John Ritter, a gifted comic actor of both television and film, best known for his portrayal of Jack Tripper on the '70s hit television comedy Three's Company, died from a heart attack on September 11 at a hospital in Burbank, California. He was 54.

The son of a legendary country singer Tex Ritter, and actress Dorothy Fay, John Ritter was born in Burbank, California, on September 17, 1948. He majored in drama at the University of Southern California and after graduation in 1971, found work almost immediately on television with some appearances on such popular comedies as M*A*S*H*, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He even scored a regular role (albeit briefly) on The Waltons portraying the boyish Reverend Matthew Fordwick.

Ritter would eventually find fame in role of Jack Tripper in the racy sitcom, Three's Company (1977-1984). Although the premise - an amiably goofy bachelor who pretends to be gay in order to live with two female roommates - was deemed too silly and juvenile by some critics, there was no denying that Ritter's engaging personality and superb farcical grace was a considerable factor to the show's long-running success.

After Three's Company was over, Ritter pursued a film career in earnest with a string of lowbrow, but pleasing comedies: Blake Edward's Skin Deep (1989), Dennis Dugan's Problem Child (1990), and Peter Bognovich's Noises Off... (1992). It wasn't until Billy Bob Thorton cast him in his dark, brooding comedy Sling Blade (1996) that his film roles become more varied and interesting. Ritter's next few films: Ronny Yu's cult horror film Bride of Chucky (1998); Gary Winick's bittersweet coming-of-age comedy Tadpole (2002), and the new feature Manhood (2003), all proved that he was a capable actor in any genre. At the time of his untimely death, Ritter was the star of ABC's successful comedy 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, and was the voice of Clifford in PBS' popular animated series Clifford the Big Red Dog. He is survived by his wife, actress Amy Yasbeck and four children, Jason, Carly, Tyler, and Stella.

by Michael T. Toole