We sure love our funnymen. Whether it's laugh crafters like Buster Keaton, Jackie Gleason, Milton Berle, Jerry Seinfeld, or John Ritter, audiences still treasure their work. They are beloved even years after their comedy routines were originally performed. In the case of John Ritter, he died suddenly and tragically at the age of 54.He had an aortic dissection in 2003. His Three's Company co-star, Joyce DeWitt, recently recalled a dinner with Ritter that she almost missed. It turned out to be a last opportunity to get together with the beloved comedian. Per Page Six, the actress, 77, said, "Not knowing that it would be the last time we would hang out together, it was extraordinarily special."
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DeWitt Saw Ritter the Month Before He Passed Away
According to the outlet, by coincidence, she was in New York at the same time as John Ritter. Paparazzi informed her of his presence in the Big Apple. So DeWitt reached out to see if he was interested in getting together. He called her right before she left her hotel room.
DeWitt remembered this. "If he had called one minute later, I would have been out walking to Lincoln Center on my way to a movie." Maybe it was fate, destiny, karma, serendipity, or something else. It seems like the two were meant to have just one more meet-up before Ritter's shocking death. Per Page Six, "They ended up at an Italian restaurant in the Village with Jim Belushi, and enjoyed an unforgettable night." DeWitt still cherishes fond memories of that evening. "We had such a good time. It was dear, and it was precious."
'Three's Company' Aired From 1977 to 1984 on ABC
The popular sitcom depicted a trio of unlikely roommates - Ritter, DeWitt, and Suzanne Somers - and all the amusing scrapes they got into. Somers was eventually let go from the show following a contract dispute. She died in 2023 on the day prior to her 77th birthday. The actress endured a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.
Many other actors and actresses associated with the show have also sadly passed away over the years. They include Don Knotts, Audra Lindley, and Norman Fell.
