rip john ritter

[hoey222]

oy oy - -


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/aptv_story.asp?category=1401&slug=Obit%20Ritter



jeebus - they say these things happen in 3's......

[baggio248]

:( R.I.P. Very scary, and random.

[johnnymk]

Definitely one of my all time favorite actors. He was a gem!

[Freelance Superhero]

wow... that's shocking...

on a side note, i thought he publicly came out and admitted he was gay, no? i didn't know he had a family...

[slaus]

Seems weird that somebody so energetic would just die all of the sudden. I wonder what are they going to do about his show.

[Merlin]

Actualy he had quite the reputation for being a womanizer. Not quite on the Scott Baio level but close.

[ski]

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kedooley/images/journal/forum.gif

just wow...

[ski]

I used to watch Buffy when it first came on, and I'll never forget the episode where he played a robot-man who was very abusive to women… I had a hard time shaking that image, but I came to like 8 Simple Rules (we'd all watch it for the blonde chick who played his daughter on the show :P)

[mojo]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=496&e=2&u=/ap/20030912/ap_on_en_tv/obit_ritter


TV Star John Ritter Dies of Heart Problem
4 minutes ago

By RYAN PEARSON, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - John Ritter (news), whose portrayal of the bumbling but lovable Jack Tripper helped make the madcap comedy series "Three's Company" a smash hit in the 1970s, died of a heart problem after falling ill on the set of his new television sit-com. He was 54.

Ritter became ill Thursday while working on ABC's "8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My Teenage Daughter," the hit show that became the actor's big television comeback, said Susan Wilcox, his assistant of 22 years.

The cause of his death was a dissection of the aorta, the result of an unrecognized flaw in his heart, said his publicist, Lisa Kasteler. He died at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday.


Ritter, a Southern California native who would have turned 55 on Wednesday, came to prominence for his role in "Three's Company" and had appeared in more than 25 television movies, a number of films and on Broadway.


He made his successful return to sitcom acting last year with "8 Simple Rules" last year. The show was scheduled to begin its second season Sept. 23.


At the Burbank hospital where he died, Ritter was accompanied by producers and co-workers, his wife, Amy Yasbeck (news), and 23-year-old son Jason, Wilcox said. He is survived by three other children.


"It's just stunning, unbelievable," said Wilcox. "Everybody loved John Ritter. Everybody loved working with him. ... Whatever set he was working on, he made it a very fun place."


ABC released a statement saying: "All of us at ABC, Touchstone Television and The Walt Disney Company are shocked and heartbroken at the terrible news of John's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children at this very difficult time."


Ritter was the youngest son of Western film star and country musician Tex Ritter (news) and actress Dorothy Fay. He graduated from Hollywood High School and earned a degree in drama from the University of Southern California.


"I was the class clown, but I was also student body president in high school," he told The Associated Press in a 1992 interview. "I had my serious side — I idolized Bobby Kennedy, he was my role model. But so was Jerry Lewis (news)."


Ritter's first steady job was his role as a minister in television's "The Waltons."


With "Three's Company," his career took off. His performances included 1996's Oscar-winning drama "Sling Blade" and a Broadway run in Neil Simon's "The Dinner Party." He received an Emmy and other awards for his "Three's Company" role and was honored by the Los Angeles Music Center in June with a lifetime achievement award.


"Three's Company," about a bachelor sharing an apartment with two attractive women, Suzanne Somers (news) and Joyce DeWitt (news), was considered racy during its run from 1977 to 1984. And Ritter worried about falling into a typecasting trap after the show ended.


"I would get scripts about 'a young swinging bachelor on the make,' and I said 'No, I've done that,'" he told the AP in the 1992 interview. "Or they'd say, 'You're living alone and ...'


"What I was looking for in my time off was something a little bit different, a little serious, or funny in a different way."


Ritter described his time on the show as "an education" in quick-study acting.


"When the curtain went up, no matter how long you've studied or haven't studied at all, you had to answer to the audience. We didn't do retakes. If there was a (microphone) boom in the shot, so be it," he said.


Ritter later starred in the television series "Hooperman" and the early 1990s political comedy "Hearts Afire." He received two Emmy nominations for his PBS role as the voice of "Clifford the Big Red Dog" on the animated series.

His TV movie appearances included "Unnatural Causes," Stephen King's "It" and "Chance of a Lifetime."

Ritter won popularity among independent film directors in recent years and appeared in films including "Sling Blade" in 1996 and "Tadpole" in 2002, as well as the new feature "Manhood." He appears alongside Billy Bob Thornton (news) in the scheduled November release from Miramax "Bad Santa."

He was married from 1977 to 1996 to Nancy Morgan, the mother of his three oldest children, Jason, Carly and Tyler. He married actress Yasbeck in 1999, the mother of Stella.

[nickel]

man, you never know when your time is up...
or for whom the bell tolls.

[xsiled2]

:( wasnt he on conan like a month ago :(, he was really funny to...

[Jenny]

I am stunned. Just having trouble processing this one. I loved Three's Company and I love 8 Simple Rules... What in the world is that show going to do now??

And ouch, what a way to die. :(

[Kevster]

I was very impressed with his movie work - particularly in Sling Blade. I feel for his family and friends - he was too young to leave us yet. I hate to have to say this again, but Rest in Peace John - you will be missed.

[ski]

Big thread over in Entertainment & Sports forum:
http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=65944

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kedooley/images/journal/forum.gif

too many for one day...

[Renski]

sad day in Hollywood... RIP John Ritter

[bella]

Originally posted by skiAtomic
Big thread over in Entertainment & Sports forum:
http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=65944

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kedooley/images/journal/forum.gif

too many for one day...

Oh my Lordie... Three's Company was my all time fave show (still is)
I can't believe all three died today.... This is CRAZY!!
Rest in Peace........:bawl: :bawl: :bawl:

[Joshua]

:disa:

[coleslaw]

Originally posted by DarkFury

Aside from "3s Company", for me he'll always be remembered for the movie "Stay Tuned"... which was pretty dayuum funny

I was actually just watching a few minutes of Three's Company last night... What a morbid feeling now...

I will always remember him for the Problem Child movies. :P

[RoniMan]

:bawl: i used to love three's company

come and knock on our door,
we've been waiting for you...
(wow, it's really kinda choking me up)

[Jihforce]

I feel bad for Ritter...still remember him from 3's company. Its sad to see restarted his career and again and bam...dead.

[TofuNinja]

Originally posted by Jenny
I am stunned. Just having trouble processing this one. I loved Three's Company and I love 8 Simple Rules... What in the world is that show going to do now??

And ouch, what a way to die. :(

Me too....Mr. Cash was older and his health was questionable. However John Ritter was a shock. When I was heading to Lee's Sandwiches with my girlfriend we were both stunned silent. The World really lost a quality guy in John Ritter. And Johnny Cash for that matter.

[ufcrusher]

For those of us who were alive and cognisant in the 70's and loved watching the first airings of Three's company this is quite a shock...makes me feel old.

I will always think of him as Jack Tripper and I will never ever forget that scene in "Skin Deep". - Those of you who have seen the movie know what I am talking about!

[CynJon]

Originally posted by ufcrusher
I will never ever forget that scene in "Skin Deep". - Those of you who have seen the movie know what I am talking about!

I was just going to post that---:D Glow-in-the-dark sword fight...:heh: