Jonathan Southworth Ritter was born on September 17, 1948, in Burbank, California, to legendary country singer/actor Tex Ritter and actress Dorothy Fay. He was the son of a famous parent, and his first appearance on TV was in 1966 as a contestant on The Dating Game. He later changed his major to Theater Arts, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama.
After graduating, Ritter appeared in a series of stage plays in England, Scotland, Holland, and Germany between 1968 and 1969. His TV debut came playing a campus revolutionary on Dan August in 1970. He then appeared as "Reverend Matthew Fordwick" on The Waltons in 1972.
Ritter's breakthrough role came when he starred as "Jack Tripper" in the popular sitcom Three's Company, which debuted in 1976. The show became a ratings hit and ran for eight seasons. During this time, Ritter also appeared in several films, including Nickelodeon, Breakfast in Bed, and Americathon.
In the 1980s, Ritter continued to work in television, starring in the sitcom Hooperman from 1987 to 1989. He also appeared in several films, including Skin Deep, Problem Child, and Problem Child 2. In the 1990s, Ritter starred in the sitcom Hearts Afire and appeared in several films, including Sling Blade and Stay Tuned.
In the 2000s, Ritter starred in the sitcom 8 Simple Rules, which ran for three seasons. He also appeared in several films, including Manhood and Bad Santa. Ritter died on September 11, 2003, at the age of 54, due to an aortic dissection.
