John Ritter

Never, ever in my wildest flights of fancy
would I have believed it
had I been told 
that John Ritter 
would be outlived
by Don Knotts.

-The Other Carole

New grave picture and death certificate, Sept 04

Talk about a lucky man. I mean, for an actor to be in a hit show like Three's Company in the 70’s – do a few other shows that flopped, and end up in another hit show, 8 Simple Rules… yeah. He was a lucky one. Of course, he was in The Waltons, and a favorite movie of mine which I would love to see again, Americathon. OH! And IT! The Stephen King miniseries which I loved. Beep Beep Richey!  See his complete credits here.

John Ritter was fine. He was okay. Just. Not brilliant. I got a lot of flack about that remark, to which friend of Findadeath.com Ada commented, “I'd have to agree, John Ritter was apparently a nice guy, but heavens to Betsy! He was on Three's Company! Enough, already!” The media does tend to go overboard a bit. Those special “goodbye” shows were terrible. Certainly a surprise that he died so young, but please.

I did remember that John was mentioned in that Hollywood Hooker book, You’ll Never Make Love in This Town Again, and I assumed that he saw hookers. I was wrong. In his chapter in the book, the hose bag named Tiffany that wrote the story says she met John in an airport. They chatted, then got together the next day. Within 30 minutes they were both nude, and continued to do the nasty for over 9 hours. She called him “unrelenting” and a “jackhammer.” He also had, according to her, a “beautifully shaped six-shooter.” Ew. They got together another couple of times, but she seemed more angry at the fact that John never asked her about herself, and wondered why she lived in such a shitty neighborhood. Heh. Whore.

Anyway, John was working on the set of his show 8 Simple Rules. Second season. Thursday September 11th (Oh NO. Not ANOTHER tragedy on that day.) They filmed on the Disney lot, where I had lunch recently with my friend Crystal. Crystal took me to places I never dreamed possible. We toured the Disney prop department, which was like every attic you wish you found when you were a kid. I found Madonna’s casket and portrait from Evita. I also found a few caskets that I assume are from the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie. I can’t wait for that. I hope Disney doesn’t fuck it up. Such a great idea, and with Don Knotts, almost a sure thing. We also passed this cool Disney administration building, where we ran into Rob Schneider.  Didn't talk to him, mind you.  Just noticed, whispered to each other, and went on.  We also found Cubby's old mouseketeer costume.

September 11th was also John’s daughter’s 5th birthday. From my sources, this is where John lived, in Brentwood.  Splain the sign on the gate.  Findadeath.com friend Edward clarifies, "The sign on the gate of his house says PACE (that's Italian for peace)." Lovely house, with a cute little mailbox.  Findadeath.com friend Rick goes even further:  during the demonstrations against the Iraq war earlier this year the most prominent flag in Austria (as in neighboring Italy, Germany etc.) was the rainbow peace flag with the inscription PACE, of Italian origin.

Monday, October 6, Findadeath.com friend Tom sent in a correction.  The house pictured above is Ritter's OLD house, this is the new one, just a stone's throw from Lillibet Montgomery's house, in Benedict Canyon.  So, John really left from THIS house, probably from this driveway, and passing by this mailbox.  Thanks Tom!

He went to work, and they were on the soundstage with Henry Winkler, who was appearing on the show. Around 4:30, John seemed uneasy and went to his dressing room. Katey Sagal thought it was food poisoning. He was sweating and vomiting. Ritter was probably taken out this door, off the lot, to St. Josephs hospital emergency, just across the road. Did you know that Disney has their own ambulance and fire department?  I suppose most studios probably do.  As he was leaving, he gave his colleagues the thumbs up. He seemed to be in good spirits, considering he was sweating and vomiting. He went into surgery later that evening, and died on the operating room table, just after 10pm. He was only 54 years old, due to be 55 in six days. Weird thing, his wife’s birthday is September 12, and their wedding anniversary is the 18th.  Bad month for the Ritter household.

John’s condition was called an aortic dissection. It is a break in the main artery that carries blood from the heart. The lining of the aorta tears, separating the middle layer of the vessel wall from the still intact outer layer.

The next day, the cast of the show got together for a love fest, to grieve their dead co-star (and no doubt talk about how scared shitless they were about their jobs). The studio decided to write John’s death into the show (think of the ratings!) and we’ll see what happens. Don’t hold your breath for season 3. While we were there, we noticed this empty parking space, next to the stage. How poignant.  

On that same day, the head of Disney, Michael Eisner, sent this email out to all Disney staff:

Subject: John Ritter 
09/12/2003 - 

Dear Fellow Cast Member: 

All of us at The Walt Disney Company are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our dear friend and colleague John Ritter, and our prayers go out to his wife and children. 
Throughout his life and career, John shared his unique sense of humor, warm heart, and generous spirit of humanity with all of us. Just three weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending some time with John and his 8 Simple Rules cast-mates while we taped a holiday spot for Toys for Tots. Even though we were working on one of their much-deserved days off, John's enthusiasm and energy was as infectious as ever. 
He will always be remembered most as a man who made us laugh, and often times, a man who used comedy to teach us something about ourselves and those around us. John will be greatly missed. 

Michael

The country went into a tiz.  Disney put a banner on the sign hanging on the Disney lot.  Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood ordered flowers for John's star on the walk of fame.  It looked like Diana died again. Groan.

He had a private funeral on Monday the 15th, at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills (and I am sure they were salivating at the thought of having yet another immortal in their soil), and a memorial service for the public is being planned. My buddy Harry found his grave, and sent me this picture. Thanks Harry.

September 2004:  Findadeath.com friend Mama Bear sends us this:  I know you don't feel the same way that I do about John Ritter : ), but I stopped by his grave and paid my respects this weekend of his one year anniversary. Someone had left an "8 Simple Rules, Season One", hat for him and there were also flowers and notes. I took a few pictures incase you wanted to post them.

Updates: 

Dear Scott:

Most days I don't mind some of your rants, but about John Ritter, boy are you wrong!

More than just doing good work on a couple of shows, he lit up the screen first on The Waltons, then Three's Company (which I saw a taping of during its first season, he was as nice to people as they say!), then Hooperman, then a string of excellent TV movies, guest shots (the would-be stepfather from hell on Buffy, etc.) and of course, 8 Simple Rules.

What unnerves most people is that he was relatively so young and giving of himself to every charity that needed him. All the what ifs about his getting sick and dying so fast, and the fact that what killed him could happen to anyone, that's why so many are so distraught.

I'm sorry you don't get it, but maybe if you go back and just watch at least one of his "Hollywood Squares", you will.

By the way, I miss Johnny Cash too. Sincerely,
Julie T. Byer