Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter was an American actor and comedian, best known for his television roles as Jack Tripper on the ABC sitcom Three's Company and as Paul Hennessy on the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. He was also well-known for voicing the titular protagonist of the PBS Kids animated series Clifford the Big Red Dog and Clifford's Really Big Movie. Additionally, Ritter appeared in the horror film It as the adult version of Ben Hanscom.
For Disney, he portrayed Roger in The Barefoot Executive (his film debut). He also appeared in some television specials in the 1980s, including guest-starring on Donald Duck's 50th Birthday in 1984, playing Dudley Goode in Mickey's 60th Birthday, and hosting Disney's Living Seas in 1986. Additionally, he played Vaughan Cunningham in Sling Blade and Bob Chipeska in Bad Santa (the latter of which was dedicated to him). He also voiced Great Uncle Stew in the Playhouse Disney film Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up. The latter was his final film and it was dedicated to him.
He was also the son of Tex Ritter and the father of actors Jason Ritter, Tyler Ritter, and singer Carly Ritter.
On September 11, 2003, Ritter felt ill while rehearsing scenes for the second season of 8 Simple Rules. He was sweating profusely and vomiting and complained of having chest pains and was rushed to the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (the same hospital he was born in). Doctors believed Ritter suffered a heart attack, but it turned out it was actually an aortic dissection and he died that evening during the surgery. He was 54 years old, 6 days shy of his 55th birthday.
Disney Roles
(Disney's Living Seas)
(8 Simple Rules)
Trivia
- Shortly after Ritter's death, Amy Yasbeck founded the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health in honor of him and to give other people life-saving reminders to recognize, treat, and prevent thoracic aortic dissection.
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