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Joyce DeWitt recalls one late summer night in New York that she still calls unforgettable — a chance reunion with John Ritter that, in hindsight, felt almost providential.
A spontaneous reunion in the Village that felt like fate
DeWitt says she was in the city in August 2003 when photographers alerted her that Ritter was also nearby. She placed a call and, just as she was about to step out of her hotel, Ritter rang back. They rearranged plans and met that evening.
Three’s Company star Joyce DeWitt recalls John Ritter’s extra special final night before his death
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The trio landed at an Italian spot in Greenwich Village with Jim Belushi. DeWitt describes the hour as warm and full of laughter. She remembers the night as particularly precious, knowing later that it would be their last time together.
How the actor’s sudden death unfolded
Less than a month after that dinner, Ritter fell ill while rehearsing his sitcom 8 Simple Rules. He experienced chest pain and severe nausea and was taken to a hospital.
Doctors initially suspected a heart attack. Tests and treatment followed, but medical teams later determined he had suffered an aortic dissection. Ritter died that night at age 54.
Three’s Company: why the sitcom still resonates
DeWitt, Ritter and Suzanne Somers formed the central trio of Three’s Company, a sitcom that ran from 1977 to 1984. The show centered on three single roommates and relied on misunderstandings, romantic mix-ups and comic innuendo.
DeWitt compares the program to a modern take on classic farce. She praises its use of suggestion rather than bluntness. Her view: laughter about awkward subjects helps people feel closer and more at ease.
Quick facts about the series
- Original run: 1977–1984.
- Core trio: Joyce DeWitt, John Ritter, Suzanne Somers.
- Style: farce, misunderstanding-driven comedy, sexual innuendo.
Upcoming 50th-anniversary tribute and how it will help a cause
On Nov. 2, Joyce DeWitt and John Ritter’s widow, Amy Yasbeck, will co-host a 50th-anniversary celebration for Three’s Company at Joe’s Pub in New York City.
The evening will include a celebrity reading featuring names from stage and screen. Performers scheduled include:
- Jason Biggs
- Christine Taylor
- Richard Kind
- Susie Essman
- Richard Kline
Proceeds will benefit the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health. The foundation focuses on awareness and education about aortic dissection, the condition that took Ritter’s life.
