← Back
John Ritter

John Ritter

Known for: Acting

Born 17/09/1948
Died 2003-09-11
Place of birth Burbank, California, USA

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.

Filmography

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Series ★ 8,0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Dr. Richard Manning

1999

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Series ★ 7,6

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Self

1962

Saturday Night Live Series ★ 6,9

Saturday Night Live

Audience Member (uncredited)

1975

The View Series ★ 4,3

The View

Self

1997

The Mike Douglas Show Series ★ 5,8

The Mike Douglas Show

Self - Co-Host

1961

The Mike Douglas Show Series ★ 5,8

The Mike Douglas Show

Self

1961

Hollywood Squares Series ★ 7,6

Hollywood Squares

Self - Panelist

1998

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Series ★ 5,3

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Self

2003

LIVE with Kelly and Mark Series ★ 5,6

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

Self

1988

King of the Hill Series ★ 7,4

King of the Hill

Eugene Grandy (voice)

1997

The Merv Griffin Show Series ★ 6,8

The Merv Griffin Show

Self

1962

Scrubs Series ★ 8,2

Scrubs

Sam Dorian

2001

Ally McBeal Series ★ 6,5

Ally McBeal

George Madison

1997

Late Night with Conan O'Brien Series ★ 7,3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Self - Guest

1993

Great Performances Series ★ 6,1

Great Performances

Richard

1971

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series ★ 8,1

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Ted Buchanan

1997

M*A*S*H Series ★ 8,0

M*A*S*H

Private Carter

1972

The Love Boat Series ★ 6,3

The Love Boat

Dale Riley

1977

The Love Boat Series ★ 6,3

The Love Boat

Ben Cummins

1977

Hawaii Five-O Series ★ 7,2

Hawaii Five-O

Ryan Moore

1969

Hawaii Five-O Series ★ 7,2

Hawaii Five-O

Mike Welles

1969

Nature Series ★ 7,9

Nature

Narrator (voice)

1982

The Cosby Show Series ★ 7,0

The Cosby Show

Ray Evans

1984

Golden Globe Awards Series ★ 7,0

Golden Globe Awards

Self - Nominee

1944

Golden Globe Awards Series ★ 7,0

Golden Globe Awards

Self

1944

Mannix Series ★ 6,9

Mannix

Cliff Elgin

1967

Chicago Hope Series ★ 7,2

Chicago Hope

Joe Dysmerski

1994

The Waltons Series ★ 7,1

The Waltons

Rev. Matthew Fordwick

1972

Wings Series ★ 6,9

Wings

Stuart Davenport

1990

Intimate Portrait Series ★ 4,5

Intimate Portrait

Self - Interviewee

1993

Intimate Portrait Series ★ 4,5

Intimate Portrait

Self - Narrator (voice)

1993

Touched by an Angel Series ★ 7,2

Touched by an Angel

Mike O'Conner

1994

Touched by an Angel Series ★ 7,2

Touched by an Angel

Sheriff Tom McKinsley

1994

Felicity Series ★ 6,6

Felicity

Mr. Andrew Covington

1998

The Mary Tyler Moore Show Series ★ 7,7

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Reverend Chatfield

1970

Three's Company Series ★ 7,6

Three's Company

Jack Tripper

1977

Starsky & Hutch Series ★ 7,4

Starsky & Hutch

Tom Cole

1975

Barnaby Jones Series ★ 7,0

Barnaby Jones

Joe Rockwell

1973

Medical Center Series ★ 6,4

Medical Center

Ronnie

1969

The Bob Hope Show Series ★ 7,0

The Bob Hope Show

Self

1950

The Bob Newhart Show Series ★ 7,6

The Bob Newhart Show

Dave

1972

Dinah! Series ★ 7,0

Dinah!

Self

1974

Batman Beyond Series ★ 8,2

Batman Beyond

Dr. David Wheeler (voice)

1999

Muppet Babies Series ★ 7,9

Muppet Babies

1984

The Larry Sanders Show Series ★ 7,8

The Larry Sanders Show

John Ritter

1992

NewsRadio Series ★ 7,4

NewsRadio

Frank Westford

1995

8 Simple Rules Series ★ 6,8

8 Simple Rules

Paul Hennessy

2002

Bride of Chucky Film ★ 6,1

Bride of Chucky

Chief Warren Kincaid

1998

The Rookies Series ★ 6,9

The Rookies

1972

Kojak Series ★ 7,3

Kojak

Kenny Soames

1973

Rhoda Series ★ 6,2

Rhoda

Vince Mazuma

1974

Rhoda Series ★ 6,2

Rhoda

Jerry Blocker

1974

Entertainment Tonight Series ★ 4,4

Entertainment Tonight

Self

1981

Family Law Series ★ 8,1

Family Law

Father Andrews

1999

People's Choice Awards Series ★ 8,2

People's Choice Awards

Self - Host

1975

The Streets of San Francisco Series ★ 7,1

The Streets of San Francisco

John 'Johnny' Steiner

1972

Clifford the Big Red Dog Series ★ 6,7

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford (voice)

2000

It Series ★ 6,9

It

Ben Hanscom

1990

Dave's World Series ★ 6,5

Dave's World

John Ritter

1993

Veronica's Closet Series ★ 5,3

Veronica's Closet

Tim Margolin

1997

Petrocelli Series ★ 7,2

Petrocelli

John Oleson

1974

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Series ★ 6,5

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

Greg

1971

Hearts Afire Series ★ 7,6

Hearts Afire

John Hartman

1992

Anything but Love Series ★ 6,1

Anything but Love

Patrick Serreau

1989

The Early Show Series ★ 6,2

The Early Show

Self

1999

Hooperman Series ★ 6,1

Hooperman

Detective Harry Hooperman

1987

Dan August Series ★ 7,2

Dan August

Coley Smith

1970

Dead Man's Gun Series ★ 5,0

Dead Man's Gun

Harry McDonacle

1997

The Ropers Series ★ 6,1

The Ropers

1979

Three's a Crowd Series ★ 6,6

Three's a Crowd

Jack Tripper

1984

Life with Lucy Series ★ 8,0

Life with Lucy

John Ritter

1986

Bad Santa Film ★ 6,6

Bad Santa

Bob Chipeska

2003

Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales Series ★ 9,0

Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales

Himself (archive footage)

2015

Breaking News Series ★ 6,0

Breaking News

2002

Problem Child Film ★ 6,2

Problem Child

Ben

1990

Series ★ 9,0

Doc

1975

Over the Top Series ★ 7,5

Over the Top

Justin

1997

TV Funhouse Series ★ 7,0

TV Funhouse

Narrator (voice)

2000

Sling Blade Film ★ 7,5

Sling Blade

Vaughan Cunningham

1996

E! True Hollywood Story Series ★ 8,1

E! True Hollywood Story

1996

Fish Police Series ★ 5,8

Fish Police

Inspector Gil (voice)

1992

Problem Child 2 Film ★ 6,0

Problem Child 2

Ben Healy

1991

Superstar Series ★ 5,7

Superstar

Self (archive footage)

2021

North Film ★ 5,0

North

Ward Nelson

1994

Series ★ 6,0

The Bob Crane Show

1975

Nowhere Film ★ 6,8

Nowhere

Moses Helper

1997

Stay Tuned Film ★ 6,2

Stay Tuned

Roy Knable

1992

The Flight of Dragons Film ★ 6,8

The Flight of Dragons

Peter Dickinson (voice)

1982

The Prisoner of Second Avenue Film ★ 6,7

The Prisoner of Second Avenue

Elevator Passenger (uncredited)

1975

Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) Series ★ 8,0

Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)

John Ritter

2002

Panic Film ★ 6,2

Panic

Josh

2000

Clifford The Big Red Dog: Best Buddies Series

Clifford The Big Red Dog: Best Buddies

Clifford

2000

Series

Martin & Lewis: Their Golden Age of Comedy

Self

1992

Noises Off... Film ★ 7,2

Noises Off...

Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain

1992

Series

TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV

2003

Life's Most Embarrassing Moments Series ★ 7,5

Life's Most Embarrassing Moments

Self - Host

1983

Tadpole Film ★ 5,7

Tadpole

Stanley Grubman

2002

My Brother's Wife Film ★ 10,0

My Brother's Wife

Barney

1989

Nickelodeon Film ★ 6,0

Nickelodeon

Franklin Frank

1976

A Smoky Mountain Christmas Film ★ 5,9

A Smoky Mountain Christmas

Judge Harold Benton (uncredited)

1986

Americathon Film ★ 3,6

Americathon

President Chet Roosevelt

1979

Real Men Film ★ 6,0

Real Men

Bob Wilson

1987

Clifford's Really Big Movie Film ★ 6,2

Clifford's Really Big Movie

Clifford the Big Red Dog (voice)

2004

The Stone Killer Film ★ 6,3

The Stone Killer

Hart

1973

Skin Deep Film ★ 6,2

Skin Deep

Zach

1989

Manhood Film ★ 4,1

Manhood

Eli

2003

The Barefoot Executive Film ★ 5,5

The Barefoot Executive

Roger

1971

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood Film ★ 6,0

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Self

1987

Montana Film ★ 5,6

Montana

Dr. Wexler

1998

The Other Film ★ 6,5

The Other

Rider

1972

The Night That Panicked America Film ★ 6,9

The Night That Panicked America

Walter Wingate

1975

Ringo Film ★ 5,6

Ringo

Marty Flesh

1978

Mercenary Film ★ 5,5

Mercenary

Jonas Ambler

1996

Shadow of Doubt Film ★ 4,8

Shadow of Doubt

Steven Mayer

1998

A Child's Wish Film ★ 6,3

A Child's Wish

Ed Chandler

1997

They All Laughed Film ★ 6,0

They All Laughed

Charles Rutledge

1981

The Dreamer of Oz Film ★ 7,6

The Dreamer of Oz

L. Frank Baum

1990

Chance of a Lifetime Film ★ 7,7

Chance of a Lifetime

Tom Maguire

1998

Superstars and their Moms Film ★ 10,0

Superstars and their Moms

Self

1987

Hero at Large Film ★ 5,9

Hero at Large

Steve Nichols

1980

Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood Film ★ 7,0

Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood

Self (archive footage)

2005

The Last Fling Film ★ 4,5

The Last Fling

Phillip Reed

1987

Mickey's 60th Birthday Film ★ 6,8

Mickey's 60th Birthday

Dudley Goode

1988

A Gun, a Car, a Blonde Film ★ 4,6

A Gun, a Car, a Blonde

Duncan the Bartender

1997

Wholly Moses Film ★ 4,7

Wholly Moses

Satan (The Devil)

1980

I Woke Up Early the Day I Died Film ★ 4,8

I Woke Up Early the Day I Died

Robert Forrest

1998

The Secret World of the Very Young Film

The Secret World of the Very Young

Self - Host

1984

The Summer My Father Grew Up Film ★ 8,0

The Summer My Father Grew Up

Paul

1991

Tricks of the Trade Film ★ 4,0

Tricks of the Trade

Donald Todsen (uncredited)

1988

Heartbeat Film ★ 3,6

Heartbeat

Bill Grant

1993

It Came from the Sky Film ★ 5,1

It Came from the Sky

Donald Bridges

1999

Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel Film ★ 5,7

Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel

Christian Therapist

2000

TripFall Film ★ 4,8

TripFall

Tom Williams

2000

Donald Duck's 50th Birthday Film ★ 6,7

Donald Duck's 50th Birthday

Self

1984

The Martin & Lewis Story: The Last Great Comedy Team Film ★ 9,0

The Martin & Lewis Story: The Last Great Comedy Team

Self

1992

The Colony Film ★ 5,1

The Colony

Rick Knowlton

1995

Sink Or Swim Film ★ 5,3

Sink Or Swim

Hank

1997

Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade Film ★ 8,5

Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade

Self

2002

ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration Film ★ 8,0

ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration

Self

2003

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show Film ★ 8,2

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show

Self

1982

Unforgivable Film ★ 7,1

Unforgivable

Paul Hegstrom

1996

The Lie Film ★ 6,0

The Lie

Bauer

1973

Dead Husbands Film ★ 5,7

Dead Husbands

Dr. Carter Elston

1998

Evil Roy Slade Film ★ 6,2

Evil Roy Slade

Priest (uncredited)

1972

In Love with an Older Woman Film ★ 6,0

In Love with an Older Woman

Robert

1982

Terror Tract Film ★ 6,0

Terror Tract

Bob Carter

2000

Man of the Year Film ★ 5,1

Man of the Year

Bill

2002

Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up Film ★ 5,4

Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up

Great Uncle Stew (voice)

2006

Leave Yesterday Behind Film ★ 5,2

Leave Yesterday Behind

Paul Stallings

1978

Time Machine: When Cowboys Were King Film ★ 9,0

Time Machine: When Cowboys Were King

Self

2003

The Real Story of O Christmas Tree Film ★ 6,5

The Real Story of O Christmas Tree

Piney (voice)

1991

The Only Way Out Film ★ 6,5

The Only Way Out

Jeremy Carlisle

1993

Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His Trade Film

Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His Trade

Self

1996

Sunset Limousine Film ★ 4,5

Sunset Limousine

Alan O'Black

1983

Letting Go Film ★ 7,2

Letting Go

Alex

1985

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series Film ★ 9,4

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series

Narrator (voice)

2003

It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration Film ★ 7,0

It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration

Himself - Guest

1987

Lethal Vows Film ★ 5,8

Lethal Vows

David Farris

1999

John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body Film ★ 7,0

John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body

Self / Various

1980

The Goldie Hawn Special Film ★ 9,0

The Goldie Hawn Special

Self

1978

Film

How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness

Self

1978

Robin Williams: Off the Wall Film ★ 7,6

Robin Williams: Off the Wall

Self

1978

Scandalous John Film ★ 6,4

Scandalous John

Wendell

1971

For Hope Film ★ 6,3

For Hope

Date #5 (uncredited)

1996

Pray TV Film ★ 8,0

Pray TV

Tom McPherson

1982

Film ★ 5,6

Loss of Faith

Bruce Barker

1998

Help Save Planet Earth Film ★ 9,0

Help Save Planet Earth

Self

1990

The Making of High Noon Film ★ 6,7

The Making of High Noon

Self

1992

Prison for Children Film ★ 5,8

Prison for Children

David Royce

1987

Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip Film ★ 2,0

Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip

Self - Host

1979

Strong Kids, Safe Kids Film ★ 7,0

Strong Kids, Safe Kids

Himself

1984

The Comeback Kid Film ★ 6,0

The Comeback Kid

Bubba Newman

1980

Holy Joe Film ★ 4,2

Holy Joe

Joe Cass

1999

Gramps Film ★ 7,5

Gramps

Clarke MacGruder

1995

Unnatural Causes Film ★ 7,4

Unnatural Causes

Frank Coleman

1986

Film ★ 6,0

All Star Party for Lucille Ball

Self

1984

Love Thy Neighbor Film ★ 4,5

Love Thy Neighbor

Danny Loeb

1984

The History of Toys and Games Film

The History of Toys and Games

Self - Host

1997

Nuncrackers Film ★ 9,3

Nuncrackers

Narrator

2001