John Ritter was one of the best comedians of all time; over his long and extremely successful career, he appeared in over 100 films and television series combined and dozens of roles on Broadway.
Before becoming a world-famous comedian, John Ritter was born on September 17, 1948, in Burbank, California. His family was in show business, and he attended Hollywood High School.
Although it may seem like John was destined for fame, he initially went to college to study psychology so he could have a career in politics. However, he quickly changed his major to theater studies and continued his education at the USC School of Dramatic Arts.
In 1970, shortly after graduation, he landed a small role on television. He made his film debut in 1951, with several guest roles on some of television’s biggest shows of the decade, including Hawaii 5-O and M*A*S*H.
But his character Jack Tripper in the classic sitcom Three’s Company is widely considered to be his big break. The show topped the charts for almost a decade from 1976-1984, with Ritter playing everyone’s favorite and incredibly loveable character.
He became a household name with his incredible comedy, lovable personality, and impressive acting skills; John Ritter was undoubtedly one of the big names in the industry.
He didn’t have to wait long for his next big hit, and in 1986 he landed the role of Detective Harry Hopperman in the show Hopperman. He won both a People’s Choice Award and an Emmy for the role.
Over the next two decades, he continued to guest star in several popular television shows, including Felicity, Ally McBeal, Scrubs, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and starred in various Broadway productions.
And in 2002, he returned to the small screen as another beloved character in a popular show: 8 Simple Rules…. For Dating My Teenage Daughter.
The younger generation then got to know Ritter just as well as their parents did from Three’s Company, and he was once again an extremely prominent name in the industry.
Sadly, John Ritter suffered from a heart attack while on set filming 8 Simple Rules and was rushed to the hospital where he was born. Unfortunately, although he was rushed into surgery, Ritter passed away later that evening.
His death shocked Hollywood and the world, and anyone who even saw this charismatic man on television or Broadway felt that a great talent had been lost.
John Ritter was hilarious, fun to watch, and a significant aspect of television for thirty years! When you think of John Ritter, no matter which character you think of, you’re most likely laughing as you do!
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