# John Ritter died?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2003, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169 "2003-09-12T09:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/41 "2003-09-12T14:00:11Z")
While I am sad about Johnny Cash, his death was hardly a suprise. John Ritter was out of the blue and totally surprised me. Unexpected (to me anyway) deaths, like Jim Henson or Douglas Adams hit me worse. Tho there are some deaths that are probably not too far away that will hit me hard. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Belanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jay\_Belanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Belanger)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/42 "2003-09-12T14:03:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\* > I was pretty young at the time, but I also remember a (bad) movie inwhich he was a down-on-his-luck actor who was paying the rent by taking on a gig where he had to dress as “Captain Avenger” and sign autographs outside movie theatres. Then he foils a robbery and becomes a local hero. I must’ve been 8, but I thought it was great. > \*\* Hero at Large? Bad? Bite your tongue! It’s actually been a while since I’ve seen it. I was older (ahem) than 8 at the time, and I quite liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/43 "2003-09-12T14:08:15Z")
My wife told me when I got up this morning. I immediately replied “Oh, no! he was so young!” I thought about it and realized that I had liked him as an actor a lot more than I was consiously aware. Damn. DtC, was that the “glow-in-the-dark condom” scene? ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/44 "2003-09-12T14:18:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jay Belanger \* > **Hero at Large? Bad? Bite your tongue!** To be honest I was _told_ it was “bad.” But as I have not seen it as an adult I can’t corroberate its alleged badness. I _quite_ liked it and was surprised that no one else seemed to even know about it. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/45 "2003-09-12T15:16:11Z")
Weirddave, I’m sure it was. “What were you arrested for?” “Cockfighting.” ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/46 "2003-09-12T15:24:42Z")
I’m very sad about this. Remember the Three’s Company when Janet wanted Jack to go with her to a party, but they had to take an airplane? Jack was terrified to fly, so he took some type of tranquilizer to calm his nerves. At the party, he had some drinks, and got so out of control. He danced around and just acted so funny. I seriously believe that that is one of the funniest moments on TV. I will miss him. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/47 "2003-09-12T15:38:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*I heard on the news that his youngest daughter Stella had her 5th Birthday yesterday. Poor kid is born on September 11th, and her father dies the day after her birthday? Sheesh. John himself would have been 55 next Wednesday. \*\* I found out that John died at 10:00 p.m. on September 11th, his daughter’s birthday. Poor child. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/48 "2003-09-12T15:40:44Z")
One of the great physical comedic actors I think, right up there with John Cleese and Jackie Gleason. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/49 "2003-09-12T15:43:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuperLorie \* > **BTW, people can live normal lives without any signs that they have aortic aneurisms…then one day for no reason, it can dissect, and that person is a goner.** Ain’t that the truth! A close friend’s dad, apparently in perfect health, died of an aortic aneuyrism–on a ski lift! The rest of his family was waiting for him at the bottom of the mountain joking about how he was the last one down so they’d make him take the last shower. Little did they know, he’d already taken his last shower. ☹ I’m very saddened by John Ritter’s death. Like so many people, I got to know him in _Three’s Company_, and was surprised to discover what a fine and versatile actor he was. I will miss him. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/50 "2003-09-12T15:44:31Z")
I just found out when I logged onto AOL and saw the news on the welcome screen. Very sad and startling news. Who would ever expect that Don Knotts would outlive John Ritter? It’s definitely a loss, since he seemed like a nice guy and made a lot of people laugh. I feel bad for his young daughter in particular. Losing a parent can really destroy a child’s sense of security. Even if she doesn’t quite understand the loss now, it may hit her pretty hard as she gets older. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/51 "2003-09-12T16:12:13Z")
The first season of “Three’s Company” is supposed to come to DVD next year. I wonder if his death will speed up the process a bit. ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/52 "2003-09-12T16:14:24Z")
Yet again an actor who has seriously great comic timing has gone. His serious roles were just as quality as the comedy bits. It and the Frank Baum movie being the two that stick out most in my mind. As I don’t watch much regular commercial network dreck, I never got to see 8 Simple Rules, but have seen my share of Clifford episodes. What a frikkin’ shock! ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/53 "2003-09-12T16:14:34Z")
Too bad. I was lucky enough to have met John Ritter a few times when he was doing theater in LA. He was very down to earth, friendly to the fans waiting backstage and he took his acting very seriously. A far better actor than just his work on sitcoms. (I’ll bet Tony Danza is already lurking around the set of 8 Simple Rules…) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/54 "2003-09-12T16:22:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*DtC, was that the “glow-in-the-dark condom” scene? \*\* Yep, that was it. I couldn’t believe they actually showed such a thing on screen. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/55 "2003-09-12T16:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*I found out that John died at 10:00 p.m. on September 11th, his daughter’s birthday. Poor child. \*\* This might be the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m just … without words. Goodbye, John … you will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Deathstatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Deathstatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deathstatic)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/56 "2003-09-12T16:32:52Z")
Come and knock on our door _sniffle_ We’ve been _choke_ waiting for you _sniffle_ Where the kisses are hers _sniffle_ and hers and his _sob_ Threes company too! Man, that show ruled… I saw the reruns. Are they still going to air 8 simple rules for dating my teenage daughter? Good night, fair prince! ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/57 "2003-09-12T16:51:42Z")
Just saw this too. So sad. Brings a dose of reality to you. Rest in Peace, John and Johnny. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Doublemint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doublemint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doublemint)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/58 "2003-09-12T16:54:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*To be honest I was _told_ it was “bad.” But as I have not seen it as an adult I can’t corroberate its alleged badness. I _quite_ liked it and was surprised that no one else seemed to even know about it. \*\* I know about it. I loved that movie. It was the one that made me realize what a talented and gifted performer Ritter was and I was only a kid the last time I saw it. His sudden death was an utter shock. I feel for his family. And just last night I was singing Ring of Fire to my kid. Now who does that if its not an omen? ---
**Author:** ![heater2000ca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@heater2000ca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heater2000ca)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/59 "2003-09-12T17:09:01Z")
Another movie that he was in which is an undiscovered gem, IMHO, is called [“Noises Off”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105017/) which also starred Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Christopher Reeves, Marilu Henner, Mark Linn-Baker, Nicolette Sheridan. A great slap-stick comedy … I, as well, was very shocked and saddened to hear this news this morning. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169/60 "2003-09-12T19:14:53Z")
I always thought he was a class act and I’ll miss him. The strange thing is that he was at Disneys California Adventure on Saturday along with a bunch of other ABC stars. A friend of mine considered going because we have season passes. We decided not to but I remember saying to my friend, “Yeah, but it would be cool to meet John Ritter!” Later in the day, the radio was interviewing him at the event and he couldn’t have sounded happier or been more gracious. Now, I really wish I would have gone there. I might not have met him but who knows. I feel awful for his family. Something else I just remembered is a movie I saw him as a kid called “Hero at Large”, where he played a normal guy who dresses like a superhero and fights crime. I remember loving that movie. Thanks for the laughs, John. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ritter-died/201169.md?page=4)