Trivia

Ended 20-year rift with his Three's Company (1976) co-star Suzanne Somers shortly before his sudden death.

His talent for physical schtick was heralded by television comedy icon Lucille Ball, who hosted a tribute to John's talent on Three's Company (1976). John later appeared in an episode of Lucille's last comedy series Life with Lucy (1986) In that episode, Lucy claims that during the shooting of a scene, it was the third time in her entire career that she had to shout "cut" because he broke her up laughing.

On an episode of 8 Simple Rules (2002), he and the cast did a spoof of his sitcom Three's Company (1976). In the spoof, he played Mr. Roper, Katey Sagal played Helen Roper, Kaley Cuoco and Amy Davidson played Janet and Chrissy respectively, Billy Aaron Brown played Jack and Martin Spanjers played Larry. At the end of the episode, Don Knotts who played Mr. Furley on Three's Company, reprised his role in one short scene. It was, not surprisingly, Ritter's favorite episode.

He was born and died in the same hospital, the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, in Burbank, California.

After his sudden death, the September 29 issue of People magazine featured two different covers - issues distributed to the central and southeast United States (except Florida) showed Johnny Cash who had also recently passed away, the rest displayed a photo of John Ritter taken by veteran photojournalist Michael Germana. Appropriately, he was waving goodbye.

His final film, Bad Santa (2003), was dedicated to his memory.

Initially misdiagnosed with a heart attack, he died from an aortic dissection, following surgery, at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, in Burbank, California [11 September 2003].

His father, cowboy star Tex Ritter, tried to steer him away from an acting career but lived long enough to rejoice in seeing him in a recurring role on The Waltons (1972), which was Tex's favorite television series.

Passed away on his youngest daughter's, Noah Ritter, fifth birthday. It affected her so deeply that to this day, she celebrates on his birthday.

His favorite musical group was The Beatles, and he even appeared on Ringo Starr's television special Ringo (1978).

Paul Hennessy, Ritter's character on 8 Simple Rules (2002), was ranked #48 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [June 20, 2004 issue].

Was the first guest of The Wayne Brady Show (2002).

Was nominated for an Emmy Award, for best actor in a comedy, for 8 Simple Rules (2002) one year after his sudden death, after appearing in 31 episodes.

Passed away the day before the death of country music legend Johnny Cash. His father, Tex, had written several songs for Johnny during the 1950s and 1960s.

Played the clarinet.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6631 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 28, 1983.

During an interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993), Ritter claimed that he chose the name "Vaughan Cunningham" for his character in Sling Blade (1996) based on an in-joke with the cast of Happy Days (1974).

John Ritter passed away one week before his fourth wedding anniversary to wife Amy Yasbeck. Additionally, Ritter passed away only six days before his 55th birthday.

Before he was a successful actor, he worked with Harry Morgan in two movies of Ritter's early career: The Barefoot Executive (1971) and Scandalous John (1971).

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Jack Tripper on Three's Company (1976).

Had starred with his wife, Amy Yasbeck, in the sitcom episode, Total Control (1991), eight years before their marriage. Coincidently, they played a husband and wife expecting their first child.

His and Joyce DeWitt's favorite episode of Three's Company (1976) is titled Up in the Air (1982), where he had a long comic dance that earned him an Emmy Award nomination. His least favorite episode was Chrissy and the Guru (1978), where he imitated a walrus.

On September 18, 1999, Ritter married Amy Yasbeck in Wilmington, Ohio. The two had resided together for a couple of years.

Buried in a lawn crypt at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California (actually borders Glendale and Griffith Park). Lot 1622 Court of Liberty near Stan Laurel's grave site.

John Ritter's great-grandfather Benjamin Franklin Ritter (1834-1902) was an officer in the Confederate Cavalry (37th Texas Cavalry) during the American Civil War.

On Three's Company (1976), he played a straight man pretending to be gay. In Perceptions (2005), his son, Jason Ritter, played a gay man pretending to be straight.

Was considered for the role of Dan Gallagher in Fatal Attraction (1987), which went to Michael Douglas.

Was good friends with Ralph Waite, Jenny Sullivan, Paul Linke, Richard Kline, Henry Winkler and Markie Post. Was lifelong friends with Kevin Tighe.

One of John's last public appearances was at Disney's Prime Time Weekend at Disney's California Adventure Park, four days before his sudden death.

Director Peter Bogdanovich directed him in three feature films: Nickelodeon (1976), They All Laughed (1981) and Noises Off... (1992). He had earlier considered him for the role of Sonny Crawford in The Last Picture Show (1971) that went to Timothy Bottoms.

Bret Anthony portrayed him in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company' (2003).

Attended and graduated from Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California (1966).

Heart attack, somewhat ran in his family -- his father Tex Ritter passed away from this, on January 2, 1974, ten days before his 69th birthday.

Frequently worked with Billy Bob Thornton.

Alumnus of Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

His father's family was from the South, most recently Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana. His mother's roots lay more in Colonial New England, particularly Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as in New York.

He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.

Attended Walter Reed Jr. High School in North Hollywood, California.

He was a scout (but not an Eagle).

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 464-465. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale (2007).

At the same time he attended Hollywood High School, he fell in love with The Beatles.

When he wanted to be an actor, his father Tex Ritter was not very happy about this.

His private funeral was attended by his hero and former Threes Company costar, Don Knotts, who had just guest starred alongside Ritter on an episode of his sitcom, 8 Simple Rules, as well as Tom Bergeron, who had become friends with Ritter when Ritter made several guest appearances on the game show Hollywood Squares, which Bergeron hosted.

When Ritter was a little boy, he had rules and regulations, within the boundaries, he had all the freedom in the world. His character was on 8 Simple Rules (2002), when he played the father, whose character taught his children on rules and regulations, within their own boundaries that Ritter had, in real-life, before.

His mother Dorothy Fay outlived him by less than two months.

Was three months younger than Phylicia Rashad. He guest-starred with her on an episode of The Cosby Show (1984).

For many years Nancy Morgan & her husband Ritter co-hosted the national United Cerebral Palsy Telethon together.

Nancy Morgan & her husband Ritter co-starred in television movies The Dreamer of Oz & Heartbeat, & in the feature film Americathon. Morgan also made a guest appearance in Ritter's television series Hooperman.