John Ritter
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Dr. Richard Manning
1999
Series
King of the Hill
Eugene Grandy (voice)
1997
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Saturday Night Live
Audience Member (uncredited)
1975
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
The Love Boat
Dale Riley
1977
Series
The Love Boat
Ben Cummins
1977
Series
Chicago Hope
Joe Dysmerski
1994
Series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Ted Buchanan
1997
Series
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
1998
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Reverend Chatfield
1970
Series
Scrubs
Sam Dorian
2001
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self
1944
Series
Hawaii Five-O
Ryan Moore
1968
Series
Hawaii Five-O
Mike Welles
1968
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self
1988
Series
M*A*S*H
Private Carter
1972
Series
Great Performances
Richard
1971
Series
Wings
Stuart Davenport
1990
Series
The Larry Sanders Show
John Ritter
1992
Series
Mannix
Cliff Elgin
1967
Series
The Waltons
Rev. Matthew Fordwick
1972
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
The Cosby Show
Ray Evans
1984
Series
Nature
Narrator (voice)
1982
Series
Touched by an Angel
Mike O'Conner
1994
Series
Touched by an Angel
Sheriff Tom McKinsley
1994
Series
Starsky & Hutch
Tom Cole
1975
Series
Felicity
Mr. Andrew Covington
1998
Series
Intimate Portrait
Self - Interviewee
1993
Series
Intimate Portrait
Self - Narrator (voice)
1993
Series
Batman Beyond
Dr. David Wheeler (voice)
1999
Series
Three's Company
Jack Tripper
1977
Series
Barnaby Jones
Joe Rockwell
1973
Series
People's Choice Awards
Self - Host
1975
Series
The Bob Newhart Show
Dave
1972
Series
Medical Center
Ronnie
1969
Series
It
Ben Hanscom
1990
Series
8 Simple Rules
Paul Hennessy
2002
Series
NewsRadio
Frank Westford
1995
Series
The Rookies
1972
Series
Ally McBeal
George Madison
1997
Series
Family Law
Father Andrews
1999
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Series
Kojak
Kenny Soames
1973
Series
Rhoda
Vince Mazuma
1974
Series
Rhoda
Jerry Blocker
1974
Series
The Streets of San Francisco
John 'Johnny' Steiner
1972
Series
Muppet Babies
1984
Series
Dave's World
John Ritter
1993
Series
Petrocelli
John Oleson
1974
Series
Veronica's Closet
Tim Margolin
1997
Film
Bride of Chucky
Chief Warren Kincaid
1998
Series
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Greg
1971
Series
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Clifford (voice)
2000
Film
Bad Santa
Bob Chipeska
2003
Series
Hearts Afire
John Hartman
1992
Film
Problem Child
Ben
1990
Series
Entertainment Tonight
Self
1981
Film
Sling Blade
Vaughan Cunningham
1996
Series
Dan August
Coley Smith
1970
Series
Anything But Love
Patrick Serreau
1989
Film
Nowhere
Moses Helper
1997
Series
TV Funhouse
Narrator (voice)
2000
Series
Dead Man's Gun
Harry McDonacle
1997
Series
Hooperman
Detective Harry Hooperman
1987
Film
Problem Child 2
Ben Healy
1991
Series
The Ropers
1979
Film
North
Ward Nelson
1994
Series
Breaking News
2002
Series
The Early Show
Self
1999
Film
Real Men
Bob Wilson
1987
Film
Nickelodeon
Franklin Frank
1976
Series
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
Film
Stay Tuned
Roy Knable
1992
Doc
1975
Series
Fish Police
Inspector Gil (voice)
1992
Series
Life with Lucy
John Ritter
1986
Film
Terror Tract
Bob Carter
2000
Series
Over the Top
Justin
1997
Series
Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales
Himself (archive footage)
2015
Film
Noises Off...
Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
1992
Series
Superstar
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
The Other
Rider
1972
Series
Three's a Crowd
Jack Tripper
1984
Film
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
The Bob Crane Show
1975
Film
Ringo
Marty Flesh
1978
Film
Clifford's Really Big Movie
Clifford the Big Red Dog (voice)
2004
Series
Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)
John Ritter
2002
Film
Panic
Josh
2000
Film
They All Laughed
Charles Rutledge
1981
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
2003
Film
Skin Deep
Zach
1989
Film
The Stone Killer
Hart
1973
Film
The Flight of Dragons
Peter Dickinson (voice)
1982
Film
Montana
Dr. Wexler
1998
Film
Americathon
President Chet Roosevelt
1979
Film
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
Robert Forrest
1998
Film
Tadpole
Stanley Grubman
2002
Film
Shadow of Doubt
Steven Mayer
1998
Film
ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2003
Film
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
1975
Film
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
Judge Harold Benton (uncredited)
1986
Martin & Lewis: Their Golden Age of Comedy
Self
1992
Film
Wholly Moses
Satan (The Devil)
1980
Film
Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2005
Film
A Gun, a Car, a Blonde
Duncan the Bartender
1997
Film
The Barefoot Executive
Roger
1971
Film
Mickey's 60th Birthday
Dudley Goode
1988
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Self
1984
Film
Lethal Vows
David Farris
1999
Film
Mercenary
Jonas Ambler
1996
Film
Letting Go
Alex
1985
Film
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Self
1982
Film
Strong Kids, Safe Kids
Himself
1984
Film
Unforgivable
Paul Hegstrom
1996
Film
Donald Duck's 50th Birthday
Self
1984
Film
Evil Roy Slade
Priest (uncredited)
1972
Film
It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration
Himself - Guest
1987
Film
Time Machine: When Cowboys Were King
Self
2003
Film
Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel
Christian Therapist
2000
Film
The Night That Panicked America
Walter Wingate
1975
Film
For Hope
Date #5 (uncredited)
1996
Film
The Last Fling
Phillip Reed
1987
Film
My Brother's Wife
Barney
1989
Film
The Dreamer of Oz
L. Frank Baum
1990
Film
The Secret World of the Very Young
Self - Host
1984
Film
In Love with an Older Woman
Robert
1982
Series
Life's Most Embarrassing Moments
Self - Host
1983
Film
Hero at Large
Steve Nichols
1980
Film
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
Narrator (voice)
2003
Film
Help Save Planet Earth
Self
1990
Film
Scandalous John
Wendell
1971
Film
Unnatural Causes
Frank Coleman
1986
Film
Sink Or Swim
Hank
1997
Film
The Summer My Father Grew Up
Paul
1991
Film
Holy Joe
Joe Cass
1999
Film
It Came from the Sky
Donald Bridges
1999
Film
Robin Williams: Off the Wall
Self
1978
Film
Pray TV
Tom McPherson
1982
Film
The Colony
Rick Knowlton
1995
Film
Tricks of the Trade
Donald Todsen (uncredited)
1988
Film
The Martin & Lewis Story: The Last Great Comedy Team
Self
1992
Film
Heartbeat
Bill Grant
1993
Film
A Child's Wish
Ed Chandler
1997
Film
Chance of a Lifetime
Tom Maguire
1998
Film
The Only Way Out
Jeremy Carlisle
1993
Film
Prison for Children
David Royce
1987
Film
Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up
Great Uncle Stew (voice)
2006
Film
The Comeback Kid
Bubba Newman
1980
Film
The Lie
Bauer
1973
Film
Manhood
Eli
2003
Film
TripFall
Tom Williams
2000
Film
Sunset Limousine
Alan O'Black
1983
Film
Leave Yesterday Behind
Paul Stallings
1978
Film
Love Thy Neighbor
Danny Loeb
1984
How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness
Self
1978
Film
The Making of High Noon
Self
1992
Film
The Real Story of O Christmas Tree
Piney (voice)
1991
Film
Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip
Self - Host
1979
Film
The Goldie Hawn Special
Self
1978
Loss of Faith
Bruce Simon Barker
1998
Film
Dead Husbands
Dr. Carter Elston
1998
Film
Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His Trade
Self
1996
Film
Gramps
Clarke MacGruder
1995
Film
John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body
Self / Various
1980
Film
Man of the Year
Bill
2002
Film
Nuncrackers
Narrator
2001