John Ritter

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

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Scrubs

Saturday Night Live

King of the Hill

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

All Movies (92)

• Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up2006 · as Great Uncle Stew (voice)
• Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• Clifford's Really Big Movie2004 · as Clifford the Big Red Dog (voice)
• Bad Santa2003 · as Bob Chipeska
• ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration2003 · as Self
• Manhood2003 · as Eli
• Time Machine: When Cowboys Were King2003 · as Self
• The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series2003 · as Narrator (voice)
• Tadpole2002 · as Stanley Grubman
• Man of the Year2002 · as Bill
• Nuncrackers2001 · as Narrator
• Panic2000 · as Josh
• Terror Tract2000 · as Bob Carter
• TripFall2000 · as Tom Williams
• Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel2000 · as Christian Therapist
• Lethal Vows1999 · as David Farris
• It Came from the Sky1999 · as Donald Bridges
• Holy Joe1999 · as Joe Cass
• Dead Husbands1998 · as Dr. Carter Elston
• Bride of Chucky1998 · as Chief Warren Kincaid
• Loss of Faith1998 · as Bruce Simon Barker
• I Woke Up Early the Day I Died1998 · as Robert Forrest
• Shadow of Doubt1998 · as Steven Mayer
• Chance of a Lifetime1998 · as Tom Maguire
• Montana1998 · as Dr. Wexler
• Sink Or Swim1997 · as Hank
• A Gun, a Car, a Blonde1997 · as Duncan the Bartender
• Nowhere1997 · as Moses Helper
• A Child's Wish1997 · as Ed Chandler
• For Hope1996 · as Date #5 (uncredited)
• Mercenary1996 · as Jonas Ambler
• Sling Blade1996 · as Vaughan Cunningham
• Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His Trade1996 · as Self
• Unforgivable1996 · as Paul Hegstrom
• The Colony1995 · as Rick Knowlton
• Gramps1995 · as Clarke MacGruder
• North1994 · as Ward Nelson
• The Only Way Out1993 · as Jeremy Carlisle
• Heartbeat1993 · as Bill Grant
• Stay Tuned1992 · as Roy Knable
• Noises Off...1992 · as Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
• The Making of High Noon1992 · as Self
• The Martin & Lewis Story: The Last Great Comedy Team1992 · as Self
• The Real Story of O Christmas Tree1991 · as Piney (voice)
• Problem Child 21991 · as Ben Healy
• The Summer My Father Grew Up1991 · as Paul
• The Dreamer of Oz1990 · as L. Frank Baum
• Problem Child1990 · as Ben
• Help Save Planet Earth1990 · as Self
• My Brother's Wife1989 · as Barney
• Skin Deep1989 · as Zach
• Tricks of the Trade1988 · as Donald Todsen (uncredited)
• Mickey's 60th Birthday1988 · as Dudley Goode
• It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration1987 · as Himself - Guest
• Real Men1987 · as Bob Wilson
• Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood1987 · as Self
• Prison for Children1987 · as David Royce
• The Last Fling1987 · as Phillip Reed
• A Smoky Mountain Christmas1986 · as Judge Harold Benton (uncredited)
• Unnatural Causes1986 · as Frank Coleman
• Letting Go1985 · as Alex
• All Star Party for Lucille Ball1984 · as Self
• Donald Duck's 50th Birthday1984 · as Self
• The Secret World of the Very Young1984 · as Self - Host
• Love Thy Neighbor1984 · as Danny Loeb
• Strong Kids, Safe Kids1984 · as Himself
• Sunset Limousine1983 · as Alan O'Black
• In Love with an Older Woman1982 · as Robert
• The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show1982 · as Self
• The Flight of Dragons1982 · as Peter Dickinson (voice)
• Pray TV1982 · as Tom McPherson
• They All Laughed1981 · as Charles Rutledge
• Wholly Moses1980 · as Satan (The Devil)
• John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body1980 · as Self / Various
• The Comeback Kid1980 · as Bubba Newman
• Hero at Large1980 · as Steve Nichols
• Americathon1979 · as President Chet Roosevelt
• Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip1979 · as Self - Host
• Robin Williams: Off the Wall1978 · as Self
• Leave Yesterday Behind1978 · as Paul Stallings
• Ringo1978 · as Marty Flesh
• The Goldie Hawn Special1978 · as Self
• How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness1978 · as Self
• Nickelodeon1976 · as Franklin Frank
• The Night That Panicked America1975 · as Walter Wingate
• The Prisoner of Second Avenue1975 · as Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
• The Stone Killer1973 · as Hart
• The Lie1973 · as Bauer
• The Other1972 · as Rider
• Evil Roy Slade1972 · as Priest (uncredited)
• Scandalous John1971 · as Wendell
• The Barefoot Executive1971 · as Roger

All TV Shows (83)

• Superstar2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales2015 · as Himself (archive footage)
• TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV2003
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• 8 Simple Rules2002 · as Paul Hennessy
• Breaking News2002
• Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)2002 · as John Ritter
• Scrubs2001 · as Sam Dorian
• TV Funhouse2000 · as Narrator (voice)
• Clifford the Big Red Dog2000 · as Clifford (voice)
• The Early Show1999 · as Self
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Dr. Richard Manning
• Family Law1999 · as Father Andrews
• Batman Beyond1999 · as Dr. David Wheeler (voice)
• Felicity1998 · as Mr. Andrew Covington
• Hollywood Squares1998 · as Self - Panelist
• Over the Top1997 · as Justin
• Veronica's Closet1997 · as Tim Margolin
• Ally McBeal1997 · as George Madison
• The View1997 · as Self
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer1997 · as Ted Buchanan
• Dead Man's Gun1997 · as Harry McDonacle
• King of the Hill1997 · as Eugene Grandy (voice)
• E! True Hollywood Story1996
• NewsRadio1995 · as Frank Westford
• Touched by an Angel1994 · as Mike O'Conner
• Touched by an Angel1994 · as Sheriff Tom McKinsley
• Chicago Hope1994 · as Joe Dysmerski
• Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self - Interviewee
• Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
• Dave's World1993 · as John Ritter
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• Hearts Afire1992 · as John Hartman
• The Larry Sanders Show1992 · as John Ritter
• Fish Police1992 · as Inspector Gil (voice)
• Martin & Lewis: Their Golden Age of Comedy1992 · as Self
• It1990 · as Ben Hanscom
• Wings1990 · as Stuart Davenport
• Anything But Love1989 · as Patrick Serreau
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self
• Hooperman1987 · as Detective Harry Hooperman
• Life with Lucy1986 · as John Ritter
• Muppet Babies1984
• Three's a Crowd1984 · as Jack Tripper
• The Cosby Show1984 · as Ray Evans
• Life's Most Embarrassing Moments1983 · as Self - Host
• Nature1982 · as Narrator (voice)
• Entertainment Tonight1981 · as Self
• The Ropers1979
• The Love Boat1977 · as Dale Riley
• The Love Boat1977 · as Ben Cummins
• Three's Company1977 · as Jack Tripper
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Audience Member (uncredited)
• Doc1975
• Starsky & Hutch1975 · as Tom Cole
• The Bob Crane Show1975
• People's Choice Awards1975 · as Self - Host
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• Petrocelli1974 · as John Oleson
• Rhoda1974 · as Vince Mazuma
• Rhoda1974 · as Jerry Blocker
• Kojak1973 · as Kenny Soames
• Barnaby Jones1973 · as Joe Rockwell
• The Streets of San Francisco1972 · as John 'Johnny' Steiner
• M*A*S*H1972 · as Private Carter
• The Bob Newhart Show1972 · as Dave
• The Waltons1972 · as Rev. Matthew Fordwick
• The Rookies1972
• Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law1971 · as Greg
• Great Performances1971 · as Richard
• Dan August1970 · as Coley Smith
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show1970 · as Reverend Chatfield
• Medical Center1969 · as Ronnie
• Hawaii Five-O1968 · as Ryan Moore
• Hawaii Five-O1968 · as Mike Welles
• Mannix1967 · as Cliff Elgin
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self