John Ritter is an Emmy winning actor who was in over 100 different motion pictures, television shows and TV movies. His father was a legendary actor and country music performer.
| GIVEN NAME |
DOB |
DIED |
OCCUPATION(S) |
ACTIVE |
| Johnathan Southworth Ritter |
September 17, 1948 |
September 11, 2003 |
Actor |
1968 – 2003 |
John Ritter Trivia
Born in Burbank CA.
His Grandfather Harry T. Southworth was a doctor.
His mother actress Dorothy Fay appeared in The Philadelphia Story in 1940.
His Father was Woodward Maurice Ritter a.k.a. “Tex” Ritter and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
His brother, Thomas Matthews Ritter born January 7, 1947 was born with cerebral palsy.
John Ritter was Student Body President of and Graduated Hollywood High School.
First appeared on television as a bachelor on The Dating Game. He won.
In his first Movie he played Roger in 1971′s The Barefoot Executive with Kurt Russell, Harry Morgan and Wally Cox.
Was Rev. Matthew Fordwick in eighteen episodes of The Waltons.
Appeared in two episodes of Hawaii Five-O six years apart (1971, 1977).
Appeared on MASH in 1973.
Acted in the Mary Tyler Moore, Rhoda and Phyllis TV shows in 1975 and 1976.
Was married to actress Nancy Morgan from 1977 – 1996. Morgan appeared in Ron Howard’s Grand Theft Auto.
First appeared in Three’s Company on March 15, 1977.
Appeared in 174 episodes of Three’s Company.
Last appeared on Three’s Company on September 18, 1984.
Nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Three’s Company 1978.
Nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Three’s Company 1981.
Appeared as Satan in 1980′s Wholly Moses with Richard Prior and Dudley Moore.
In 1981 he appeared with Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, Elizabeth Pena, Colleen Camp, Patti Hansen and Dorothy Stratten in They All Laughed directed by Peter Bogdanovich.
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983.
Won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Three’s Company 1984.
Starred in the Three’s Company spin-off Three’s a Crowd in 1984, 1985.
Starred with Jim Belushi in 1987′s Real Men.
From 1987 to 1989 starred in Hooperman.
Was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Hooperman in 1989.
Appeared in five episodes of Anything But Love with Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Lewis in 1991.
Starred in 54 episodes of Hearts Afire with Markie Post and Billy Bob Thornton from 1992 – 1995.
Played Vaughan Cunningham in 1996′s Sling Blade with Billy Bob Thornton.
Appeared in 1998′s Bride of Chucky with Jennifer Tilly.
Married Amy Yasbeck in 1999. Yasbeck appeared in 76 episodes of the sitcom Wings.
Was in 7 episodes of Felicity with Keri Russell.
Was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy portraying George Madison in Ally McBeal.
His only appearance on Saturday Night Live was as an audience member in a show aired November 11, 2000.
Starred in 31 episodes as Paul Hennessy in 8 Simple Rules… for Dating My Teenage Daughter from 2002 – 2003.
Starred with Billy Bob Thornton and Bernie Mac in Bad Santa in 2003.
Voiced seven episodes as Eugene Grandy in King of the Hill from 1997 – 2004.
Lucille Ball loved Ritter and Three’s Company – even starring in a tribute to the show.
Died from complications stemming from aortic dissection similarly to Lucille Ball and Richard Biggs.
Was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy posthumously in 2004 for 8 Simple Rules.
