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John Ritter

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Biography

American actor John Ritter, typically the engaging, rather boyish, sometimes goofy comic lead, made his film acting debut in 1970 and came into prominence…more

Born

9/17/1948, Burbank, California

Died

9/11/2003

Birth Name

Johnathan Southworth Ritter

Gender

Male

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Credits

Star (13)

Role
- 8 Simple Rules
  Paul Hennessy (2002-2003)
  - S 3: Ep 23 The Sleepover
    4/8/05
  - S 2: Ep 1 Premiere
    9/23/03
  - S 1: Ep 24 Queen Bees and King Bees
    4/8/03
  - S 1: Ep 23 Career Woman
    3/28/03
  - S 1: Ep 22 Good Moms Gone Wild
    3/25/03
  - + 15 More Credits
- The Hollywood Squares
  Himself (Semi-Regular (2000-2003))
  - S 7: Ep 7030 Extra Episode
    6/4/04
  - S 6: Ep 19 September 29 - October 3, 2003 - Thursday
    10/2/03
  - S 6: Ep 18 September 29 - October 3, 2003 - Wednesday
    10/1/03
  - S 6: Ep 17 September 29 - October 3, 2003 - Tuesday
    9/30/03
  - S 6: Ep 16 September 29 - October 3, 2003 - Monday
    9/29/03
  - + 35 More Credits
- Clifford the Big Red Dog
  Clifford
  - S 2: Ep 27 Clifford's Really Big Movie
    2/20/04
  - S 2: Ep 28 Little Big Pup / Getting To Know You
    2/25/03
  - S 2: Ep 26 Dog House Rock / Guess Who's Coming To Birdwell
    2/24/03
  - S 2: Ep 25 Tie-Dyed Clifford / Stage Struck
    2/21/03
  - S 2: Ep 24 Food For Thought / Friends Forever
    2/20/03
  - + 64 More Credits
- 8 Simple Rules
  Paul Hennessy (seasons 1-2)
  - S 2: Ep 3 Donny Goes AWOL
    10/7/03
  - S 2: Ep 2 Sex Ed
    9/30/03
  - S 1: Ep 28 Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (2)
    5/20/03
  - S 1: Ep 27 Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (1)
    5/13/03
  - S 1: Ep 26 The Doyle Wedding
    5/6/03
  - + 7 More Credits
- People's Choice Awards
  Himself - Host
  - S 19: Ep 1 The 19th Annual People's Choice Awards
    1/1/93
- Fish Police
  Inspector Gil
  - S 1: Ep 3 Beauty's Only Fin Deep
    3/13/92
  - S 1: Ep 2 A Fish Out of Water
    3/6/92
  - S 1: Ep 1 The Shell Game
    2/28/92
  - S 1: Ep 6 No Way to Treat a Fillet-dy
  - S 1: Ep 5 The Two Gils
  - + 1 More Credits
- Stephen King's It
  Ben 'Haystack' Hanscom
  - S 1: Ep 2 Stephen King's It (2)
    11/20/90
  - S 1: Ep 1 Stephen King's It (1)
    11/18/90
- Hooperman
  Harry Hooperman
  - S 2: Ep 20 Goodnight, Sweet Hooperman
    7/26/89
  - S 2: Ep 19 Some of That Jazz
    7/12/89
  - S 2: Ep 18 Take My Building, Please
    7/5/89
  - S 2: Ep 17 Love Bytes
    6/28/89
  - S 2: Ep 16 Dog Day Afternoon, Morning and Night
    6/21/89
  - + 37 More Credits
- Three's a Crowd
  Jack Tripper
  - S 1: Ep 22 A Star is Born
    4/9/85
  - S 1: Ep 21 Jack Gets Trashed
    4/2/85
  - S 1: Ep 20 King for a Day
    3/3/85
  - S 1: Ep 19 The New Mr. Bradford
    2/26/85
  - S 1: Ep 18 Deeds of Trust
    2/19/85
  - + 17 More Credits
- Three's Company
  Jack Tripper
  - S 8: Ep 22 Friends and Lovers (2)
    9/18/84
  - S 8: Ep 21 Friends and Lovers (1)
    9/18/84
  - S 8: Ep 20 Cupid Works Overtime
    3/15/84
  - S 8: Ep 19 The Heiress (a.k.a. The Inheritance)
    3/8/84
  - S 8: Ep 18 Forget Me Not
    2/28/84
  - + 166 More Credits
- Three's Company
  Himself
  - S 6: Ep 28 The Best of Three's Company (2)
    5/18/82
- Get Rich Quick
  Panelist
  - S 1: Ep 1 October 30, 1977
    10/30/77
- Hearts Afire
  John Hartman
  - S 3: Ep 14 The Outsider
  - S 3: Ep 13 John and Georgie's Not-So-Excellent Adventure
    2/1/95
  - S 3: Ep 12 Group Therapy
    1/25/95
  - S 3: Ep 11 Mrs. Hartman, Mrs. Hartman
    1/18/95
  - S 3: Ep 10 Help Wanted
    1/11/95
  - + 49 More Credits
Recurring Role (7)

Role
- The Wayne Brady Show (syndicated)
  Himself (Footage)
  - S 2: Ep 20 9/19/03
    9/19/03
- The Wayne Brady Show (syndicated)
  Himself (FOOTAGE)
  - S 2: Ep 12 9/16/03
    9/16/03
- The Wayne Brady Show (syndicated)
  Guest
  - S 2: Ep 1 9/1/03
    9/1/03
  - S 1: Ep 37 5/6/03
    5/6/03
  - S 1: Ep 68 9/2/02
    9/2/02
- Felicity
  Andrew Covington
  - S 4: Ep 13 Kiss and Tell
    3/27/02
  - S 4: Ep 11 A Perfect Match
    12/19/01
  - S 4: Ep 7 The Storm
    11/21/01
  - S 4: Ep 6 Oops...Noel Did It Again
    11/14/01
  - S 3: Ep 7 Kissing Mr. Covington
    11/15/00
  - + 2 More Credits
- Anything but Love
  Patrick Serreau
  - S 4: Ep 9 Stop Me Before I... Again (2)
    12/11/91
  - S 4: Ep 8 Stop Me Before I... Again (1)
    12/4/91
  - S 3: Ep 3 Hello... Mali (3)
    2/27/91
  - S 3: Ep 2 Martus Interruptus (2)
    2/13/91
  - S 3: Ep 1 Say it Again, Han (1)
    2/6/91
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
  Guest
  - S 27: Ep 8 Show #3935
    2/6/89
  - S 23: Ep 74 Show #3674
    5/7/85
  - S 22: Ep 72 Show #3572
    3/2/84
  - S 20: Ep 68 Show #3368
    1/27/82
  - S 19: Ep 82 Show #3282
    8/21/81
  - + 4 More Credits
- The Waltons
  Rev. Matthew Fordwick
  - S 5: Ep 14 The Rebellion
    12/23/76
  - S 5: Ep 12 The Best Christmas
    12/9/76
  - S 5: Ep 9 The Cloudburst
    11/11/76
  - S 5: Ep 8 The Wedding (2)
    11/4/76
  - S 5: Ep 7 The Wedding (1)
    11/4/76
  - + 14 More Credits
Guest Star (97)

Role
- E! True Hollywood Story
  Himself (1998, and other archival)
  - S 9: Ep 36 John Ritter
    4/24/05
- Coming Attractions
  Guest Star
  - S 5: Ep 19 The Manchurian Candidate; Danny Deckchair; Bad Santa; The Princess Diaries 2
    6/24/04
- King of The Hill
  Eugene Grandy
  - S 8: Ep 19 Stressed For Success
    5/2/04
  - S 7: Ep 23 The Witches of East Arlen
    5/18/03
  - S 5: Ep 7 What Makes Bobby Run?
    12/10/00
  - S 2: Ep 8 The Son That Got Away
    11/23/97
- All Access
  Himself (From the TV Land Awards)
  - S 1: Ep 1 All Access: TV Land Awards
    1/28/04
- Stanley
  Great Uncle Stew
  - S 3: Ep 1 Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (1)
    1/10/04
  - S 3: Ep 3 Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (3)
  - S 3: Ep 2 Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (2)
- The Hollywood Squares
  Himself
  - S 6: Ep 16 September 29 - October 3, 2003 - Monday
    9/29/03
- Anderson Cooper 360°
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 5 Friday, September 12, 2003
    9/12/03
- Jimmy Kimmel Live
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 44 John Ritter & Mo Rocca
    4/21/03
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  Guest
  - S 10: Ep 83 Dana Carvey, John Ritter, Ted Nugent
    2/26/03
- The View
  Himself
  - S 6: Ep 112 February 18, 2003
    2/18/03
  - S 6: Ep 9 September 16, 2002
    9/16/02
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
  Himself
  - S 5: Ep 127 John Ritter, Maria Menounos, and Johnny Marr and the Healers
    2/10/03
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 22 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade (2002)
    12/25/02
- Biography
  Himself
  - S 16: Ep 91 John Ritter: In Good Company
    10/30/02
  - S 14: Ep 28 Don Knotts
    11/9/00
  - S 1: Ep 27 Henry Winkler
    6/19/00
- MadTV
  Himself
  - S 8: Ep 3 Episode #803
    9/28/02
- The Primetime Emmy Awards
  Himself
  - S 54: Ep 1 The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
    9/22/02
- Live! with Kelly
  Himself
  - S 15: Ep 3633 September 17, 2002
    9/17/02
  - S 14: Ep 3429 July 15, 2002
    7/15/02
  - S 13: Ep 3175 John Ritter 18, 2000
    12/18/00
  - S 6: Ep 135 March 23, 1994
    3/23/94
- Breaking News
  Lloyd Fuchs
  - S 1: Ep 1 Pilot
    7/17/02
- The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  Guest
  - S 7: Ep 5 John Ritter
    7/15/02
- TVography
  Himself
  - S 2: Ep 2 Suzanne Somers: Mastering Success
    6/24/02
- Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 2 The Art of Groveling
    4/3/02
- E! True Hollywood Story
  Himself (Archived)
  - S 6: Ep 19 Suzanne Somers
    3/17/02
- Good Day Live
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 120 March 4th 2002
    3/4/02
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
  Guest (cameo)
  - S 10: Ep 153 Show #2219
    3/1/02
  - S 10: Ep 125 Show #2191
    1/1/02
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  Dr. Richard Manning
  - S 3: Ep 11 Monogamy
    1/4/02
- Rank
  Himself (Archived)
  - S 1: Ep 8 Sitcoms We Secretly Love
    12/12/01
- Nature
  Narrator
  - S 20: Ep 10 Dogs: The Early Years
    11/11/01
- Live! with Kelly
  Guest Co-Host
  - S 13: Ep 3179 April 16, 2001
    4/16/01
- Tucker
  Marty
  - S 1: Ep 6 Homewrecker for the Holidays
    3/6/01
- TV Funhouse
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 8 Chinese New Year's Day
    1/24/01
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show
  Himself
  - S 5: Ep 28 Show #840
    10/12/00
  - S 4: Ep 26 Show #650
    10/13/99
- Family Law
  Father Andrews
  - S 1: Ep 23 Possession is Nine Tenths of the Law
    5/8/00
- Batman Beyond
  Dr. David Wheeler
  - S 2: Ep 16 The Last Resort
    3/4/00
- Chicago Hope
  Joe Dysmerski
  - S 6: Ep 16 Simon Sez
    2/24/00
- E! True Hollywood Story
  Himself
  - S 4: Ep 3 Dorothy Stratten
    1/16/00
  - S 2: Ep 39 Three's Company
    12/27/98
- Intimate Portrait
  Narrator
  - S 6: Ep 7 Rue McClanahan
    1/1/00
- Intimate Portrait
  Himself
  - S 6: Ep 21 Joanna Kerns
    1/1/00
- Touched By an Angel
  Sheriff Tom McKinsley
  - S 5: Ep 23 Black Like Monica
    5/2/99
- Veronica's Closet
  Tim
  - S 2: Ep 15 Veronica's Favorite Year
    2/18/99
- Ally McBeal
  George Madison
  - S 2: Ep 5 Story of Love
    10/26/98
  - S 2: Ep 4 It's My Party
    10/19/98
- Over the Top
  Justin Talbot
  - S 1: Ep 3 The Nemesis
    11/4/97
- Ordinary/Extraordinary
  Host
  - — Pilot
    5/2/97
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  Ted
- Dead Man's Gun
  Mcdonacle
  - S 1: Ep 1 The Great Mcdonacle
    3/2/97
- Touched By an Angel
  Mike O'Connor
  - S 3: Ep 3 Random Acts
    9/22/96
- Wings
  Stuart Davenport
  - S 7: Ep 25 Love Overboard
    5/14/96
- NewsRadio
  Dr. Frank Westford
  - S 2: Ep 5 The Shrink
    11/7/95
- Dave's World
  Himself
  - S 2: Ep 19 The Accidental Tourists
    2/20/95
  - S 2: Ep 3 A Room With a View
    9/26/94
- The Larry Sanders Show
  Himself
  - S 3: Ep 14 The Fourteenth Floor
    9/21/94
  - S 2: Ep 16 Off Camera
    9/15/93
- The Bob Hope Show
  Himself
  - S 44: Ep 2 Bob Hope's Birthday Memories
    5/11/94
  - S 34: Ep 8 Bob Hope's Super Birthday Special
    5/28/84
- Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
  Himself
  - S 3: Ep 60 The Malice in Malta
    12/17/93
  - S 3: Ep 31 Unfair Exchange (a.k.a.) Stock Shock
    11/8/93
- The Primetime Emmy Awards
  Himself - Presenter
  - S 44: Ep 1 The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
    8/30/92
- Good Morning America
  Himself
  - S 18: Ep 159 August 13, 1992
    8/13/92
- Problem Child
  Ben Healy
  - S 2: Ep 2 Problem Child 2
    7/3/91
  - S 2: Ep 1 Problem Child
    7/27/90
- The Cosby Show
  Ray Evans
  - S 7: Ep 16 Total Control
    1/31/91
- The Joan Rivers Show
  Himself
  - S 2: Ep 47 November 15, 1990
    11/15/90
- People's Choice Awards
  Himself
  - S 15: Ep 1 The 15th Annual People's Choice Awards
    8/23/89
- People's Choice Awards
  Himself - Presenter
  - S 13: Ep 1 The 13th Annual People's Choice Awards
    3/15/87
- Life with Lucy
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 2 Lucy Makes a Hit with John Ritter
    9/27/86
- The Love Boat
  Guest Star
  - S 7: Ep 8 Japan Cruise: When Worlds Collide/The Captain and the Geisha/The Lottery Winners/The Emperor's Fortune (2)
    11/5/83
  - S 7: Ep 7 Japan Cruise: When Worlds Collide/The Captain and the Geisha/The Lottery Winners/The Emperor's Fortune (1)
    11/5/83
- Insight
  Frankie
  - S 22: Ep 11 Little Miseries
    11/15/81
- The Associates (1979)
  Chick [Me]
  - S 1: Ep 9 The Censors
    4/10/80
- Dinah!
  Himself
  - S 6: Ep 104 February 13, 1980
    2/13/80
  - S 5: Ep 48 November 17, 1978
    11/17/78
  - S 4: Ep 153 May 3, 1978
    5/3/78
  - S 4: Ep 110 February 22, 1978
    2/22/78
  - S 4: Ep 105 February 15, 1978
    2/15/78
  - + 6 More Credits
- The Mike Douglas Show
  Himself/Co-host
  - S 18: Ep 87 January 18, 1980
    1/18/80
  - S 16: Ep 105 February 15, 1978
    2/15/78
- The Ropers
  Jack Tripper
  - S 2: Ep 1 The Party
    9/15/79
- The Mike Douglas Show
  Himself
  - S 17: Ep 49 Week of November 27, 1978
    11/27/78
  - S 15: Ep 233 August 18, 1977
    8/18/77
- Hee-Haw
  Himself
  - S 11: Ep 4 Oak Ridge Boys / Bobby Goldsboro / John Ritter
    10/7/78
- The Merv Griffin Show
  Himself
  - S 15: Ep 173 May 16, 1978
    5/16/78
  - S 15: Ep 22 October 4, 1977
    10/4/77
  - S 14: Ep 231 August 26, 1977
    8/26/77
- Tattletales
  Himself
  - S 5: Ep 12 November 21, 1977
    11/21/77
  - S 5: Ep 2 September 13, 1977
    9/13/77
- The Hollywood Squares (1966)
  Himself
  - S 12: Ep 12 October 17-21, 1977 (NBC-TV)
    10/17/77
  - S 12: Ep 6 September 26-30, 1977 (NBC-TV)
    9/26/77
  - S 11: Ep 83 July 11-15, 1977 (NBC-TV)
    7/11/77
  - S 11: Ep 77 June 6-10, 1977 (NBC-TV)
    6/6/77
- The Love Boat
  Dale Riley
  - S 1: Ep 2 Oh, Dale!
    10/1/77
- Hawaii Five-O
  Mike Welles
  - S 9: Ep 17 Dealer's Choice -- Blackmail
    2/3/77
- Phyllis
  Paul Jameson
  - S 2: Ep 1 The New Job
    9/20/76
- Rhoda
  Jerry Blocker
  - S 2: Ep 17 Attack on Mr. Right
    1/12/76
- Doc (1975)
  Jeff
  - S 1: Ep 17 A Little Bit of Soap
    1/10/76
- Starsky And Hutch
  Tom Cole
  - S 1: Ep 15 The Hostages
    1/7/76
- The Rookies (1972)
  Hap Dawson
  - S 4: Ep 12 Reluctant Hero
    11/25/75
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  Rev. Chatfield
  - S 6: Ep 9 Ted's Wedding
    11/8/75
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
  Johnny Steiner
  - S 4: Ep 7 Murder by Proxy
    10/23/75
- Barnaby Jones
  Joe Rockwell
  - S 4: Ep 4 The Price of Terror
    10/10/75
- Petrocelli
  John Oleson
  - S 2: Ep 5 Chain of Command
    10/8/75
- The Bob Crane Show
  Hornbeck
  - S 1: Ep 14 The Son of Campus Capers
    6/12/75
- Mannix
  Cliff
  - S 8: Ep 24 Hardball
    4/13/75
- Rhoda
  Vince Mazuma
  - S 1: Ep 21 Chest Pains
    2/3/75
- Movin' On
  Casey Crawford
  - S 1: Ep 16 Landslide
    1/16/75
- The Bob Newhart Show
  Dave
  - S 3: Ep 5 Sorry, Wrong Mother
    10/12/74
- Owen Marshall, Counselor At Law
  Greg
  - S 3: Ep 21 To Keep and Bear Arms
    3/23/74
- Kojak
  Kenny Soames
  - S 1: Ep 15 Deliver Us Some Evil
    2/13/74
- M*A*S*H
  Pt. Carter
  - S 2: Ep 13 Deal Me Out
    12/8/73
- Medical Center
  Ronnie
  - S 4: Ep 18 End of the Line
    1/24/73
- Hawaii Five-O
  Ryan Moore
  - S 4: Ep 5 Two Doves and Mr. Heron
    10/12/71
- Dan August
  Guest Star
  - S 1: Ep 13 Quadrangle For Death
    12/16/70
- Before They Were Stars
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 3 103
- Pryor's Place
  Guest Star
  - S 1: Ep 10 The Show Off
- Celebrity Profile
  Himself
  - — Jamie Lee Curtis
- ET In TV Land
  Himself
  - — Three's Company: Three's A Crowd
- Headliners and Legends
  Himself
  - — Calista Flockhart
  - — Don Knotts
- The Ellen Show
  Percy Moss
  - S 1: Ep 16 Gathering Moss
Cameo (1)

Role
- Scrubs
  Sam Dorian (uncredited)
  - S 2: Ep 9 My Lucky Day
    12/5/02
Special Guest Star (2)

Role
- Scrubs
  Sam Dorian
  - S 1: Ep 19 My Old Man
    4/9/02
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  Ted
  - S 2: Ep 11 Ted
    12/8/97
Writer (1)

Role
- Three's Company
  Writer
  - S 6: Ep 11 Macho Man
    12/15/81
Executive Producer (1)

Role
- Have Faith
  Executive Producer

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Trivia and Quotes

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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA
- Following John's unexpected death, the name of the TV sitcom in which he had been starring was shortened to 8 Simple Rules (originally known as 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter).
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- Before his death John taped three full episodes of his show 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughters second season.
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- He formed his own production company in 1984 named Adam Productions.
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- John Ritter: I knew when I grew up, I always wanted to be a liar, and if you're in television, you're lying because you're just pretending to be yourself, much like I'm doing now.
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- John Ritter: Me a tv star? I've got to be the luckiest guy in the world!
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- John Ritter: If I found a cure for a huge disease, while I was hobbling up on stage to accept the Nobel Prize, they'd be playing the theme song from Three's Company.
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