John Ritter died?!

I remember his last funny line.

Someone using slo-mo on his VCR claimed he saw a brief glimpse of John’s scrotum in an episode of “Three’s Company” on NickatNite. Nickelodeon said they would edit the episode.

I read that Snopes article a couple of days ago!

I thought the John Ritter film Real Men was very funny and very underrated. I crack up just thinking about him running around shooting bad guys with his finger :smiley:

I also liked his guest appearance as Dr. Frank on NewsRadio.

He was way too young.

I always remember him as the older Ben Hanscom in Stephen King’s IT.

:frowning:

He was great I’ll miss him

WHen I turned on the radio this morning and heard something brief about “John Ritter dead”, my first reaction was there must be some other John Ritter - like an old ballplayer, singer or something. Not that John Ritter. I had to see it on TV to believe it.

I am not sure anyone mentioned it, but he also had a show in the 1980’s called “Hooperman”. Actually it was one of the first ‘drama-comedies’ I remember on TV, not a sitcom - but quirky. It was a nice show but not all that sucessful. A lot of shows ('Northern Exposure, ‘Ally McBeal’, and ‘Ed’ come to mind) are sort of the offspring of that program.

I wake up each morning to talk radio, and I think this bit of news was the first thing I really comprehended this morning. Like syncrolecyne, I had to think twice as to the name. Since it hit me, I’ve been a bit distracted at some moments of the day.

I’ve read the thread, and the sentiments have really struck me. It’s wonderful to see that an actor can be so down to earth and that Mr. Ritter’s touched so many people.

Just an aside–as I read this thread, the theme from The Breakfast Club was playing: “Don’t you / forget about me / don’t don’t don’t don’t / don’t you / forget about me.” I thought it was awfully good timing, personally.

I know I’ll never watch Three’s Company in the same way.

Mr. Ritter, you’ve clearly been an inspiration and a gift to the world. May you rest in peace and may your family be consoled by the thoughts that you are in a better place. You will be sorely missed.

From his obit in the UK Daily Telegraph:

“In August 2001, John Ritter had the doleful task of contacting the obituaries desk of The Daily Telegraph after we mistakenly published an obituary of his mother, who had not died. He courteously pointed out the mistake and graciously accepted an apology in the form of an article by the Obituaries Editor. Dorothy Fay Ritter survives him.”

I worked with him once- he was in a benefit for an equity theater that I was working for. Real class act- he was kind and professional and spent a great deal of time with his youngest daughter during the production. And I agree that he was underrated- some of his roles were just outstanding.

Just so you guys know, the episode of Three’s Company that I described earlier will be on Nick at Nite next Friday, the 19th at 11 PM EST. I HIGHLY recommend you watch it. It is so freaking funny.

Someone just Fwd: this to me, and I thought I’d share. I dare you to read this and not be moved. Wow.


John Ritter was my cousin. He was also my hero. I am writing this only hours after I heard about his death, so forgive me if it’s a little disjointed. I thought this would make me feel better. Thank you to Moriarty for posting this. John was raised by father and country legend Tex Ritter, best known for penning the Academy-Award winning theme for “High Noon,” and his mother Dorothy, an actress. Raised around his father’s television show and film career, John always had a bug for performing. As a young man, he was good-looking, gregarious and well liked, even serving as class president in high school. He studied acting at USC, and impressed his teachers with his ability to shift between weighty dramatic acting and light comedic fair. His biggest talent was perhaps his control of his physical comedy, but he was so strong in other areas that he would eventually be part of many different genres in his career. His notable early roles included a bit part in the Kurt Russell Disney movie Barefoot Executive, and a recurring role on “The Waltons” as Rev. Matthew Fordwick. His most iconic role however was of course that of Jack Tripper on “Three’s Company,” which debuted in 1977. The show was a misfire with critics, but gained huge popularity thanks to John’s physical comedy (and what John called “the jiggle factor”). He performed many a pratfall and couch trip, and in one famous incident, had a viewer notice that his testicle was hanging out briefly during a shot with particularly short shorts. (His response to the offending shot being removed from reruns was classic John: “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.”) The show lasted for eight seasons, and on the show’s finale, John had a dream come true when comedic legend Lucille Ball hosted a retrospective strictly because of how much she admired John’s work. She noted that John’s goal was not to make someone laugh, but to make them fall out of their seat laughing. John moved onto film work, at first contrasting his TV comedic stylings for more dramatic fare. He returned to outrageous physical comedy in the Blake Edward’s gem Skin Deep. Edwards told John he was in Peter Sellers’s league as far as using his body for broad shtick, something John took much joy in. He poured his blood and sweat into the movie, even breaking his shoulder during the scene where he is hit by a wall of rushing water, after insisting on doing his own stunt. The following year, he had his biggest commercial success with the first Problem Child film. John also was instrumental in doing telethons for cerebral palsy, a disease his brother Tommy suffers from. He stayed up days straight to host, raising lots of money to help understand CP. John was the rare type who truly cared about the causes he put his heart into, a man who was always much more giving than he would ever let on. He never made a big deal out of how charitable he was, but everyone who knew him could only describe him as having a heart of gold. His career got a second wind when he costarred in Sling Blade with buddy Billy Bob Thorton, whom he had starred with in the sitcom “Hearts Afire” in 1992. John’s acting in the movie was widely praised, and was a chance for him to go in new directions. He starred in several independents over the next few years, most notably the Sundance hit Tadpole and this year’s Manhood. Last year, John starred in the ABC sitcom “8 Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter.” The show was one of the only hits of last season, and it marked a return to form for this tried-and-true sitcom actor. On a personal note, John also inspired my direction in life. He hammered comedy classics into my head from a young age, making me sit through flicks like It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World and The Party until I understood their genius. He was so literate in the art of comedy. I’m now an aspiring filmmaker (aren’t we all?), and I owe that to John’s inspiration. He spoke of how comedy could communicate, and how in a way it was the most fulfilling art form, because it encompassed happiness and tragedy equally, and it was the style which best helped people sleep at night. The times we watched films together hearing nuggets of wisdom like this were among my happiest memories of childhood. He understood what value comedy could have, and he shared his gift with everyone he could. Initial reports this morning indicate he collapsed on the set of his show. While tragic, I cannot think of a better way for a man to go who cared so much about bringing joy to people through entertaining. John leaves behind his wife, his four kids, and an extended group of family and friends who absolutely thought he hung the moon. Thank you, John, for inspiring me to be a better person and to bring joy to those around me. Your spirit was a real treasure. I know you are up there, doing a pratfall at the Pearly Gates, making everybody laugh. (You can call me “Couch Tripper”)

*The year: 1978ish.

The setting: A shitty, cockroach-infested apartment in north Atlanta.

The characters: young jackelope and his mom.*

young jackelope is watching “Three’s Company.” In this episode, Jack Tripper is at the roller-skating rink with a date, even though he doesn’t know how to skate. Tripper is flailing about like a wild man, trying to stay up on skates and looking like an explosion of limbs, while miraculously not spilling the drinks he’s just bought for himself and his date du jour.

young jackelope is laughing hysterically. I mean squealing with laughter. Mom walks through the room, sees what’s going on.

“Wow,” says Mom. “He’s got to be a really good skater to do that.”

young jackelope’s view of the scene is instantly changed. He is behind the camera for the first time ever, thinking about how productions are made rather than what they show.

jackelope goes on to become a major fan of silent, slapstick films: Keaton, Chaplin, Lloyd, Langdon.

Flash forward to September 1, 2003. jackelope completes the first film he’s ever made.

It’s a silent, slapstick comedy in which he flails about like Jack Tripper on roller skates.

Thanks, John.

I was so disappointed to hear of John Ritter’s death. My sister and I both grew up on Three’s Company, and we still watch the reruns on Nick at Nite. I’m positive that we’ve seen every episode. I think this is the first time I’ve been so affected by a celebrity death. I saw a special on Entertainment Tonight that featured Henry “The Fonz” Winkler, who was apparently a very close friend of Ritter’s. I’d been fighting back tears during most of the news reports and tributes, but when I saw Fonzie crying, I just lost it.

Farewell, my beloved Jack Tripper. I shall miss your slapstick comedy. The world didn’t give you quite the recognition you deserved, yet you still never turned your back on us. Here’s hoping you find a good table at the great Regal Beagle in the sky, and be sure to tell Mr. and Mrs. Roper that we send our love.

Several years ago, I wrote him a fan letter, and mentioned that he and I shared the same birthday. A few months later, on September 17th, I got a short note from him wishing me a happy birthday along with an autographed 8x10 with the message, “happy birthday Eric. September 17. Love John Ritter”. I’ll treasure that 8x10 forever.