John Ritter
Born: 1948-09-17 in Burbank, California, USA
Died: 2003-09-11
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
2021
- Superstar as Self (archive footage)
2015
- Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales as Himself (archive footage)
2006
- Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up as Great Uncle Stew (voice)
2005
- Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood as Self (archive footage)
2004
- Clifford's Really Big Movie as Clifford the Big Red Dog (voice)
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- Bad Santa as Bob Chipeska
- TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
- ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration as Self
- The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series as Narrator (voice)
- Time Machine: When Cowboys Were King as Self
- Manhood as Eli
2002
- 8 Simple Rules as Paul Hennessy
- Breaking News
- Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) as John Ritter
- Tadpole as Stanley Grubman
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade as Self
- Man of the Year as Bill
2001
- Scrubs as Sam Dorian
- Nuncrackers as Narrator
2000
- Clifford the Big Red Dog as Clifford (voice)
- TV Funhouse as Narrator (voice)
- Terror Tract as Bob Carter
- Panic as Josh
- Clifford The Big Red Dog: Best Buddies as Clifford
- Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel as Christian Therapist
- TripFall as Tom Williams
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Dr. Richard Manning
- Batman Beyond as Dr. David Wheeler (voice)
- Family Law as Father Andrews
- The Early Show as Self
- It Came from the Sky as Donald Bridges
- Lethal Vows as David Farris
- Holy Joe as Joe Cass
1998
- Hollywood Squares as Self - Panelist
- Felicity as Mr. Andrew Covington
- Bride of Chucky as Chief Warren Kincaid
- Shadow of Doubt as Steven Mayer
- I Woke Up Early the Day I Died as Robert Forrest
- Chance of a Lifetime as Tom Maguire
- Montana as Dr. Wexler
- Dead Husbands as Dr. Carter Elston
- Loss of Faith as Bruce Barker
1997
- The View as Self
- King of the Hill as Eugene Grandy (voice)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Ted Buchanan
- Ally McBeal as George Madison
- Veronica's Closet as Tim Margolin
- Dead Man's Gun as Harry McDonacle
- Over the Top as Justin
- Nowhere as Moses Helper
- A Child's Wish as Ed Chandler
- Sink Or Swim as Hank
- A Gun, a Car, a Blonde as Duncan the Bartender
- The History of Toys and Games as Self - Host
1996
- Sling Blade as Vaughan Cunningham
- E! True Hollywood Story
- Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His Trade as Self
- Mercenary as Jonas Ambler
- Unforgivable as Paul Hegstrom
- For Hope as Date #5 (uncredited)
1995
- NewsRadio as Frank Westford
- The Colony as Rick Knowlton
- Gramps as Clarke MacGruder
1994
- Chicago Hope as Joe Dysmerski
- Touched by an Angel as Mike O'Conner
- North as Ward Nelson
1993
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- Intimate Portrait as Self - Interviewee
- Dave's World as John Ritter
- The Only Way Out as Jeremy Carlisle
- Heartbeat as Bill Grant
1992
- The Larry Sanders Show as John Ritter
- Hearts Afire as John Hartman
- Fish Police as Inspector Gil (voice)
- Stay Tuned as Roy Knable
- Noises Off... as Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
- Martin & Lewis: Their Golden Age of Comedy as Self
- The Martin & Lewis Story: The Last Great Comedy Team as Self
- The Making of High Noon as Self
1991
- Problem Child 2 as Ben Healy
- The Real Story of O Christmas Tree as Piney (voice)
- The Summer My Father Grew Up as Paul
1990
- Wings as Stuart Davenport
- It as Ben Hanscom
- Problem Child as Ben
- The Dreamer of Oz as L. Frank Baum
- Poochinski ... (Executive Producer)
1989
- Anything But Love as Patrick Serreau
- Skin Deep as Zach
- My Brother's Wife as Barney
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
- Mickey's 60th Birthday as Dudley Goode
- Tricks of the Trade as Donald Todsen (uncredited)
1987
- Hooperman as Detective Harry Hooperman
- Real Men as Bob Wilson
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood as Self
- The Last Fling as Phillip Reed
- It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration as Himself - Guest
- Superstars and their Moms as Self
- Prison for Children as David Royce
1986
- Life with Lucy as John Ritter
- A Smoky Mountain Christmas as Judge Harold Benton (uncredited)
- Unnatural Causes as Frank Coleman
1985
- Letting Go as Alex
1984
- The Cosby Show as Ray Evans
- Muppet Babies
- Three's a Crowd as Jack Tripper
- Strong Kids, Safe Kids as Himself
- The Secret World of the Very Young as Self - Host
- Donald Duck's 50th Birthday as Self
- All Star Party for Lucille Ball as Self
- Love Thy Neighbor as Danny Loeb
1983
- Life's Most Embarrassing Moments as Self - Host
- Sunset Limousine as Alan O'Black
1982
- Nature as Narrator (voice)
- The Flight of Dragons as Peter Dickinson (voice)
- The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show as Self
- In Love with an Older Woman as Robert
- Pray TV as Tom McPherson
1981
- Entertainment Tonight as Self
- They All Laughed as Charles Rutledge
1980
- Hero at Large as Steve Nichols
- John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body as Self / Various
- Wholly Moses as Satan (The Devil)
- The Comeback Kid as Bubba Newman
1979
- The Ropers
- Americathon as President Chet Roosevelt
- Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip as Self - Host
1978
- Ringo as Marty Flesh
- How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness as Self
- The Goldie Hawn Special as Self
- Robin Williams: Off the Wall as Self
- Leave Yesterday Behind as Paul Stallings
1977
- The Love Boat as Dale Riley
- Three's Company as Jack Tripper
1976
- Nickelodeon as Franklin Frank
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Audience Member (uncredited)
- Starsky & Hutch as Tom Cole
- People's Choice Awards as Self - Host
- Doc
- The Bob Crane Show
- The Prisoner of Second Avenue as Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
- The Night That Panicked America as Walter Wingate
1974
- Dinah! as Self
- Rhoda as Vince Mazuma
- Petrocelli as John Oleson
1973
- Barnaby Jones as Joe Rockwell
- Kojak as Kenny Soames
- The Stone Killer as Hart
- The Lie as Bauer
1972
- M*A*S*H as Private Carter
- The Waltons as Rev. Matthew Fordwick
- The Bob Newhart Show as Dave
- The Rookies
- The Streets of San Francisco as John 'Johnny' Steiner
- The Other as Rider
- Evil Roy Slade as Priest (uncredited)
1971
- Great Performances as Richard
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law as Greg
- The Barefoot Executive as Roger
- Scandalous John as Wendell
1970
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Reverend Chatfield
- Dan August as Coley Smith
1969
- Hawaii Five-O as Ryan Moore
- Medical Center as Ronnie
1967
- Mannix as Cliff Elgin
1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show as Self
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
1950
- The Bob Hope Show as Self
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee