Joyce DeWitt Remembers Late “Three’s Company” Co-Star John Ritter 40 Years After Finale

When Three’s Company premiered in 1977, having two women and a man share an apartment was quite controversial. Jack Tripper, Janet Wood, and Chrissy Snow, played by John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, and Suzanne Somers, had to come up with an outlandish story making Jack gay just so their landlord, Mr. Furley, played by Don Knotts, would let them stay.

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The show was a hit and aired for eight seasons on ABC. Joyce is the only original roommate still living. Suzanne died in 2023 at age 76 from breast cancer. John, known for his hilarious line delivery and unparalleled penchant for physical comedy, tragically, passed away unexpectedly at age 54 in 2003. Their former co-star, Joyce, shared sweet memories with US Weekly to celebrate the finale’s 40th anniversary.

Joyce Dewitt told the news outlet she loved being a part of such an important piece of television history.

“The most dear, precious, tender — and utterly unexpected — experiences that have come from working in Three’s Company are the many, many adults who have told me that Three’s Company was a safe haven they could count on during their teen years — for some, the only safe haven,” she said.

Joyce added that John, in particular, was special. “I think I would not be chastised by my friends and fellow cast members in speaking for all of us in saying that working with John was a gift,” she said. “An adventure and a gift, a true gift.”

She remembered Three’s Company for its ability to let people have an important escape. “It was a ‘time out’ from the oppressive, challenging, difficult circumstances they were navigating in their young lives,” Joyce Dewitt recalled. “And, oh, by the way, they say the characters also did stupid, crazy stuff that made them laugh. But it was the love, trust, and support of the characters, one to the other, that made them lifelong fans.”

This story’s featured image is by ABC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images.