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AICN Remembers John Ritter

Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...

Wow. Back to back this morning. I heard this news and then heard about Johnny Cash within minutes. One of the people in our chat room was particularly shocked by the news about THREE’S COMPANY star John Ritter, and he asked me if he could write up a quick remembrance of the actor. Here it is for you:

John Ritter was my cousin. He was also my hero. I am writing this only hours after I heard about his death, so forgive me if it's a little disjointed. I thought this would make me feel better. Thank you to Moriarty for posting this. John was raised by father and country legend Tex Ritter, best known for penning the Academy-Award winning theme for "High Noon," and his mother Dorothy, an actress. Raised around his father's television show and film career, John always had a bug for performing. As a young man, he was good-looking, gregarious and well liked, even serving as class president in high school. He studied acting at USC, and impressed his teachers with his ability to shift between weighty dramatic acting and light comedic fair. His biggest talent was perhaps his control of his physical comedy, but he was so strong in other areas that he would eventually be part of many different genres in his career. His notable early roles included a bit part in the Kurt Russell Disney movie Barefoot Executive, and a recurring role on "The Waltons" as Rev. Matthew Fordwick. His most iconic role however was of course that of Jack Tripper on "Three's Company," which debuted in 1977. The show was a misfire with critics, but gained huge popularity thanks to John's physical comedy (and what John called "the jiggle factor"). He performed many a pratfall and couch trip, and in one famous incident, had a viewer notice that his testicle was hanging out briefly during a shot with particularly short shorts. (His response to the offending shot being removed from reruns was classic John: "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't.") The show lasted for eight seasons, and on the show's finale, John had a dream come true when comedic legend Lucille Ball hosted a retrospective strictly because of how much she admired John's work. She noted that John's goal was not to make someone laugh, but to make them fall out of their seat laughing. John moved onto film work, at first contrasting his TV comedic stylings for more dramatic fare. He returned to outrageous physical comedy in the Blake Edward's gem Skin Deep. Edwards told John he was in Peter Sellers’s league as far as using his body for broad shtick, something John took much joy in. He poured his blood and sweat into the movie, even breaking his shoulder during the scene where he is hit by a wall of rushing water, after insisting on doing his own stunt. The following year, he had his biggest commercial success with the first Problem Child film. John also was instrumental in doing telethons for cerebral palsy, a disease his brother Tommy suffers from. He stayed up days straight to host, raising lots of money to help understand CP. John was the rare type who truly cared about the causes he put his heart into, a man who was always much more giving than he would ever let on. He never made a big deal out of how charitable he was, but everyone who knew him could only describe him as having a heart of gold. His career got a second wind when he costarred in Sling Blade with buddy Billy Bob Thorton, whom he had starred with in the sitcom "Hearts Afire" in 1992. John's acting in the movie was widely praised, and was a chance for him to go in new directions. He starred in several independents over the next few years, most notably the Sundance hit Tadpole and this year's Manhood. Last year, John starred in the ABC sitcom "8 Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter." The show was one of the only hits of last season, and it marked a return to form for this tried-and-true sitcom actor. On a personal note, John also inspired my direction in life. He hammered comedy classics into my head from a young age, making me sit through flicks like It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World and The Party until I understood their genius. He was so literate in the art of comedy. I'm now an aspiring filmmaker (aren't we all?), and I owe that to John's inspiration. He spoke of how comedy could communicate, and how in a way it was the most fulfilling art form, because it encompassed happiness and tragedy equally, and it was the style which best helped people sleep at night. The times we watched films together hearing nuggets of wisdom like this were among my happiest memories of childhood. He understood what value comedy could have, and he shared his gift with everyone he could. Initial reports this morning indicate he collapsed on the set of his show. While tragic, I cannot think of a better way for a man to go who cared so much about bringing joy to people through entertaining. John leaves behind his wife, his four kids, and an extended group of family and friends who absolutely thought he hung the moon. Thank you, John, for inspiring me to be a better person and to bring joy to those around me. Your spirit was a real treasure. I know you are up there, doing a pratfall at the Pearly Gates, making everybody laugh. (You can call me "Couch Tripper")

I’m sure at some point today, we’ll pay equal tribute to The Man in Black. For now, I appreciate this contributor’s fond farewell to a very funny guy.

"Moriarty" out.





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Reader Talkback

RIP
by Darth Thoth
Sep 12th, 2003
07:54:53 AM
FIRST!
by yorockybalboa
Sep 12th, 2003
07:55:24 AM
we'll miss him
by Cerebud
Sep 12th, 2003
07:56:33 AM
WHAAAAAAAAAAT?????!!!!!!!!!!
by gollum38
Sep 12th, 2003
07:58:01 AM
Stunned
by YankeeMan
Sep 12th, 2003
08:02:07 AM
I'm not really a religious or superstitious person, but...
by vectormatrix
Sep 12th, 2003
08:03:33 AM
Stay Tuned
by KingOfTheFools
Sep 12th, 2003
08:04:06 AM
I hate this year
by Virtual Satyr
Sep 12th, 2003
08:12:04 AM
He wrote his own epitaph
by Lone Wolf
Sep 12th, 2003
08:12:58 AM
A Sad Day
by Karl Childers
Sep 12th, 2003
08:20:12 AM
Damn...
by Spikes Brain
Sep 12th, 2003
08:20:50 AM
Now I can finally date his teenage daughter!
by TJ Smoov
Sep 12th, 2003
08:21:33 AM
Just heard from you guys
by holidill
Sep 12th, 2003
08:24:09 AM
Wow...
by Dru
Sep 12th, 2003
08:32:10 AM
Tough break, man ...
by Itchy
Sep 12th, 2003
08:32:34 AM
Terrible news. We lost two wonderful entertainers in one day.
by Psyclops
Sep 12th, 2003
08:37:16 AM
I honestly remember
by Idetic Amnesiac
Sep 12th, 2003
08:45:06 AM
I pray to God I get an obituary half as moving.
by FrankCobretti
Sep 12th, 2003
08:47:26 AM
May their families be in our prayers
by VincentVega
Sep 12th, 2003
08:50:45 AM
I had a "Hero at Large" poster on my bedroom wall when I was a k
by FrankCobretti
Sep 12th, 2003
08:50:47 AM
Little known stuff
by ChickenGeorgeVII
Sep 12th, 2003
08:51:22 AM
Evryone wear something black today
by VincentVega
Sep 12th, 2003
08:52:02 AM
Harry Goz, veteran voice actor, also died recently. He's possibl
by Andy Travis
Sep 12th, 2003
09:08:18 AM
Wow...
by Daenerys
Sep 12th, 2003
09:08:22 AM
It was not his time.
by NubtheSquirrel
Sep 12th, 2003
09:09:50 AM
my thoughts
by ATARI
Sep 12th, 2003
09:14:13 AM
Death's come in threes...
by rev_skarekroe
Sep 12th, 2003
09:15:43 AM
New found respect for Talkbackers
by Fish Tank
Sep 12th, 2003
09:47:16 AM
Lets not forget that great Buffy episode...
by antnee21
Sep 12th, 2003
09:56:13 AM
This is so upsetting
by 007-11
Sep 12th, 2003
10:30:47 AM
his daughter's birthday
by sabine16
Sep 12th, 2003
11:25:35 AM
his daughter's birthday
by sabine16
Sep 12th, 2003
11:25:57 AM
A Clown Prince
by SoulOnIce
Sep 12th, 2003
11:33:10 AM
john ritter 1948-2003
by feverishkin
Sep 12th, 2003
11:33:34 AM
Hero At Large
by monorail77
Sep 12th, 2003
11:51:57 AM
Don't Forget "Panic"
by jsp2000
Sep 12th, 2003
12:03:07 PM
Very Underrated Actor
by Voice O. Reason
Sep 12th, 2003
12:08:20 PM
This is awful news
by axelfoley
Sep 12th, 2003
12:09:42 PM
Johnny Cash....
by The Tao of Joe
Sep 12th, 2003
12:11:01 PM
I tried.
by radio1_mike
Sep 12th, 2003
12:16:27 PM
Comic Master and Genius
by Edzo!
Sep 12th, 2003
12:18:50 PM
Warren Zevon, also...2Pac...
by Andrew Rausch
Sep 12th, 2003
12:46:10 PM
Charlie Bronson...talkbackers, etc.
by Andrew Rausch
Sep 12th, 2003
12:58:35 PM
Larry Hovis
by greengirl
Sep 12th, 2003
01:22:35 PM
John's Impromptu Improv with Robin Williams
by monorail77
Sep 12th, 2003
01:23:32 PM
God Bless, Mr. Tripper
by DetroitVigilante
Sep 12th, 2003
01:38:09 PM
A comic genius!
by DansLaLuna
Sep 12th, 2003
01:39:54 PM
damn
by newc0253
Sep 12th, 2003
01:44:09 PM
ahhhhh, maaannnn!
by noteboom
Sep 12th, 2003
01:47:23 PM
RIP John Ritter, you will be missed.
by boba_rob
Sep 12th, 2003
01:47:42 PM
Sadness at the Regal Beagle
by godchild511
Sep 12th, 2003
02:05:24 PM
This essay missed one very important fact. John Ritter has NEVE
by Reedster9898
Sep 12th, 2003
02:49:18 PM
Cash didn't surprise anyone, but...
by Lobanhaki
Sep 12th, 2003
03:04:13 PM
the Dreamer Of Oz
by tensticks
Sep 12th, 2003
03:17:42 PM
ABC executives: How to save "8 Simple Rules..."
by Prof. Pop-Cult
Sep 12th, 2003
03:41:30 PM
Hero At Large
by conspiracyagogo
Sep 12th, 2003
03:50:55 PM
John... you will be missed
by Sleestak
Sep 12th, 2003
03:53:31 PM
Horrible way to wake up this morning
by MiserableRainGod
Sep 12th, 2003
04:53:31 PM
Three's Company was hilarious
by jollysleeve
Sep 12th, 2003
05:02:00 PM
This actually depressed me more than Johnny Cash
by MyNameDoesn'tFit
Sep 12th, 2003
05:02:41 PM
He'll be Missed
by sheky
Sep 12th, 2003
05:17:27 PM
one for me, and one for my dead homies
by mr_show
Sep 12th, 2003
05:23:17 PM
Go find Americathon
by Merkin Muffley
Sep 12th, 2003
05:24:34 PM
Am I the only one who liked Real Men?
by hector
Sep 12th, 2003
05:25:47 PM
We'll miss you John!
by NicholasWolfwood
Sep 12th, 2003
05:28:43 PM
I enjoyed another dramatic turn of his in MY BROTHERS WIFE. Good
by StoneMonkey
Sep 12th, 2003
05:34:08 PM
Come and knock on our tomb...
by clintonstain69
Sep 12th, 2003
05:45:08 PM
This one tears me apart
by Vicconius
Sep 12th, 2003
05:58:25 PM
Awful, awful news...
by Captain Decker
Sep 12th, 2003
06:12:55 PM
weird
by THE WALLACE
Sep 12th, 2003
06:17:15 PM
R.I.P
by super Cucaracha
Sep 12th, 2003
06:24:45 PM
rest in peace mr. ritter
by bleighty
Sep 12th, 2003
06:33:36 PM
I remember watching skin deep (1989) (I was 12)
by imageburn13
Sep 12th, 2003
06:37:36 PM
I read the news today... oh, boy... : (
by rootwitch
Sep 12th, 2003
06:56:03 PM
Rest In Peace John Ritter :-(
by kafka07
Sep 12th, 2003
07:01:56 PM
Everyone forgets Stay Tuned
by KCMOSHer
Sep 12th, 2003
07:05:35 PM
Truly an icon.
by mwhelan67
Sep 12th, 2003
07:09:20 PM
Deeply Saddened
by Tigger99
Sep 12th, 2003
07:13:19 PM
R.I.P. John Ritter
by FatherMurphy
Sep 12th, 2003
07:31:42 PM
Goodbye, John
by Phildogger
Sep 12th, 2003
07:47:03 PM
Goodbye
by SuperBMAN
Sep 12th, 2003
07:47:24 PM
I try to fall asleep to Three's Company every night ...
by hktelemacher
Sep 12th, 2003
07:52:10 PM
thank you talkbackers
by Couch-Tripper
Sep 12th, 2003
07:56:20 PM
Thanks for the laughs, John
by Heckles
Sep 12th, 2003
08:12:02 PM
Watching "Bad Santa" now will be very bitter-sweet...
by Fatal Discharge
Sep 12th, 2003
08:16:26 PM
Re: Real Men
by jollysleeve
Sep 12th, 2003
08:30:13 PM
A passing of a great one
by IAM GAWD
Sep 12th, 2003
08:50:22 PM
This is horrible...
by Tenguman
Sep 12th, 2003
09:10:26 PM
Gone too soon
by Turd Cutter
Sep 12th, 2003
09:18:01 PM
Ritter's Walton's Role
by wilbur gray
Sep 12th, 2003
09:19:47 PM
God Speed John
by Turd Cutter
Sep 12th, 2003
09:26:16 PM
This reminds me of John Denver's passing
by Farging Bastige
Sep 12th, 2003
09:47:34 PM
John Ritter???
by ChrisPC24
Sep 12th, 2003
10:19:03 PM
I think God and the Devil should get together and convice Death
by Sith Lord Sauron
Sep 12th, 2003
10:43:24 PM
I say this with the utmost respect... but the man really started
by TheGinger Twit
Sep 12th, 2003
11:24:03 PM
A true personality.......
by JAGUART
Sep 12th, 2003
11:42:23 PM
John
by Pikaroth
Sep 12th, 2003
11:55:47 PM
Does this mean '8 Simple Rules' just Jumped the Shark?
by NFLRefugee
Sep 13th, 2003
12:27:31 AM
From one Ritter family to another..
by TexRitter
Sep 13th, 2003
12:28:08 AM
NY Times article
by Dasher
Sep 13th, 2003
12:37:59 AM
This is devastating...
by Purple Rain
Sep 13th, 2003
12:39:15 AM
John Ritter was one of the good guys.
by Mosquito March
Sep 13th, 2003
12:46:25 AM
The tragic loss of a true class act.
by MrBlutarsky
Sep 13th, 2003
01:04:08 AM

by gaveltogavel
Sep 13th, 2003
01:11:03 AM
This SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Darth Siskel III
Sep 13th, 2003
02:10:24 AM
Funny, it makes me sad
by nemoiam
Sep 13th, 2003
02:41:48 AM
Favorite John Ritter moment....
by Mosquito March
Sep 13th, 2003
03:06:42 AM
He could have been a great serious actor
by chien_sale
Sep 13th, 2003
03:23:10 AM
I was in denial for 6 hours.....
by Archduke_Chocula
Sep 13th, 2003
03:44:12 AM
Ritter on Felicity
by Jangospeck
Sep 13th, 2003
03:51:28 AM
BEG TO DIFFER
by Paul Allen Voiq
Sep 13th, 2003
03:56:29 AM
Can't believe it....
by uosdwiS_r_dewoH
Sep 13th, 2003
04:17:15 AM
That was moving .. the best piece of prose this site has put up
by Silver_Joo
Sep 13th, 2003
09:04:06 AM
Hooperman; Most Underarted Cop Show ever.
by Rex Manning
Sep 13th, 2003
11:15:29 AM
Who I really feel sad for is Billy Bob Thornton
by jrcash
Sep 13th, 2003
12:03:16 PM
Dam
by Exalay
Sep 13th, 2003
01:49:43 PM
Very sad.
by DocPazuzu
Sep 13th, 2003
02:03:40 PM
sadly
by hank quinlan
Sep 13th, 2003
02:57:21 PM
other thoughts
by feverishkin
Sep 13th, 2003
03:34:18 PM
The great John Ritter was to young to die
by DARTH VOODOO
Sep 13th, 2003
06:03:28 PM
Please excuse me while I weep into my pillow.
by Zeldas
Sep 13th, 2003
07:05:20 PM
Mr. Furley outlived Jack?
by BruceLeeRoss
Sep 13th, 2003
08:12:56 PM
Goodbye to one hell of a funny guy.
by manwiththedogs
Sep 13th, 2003
09:14:00 PM
All Revolutions Commericals
by AlwaysThere
Sep 14th, 2003
02:23:52 AM
I AM SO PROUD OF EVERYONE IN TALKBACK
by antonphd
Sep 14th, 2003
01:29:24 PM
More TV work
by TomVee
Sep 14th, 2003
07:07:25 PM
Don't forget "Flight Of Dragons"!
by Redbeard_NV
Sep 14th, 2003
09:48:57 PM
he does leave behind a legacy...
by chubb rock
Sep 15th, 2003
04:36:04 AM
Hero at Large
by qtheeskimo
Sep 15th, 2003
10:54:46 AM
HOOPERMAN!!
by Brody77
Sep 15th, 2003
12:36:02 PM
i'm amazed at this talkback
by McLuvin
Sep 15th, 2003
12:46:27 PM
Sad to Hear About John's Death
by LaurieMann
Sep 15th, 2003
08:15:24 PM
Thanks John...
by farquar
Sep 15th, 2003
09:10:36 PM
I Hope The Ritter Family Can See This
by Rex Manning
Sep 17th, 2003
07:31:38 PM

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