madison
- 1997The ViewSelf
- 1997A Gun, a Car, a BlondeDuncan the Bartender
- 1997NowhereMoses Helper
- 1997Buffy the Vampire SlayerTed Buchanan
- 1997Dead Man's GunHarry McDonacle
- 1997A Child's WishEd Chandler
- 1997King of the HillEugene Grandy (voice)
- 1996For HopeDate #5 (uncredited)
- 1996MercenaryJonas Ambler
- 1996Sling BladeVaughan Cunningham
- 1996E! True Hollywood Story
- 1996Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His TradeSelf
- 1996UnforgivablePaul Hegstrom
- 1995The ColonyRick Knowlton
- 1995GrampsClarke MacGruder
- 1995NewsRadioFrank Westford
- 1994Touched by an AngelMike O'Conner
- 1994Chicago HopeJoe Dysmerski
- 1994NorthWard Nelson
- 1993The Only Way OutJeremy Carlisle
- 1993Intimate PortraitSelf - Interviewee
- 1993Dave's WorldJohn Ritter
- 1993Late Night with Conan O'BrienSelf - Guest
- 1993HeartbeatBill Grant
- 1992Hearts AfireJohn Hartman
- 1992The Larry Sanders ShowJohn Ritter
- 1992Stay TunedRoy Knable
- 1992Noises Off...Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
- 1992Fish PoliceInspector Gil (voice)
- 1992The Making of High NoonSelf
- 1992The Martin & Lewis Story: The Last Great Comedy TeamSelf
- 1992Martin & Lewis: Their Golden Age of ComedySelf
- 1991The Real Story of O Christmas TreePiney (voice)
- 1991Problem Child 2Ben Healy
- 1991The Summer My Father Grew UpPaul
- 1990The Dreamer of OzL. Frank Baum
- 1990ItBen Hanscom
- 1990Problem ChildBen
- 1990PoochinskiExecutive Producer
- 1990WingsStuart Davenport
- 1990Help Save Planet EarthSelf
- 1989My Brother's WifeBarney
- 1989Anything But LovePatrick Serreau
- 1989Skin DeepZach
- 1988Tricks of the TradeDonald Todsen (uncredited)
- 1988Mickey's 60th BirthdayDudley Goode
- 1988LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf
- 1987It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year CelebrationHimself - Guest
- 1987Real MenBob Wilson
- 1987HoopermanDetective Harry Hooperman
- 1987Happy 100th Birthday, HollywoodSelf
- 1987Prison for ChildrenDavid Royce
- 1987The Last FlingPhillip Reed
- 1986A Smoky Mountain ChristmasJudge Harold Benton (uncredited)
- 1986Unnatural CausesFrank Coleman
- 1986Life with LucyJohn Ritter
- 1985Letting GoAlex
- 1984All Star Party for Lucille BallSelf
- 1984Donald Duck's 50th BirthdaySelf
- 1984Muppet Babies
- 1984Three's a CrowdJack Tripper
- 1984The Cosby ShowRay Evans
- 1984The Secret World of the Very YoungSelf - Host
- 1984Love Thy NeighborDanny Loeb
- 1984Strong Kids, Safe KidsHimself
- 1983Sunset LimousineAlan O'Black
- 1983Life's Most Embarrassing MomentsSelf - Host
- 1982In Love with an Older WomanRobert
- 1982NatureNarrator (voice)
- 1982The Fantastic Miss Piggy ShowSelf
- 1982The Flight of DragonsPeter Dickinson (voice)
- 1982Pray TVTom McPherson
- 1981They All LaughedCharles Rutledge
- 1981Entertainment TonightSelf
- 1980Wholly MosesSatan (The Devil)
- 1980John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and BodySelf / Various
- 1980The Comeback KidBubba Newman
- 1980Hero at LargeSteve Nichols
- 1979AmericathonPresident Chet Roosevelt
- 1979Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical TripSelf - Host
- 1979The Ropers
- 1978Robin Williams: Off the WallSelf
- 1978Leave Yesterday BehindPaul Stallings
- 1978RingoMarty Flesh
- 1978The Goldie Hawn SpecialSelf
- 1978How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into HappinessSelf
- 1977The Love BoatDale Riley
- 1977Three's CompanyJack Tripper
- 1976NickelodeonFranklin Frank
- 1975The Night That Panicked AmericaWalter Wingate
- 1975Saturday Night LiveAudience Member (uncredited)
- 1975Doc
- 1975Starsky & HutchTom Cole
- 1975The Prisoner of Second AvenueElevator Passenger (uncredited)
- 1975The Bob Crane Show
- 1975People's Choice AwardsSelf - Host
- 1974Dinah!Self
- 1974PetrocelliJohn Oleson
- 1974RhodaVince Mazuma
- 1973KojakKenny Soames
- 1973The Stone KillerHart
- 1973The LieBauer
- 1973Barnaby JonesJoe Rockwell
- 1972The Streets of San FranciscoJohn 'Johnny' Steiner
- 1972M*A*S*HPrivate Carter
- 1972The Bob Newhart ShowDave
- 1972The WaltonsRev. Matthew Fordwick
- 1972The Rookies
- 1972The OtherRider
- 1972Evil Roy SladePriest (uncredited)
- 1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawGreg
- 1971Scandalous JohnWendell
- 1971The Barefoot ExecutiveRoger
- 1971Great PerformancesRichard
- 1970Dan AugustColey Smith
- 1970The Mary Tyler Moore ShowReverend Chatfield
- 1969Medical CenterRonnie
- 1968Hawaii Five-ORyan Moore
- 1967MannixCliff Elgin
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
- 1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host
- 1950The Bob Hope ShowSelf
- 1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee
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