John Ritter
Acting1948Burbank, 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
Acting History
2021
Superstar
TVas Self (archive footage)
2015
Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales
TVas Himself (archive footage)
2006
Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up
as Great Uncle Stew (voice)
Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up
In Memory Of
2005
Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Clifford's Really Big Movie
as Clifford the Big Red Dog (voice)
Clifford's Really Big Movie
In Memory Of
2003
Badder Santa
as Bob Chipeska
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
as Narrator (voice)
Manhood
as Eli
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TVas Self
Badder Santa
In Memory Of
2002
Tadpole
as Stanley Grubman
Man of the Year
as Bill
8 Simple Rules
TVas Paul Hennessy• 31 eps
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TVas Dr. Richard Manning• 1 eps
Scrubs
TVas Sam Dorian• 1 eps
2001
Nuncrackers
as Narrator
Nature
TVas Narrator (voice)• 1 eps
2000
TripFall
as Tom Williams
Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel
as Christian Therapist
Terror Tract
as Bob Carter
Panic
as Josh
Batman Beyond
TVas Dr. David Wheeler (voice)• 1 eps
Felicity
TVas Mr. Andrew Covington• 7 eps
Family Law
TVas Father Andrews• 1 eps
Chicago Hope
TVas Joe Dysmerski• 1 eps
Intimate Portrait
TVas Self - Narrator (voice)• 1 eps
Clifford the Big Red Dog
TVas Clifford (voice)• 130 eps
TV Funhouse
TVas Narrator (voice)
1999
It Came from the Sky
as Donald Bridges
Lethal Vows
as David Farris
Holy Joe
as Joe Cass
Veronica's Closet
TVas Tim Margolin• 1 eps
The Early Show
TVas Self
Touched by an Angel
TVas Sheriff Tom McKinsley / Mike O'Conner• 1 eps
1998
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
as Robert Forrest
Shadow of Doubt
as Steven Mayer
Chance of a Lifetime
as Tom Maguire
Loss of Faith
as Bruce Simon Barker
Bride of Chucky
as Chief Warren Kincaid
Dead Husbands
as Dr. Carter Elston
Montana
as Dr. Wexler
Ally McBeal
TVas George Madison• 2 eps
Hollywood Squares
TVas Self - Panelist
1997
Nowhere
as Moses Helper
Sink Or Swim
as Hank
A Child's Wish
as Ed Chandler
A Gun, a Car, a Blonde
as Duncan the Bartender
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
TVas Ted Buchanan• 1 eps
Over the Top
TVas Justin
King of the Hill
TVas Eugene Grandy (voice)• 4 eps
The View
TVas Self
1996
Sling Blade
as Vaughan Cunningham
Mercenary
as Jonas Ambler
Sex, Censorship and the Silver Screen
as Quote Reader
Unforgivable
as Paul Hegstrom
For Hope
as Date #5 (uncredited)
Wings
TVas Stuart Davenport• 1 eps
1995
1994
North
as Ward Nelson
Dave's World
TVas John Ritter• 3 eps
1993
Heartbeat
as Bill Grant
The Only Way Out
as Jeremy Carlisle
The Larry Sanders Show
TVas John Ritter• 2 eps
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TVas Self - Guest
People's Choice Awards
TVas Self - Host• 1 eps
1992
Stay Tuned
as Roy Knable
Noises Off!
as Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
The Making of High Noon
as Self
Hearts Afire
TVas John Hartman• 54 eps
Fish Police
TVas Inspector Gil (voice)
1991
Problem Child 2
as Ben Healy
The Summer My Father Grew Up
as Paul
The Real Story of O Christmas Tree
as Piney (voice)
The Cosby Show
TVas Ray Evans• 1 eps
1990
Problem Child
as Ben
The Dreamer of Oz
as L. Frank Baum
Help Save Planet Earth
as Self
It
TVas Ben Hanscom• 2 eps
Poochinski
Executive Producer
1989
1988
Mickey's 60th Birthday
as Dudley Goode
Tricks of the Trade
as Donald Todsen (uncredited)
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TVas Self
1987
The Last Fling
as Phillip Reed
Real Men
as Bob Wilson
Prison for Children
as David Royce
Hooperman
TVas Detective Harry Hooperman
1986
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
as Judge Harold Benton (uncredited)
Unnatural Causes
as Frank Coleman
Entertainment Tonight
TVas Self• 1 eps
Life with Lucy
TVas John Ritter• 1 eps
1985
Letting Go
as Alex
1984
Love Thy Neighbor
as Danny Loeb
Strong Kids, Safe Kids
as Himself
Donald Duck's 50th Birthday
as Self
The Bob Hope Show
TVas Self• 1 eps
Three's a Crowd
TVas Jack Tripper
1983
Sunset Limousine
as Alan O'Black
The Love Boat
TVas Ben Cummins / Dale Riley• 2 eps
Life's Most Embarrassing Moments
TVas Self - Host• 1 eps
Golden Globe Awards
TVas Self• 2 eps
1982
The Flight of Dragons
as Peter Dickinson (voice)
Pray TV
as Tom McPherson
In Love with an Older Woman
as Robert
1981
They All Laughed
as Charles Rutledge
1980
Hero at Large
as Steve Nichols
Wholly Moses
as Satan (The Devil)
The Comeback Kid
as Bubba Newman
John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body
as Self / Various
1979
1978
Leave Yesterday Behind
as Paul Stallings
Robin Williams: Off the Wall
as Self
Ringo
as Marty Flesh
The Goldie Hawn Special
as Self
Dinah!
TVas Self• 1 eps
1977
Three's Company
TVas Jack Tripper• 171 eps
Hawaii Five-O
TVas Mike Welles / Ryan Moore• 1 eps
1976
1975
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
as Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
The Night That Panicked America
as Walter Wingate
Barnaby Jones
TVas Joe Rockwell• 1 eps
Mannix
TVas Cliff Elgin• 1 eps
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
TVas Reverend Chatfield• 1 eps
Great Performances
TVas Richard• 1 eps
Petrocelli
TVas John Oleson• 1 eps
The Streets of San Francisco
TVas John 'Johnny' Steiner• 1 eps
1974
The Bob Newhart Show
TVas Dave• 1 eps
Kojak
TVas Kenny Soames• 1 eps
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
TVas Greg• 1 eps
1973
The Stone Killer
as Hart
The Lie
as Bauer
Medical Center
TVas Ronnie• 1 eps
M*A*S*H
TVas Private Carter• 1 eps
1972
1971
The Barefoot Executive
as Roger
Scandalous John
as Wendell
1970
Dan August
TVas Coley Smith
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
TVas Self
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
TVas Self / Self - Co-Host