Joyce DeWitt Recalls 'Extraordinarily Special' Final Night with John Ritter
The 'Three's Company' star shared details of a serendipitous meeting with her late co-star weeks before his death.
Joyce DeWitt, known for her role in the classic sitcom "Three's Company," has shared poignant memories of her last evening with co-star John Ritter, which occurred just weeks before his sudden death in 2003. DeWitt described the encounter as "extraordinarily special," highlighting its unexpected nature.
In an exclusive interview, DeWitt recounted how she and Ritter, unaware of each other's presence in New York City, happened to be in the same city in August 2003. She learned of Ritter's visit through paparazzi and reached out to him. Shortly after, Ritter called her back, and they made plans to meet that evening. DeWitt noted the remarkable timing, stating that if Ritter had called even a minute later, she would have already left her hotel and been on her way to an event. "It's like there was divine assistance in allowing us that time together," she remarked.
Their evening together included a dinner at an Italian restaurant in the Village with actor Jim Belushi. DeWitt described the time as "dear, and it was precious."
Ritter died on September 11, 2003, at the age of 54. He experienced chest pains and nausea while rehearsing for his role in the sitcom "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter." He was taken to a hospital, where he was initially treated for a heart attack but later died from an aortic dissection. His passing was a significant loss to the entertainment community.
"Three's Company," which aired from 1977 to 1984, starred DeWitt as Janet Wood, Ritter as Jack Tripper, and Suzanne Somers as Chrissy Snow. The show was celebrated for its comedic misunderstandings and physical humor, often revolving around romantic entanglements and innuendo. DeWitt has previously described the show as a "contemporary version of a 16th-century farce."
Suzanne Somers, DeWitt's "Three's Company" co-star, passed away in 2023 at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer.
On November 2, DeWitt and Ritter's widow, Amy Yasbeck, are scheduled to host a "Three's Company" 50th anniversary celebration at Joe's Pub in New York City. The event will feature a celebrity reading and will benefit the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about aortic dissection.