Joyce DeWitt turns 76, April 23, 2025, she’ll always be Janet Wood from Three’s Company — the sweet, smart and grounded one who somehow managed to keep the apartment (and her two zany roommates) from falling apart every episode.
But while the sitcom made her a household name, there’s a lot more to DeWitt than just the TV classic. From her early days onstage to her unexpected second act, here are five things you may not know about the woman who brought Janet to life:
Long before she attained sitcom stardom, DeWitt was already chasing the spotlight on a smaller scale. She first stepped onstage at the age of 13 and never really looked back. In high school, she competed in speech and debate tournaments through the Indiana High School Forensic Association and even worked in the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Life led her to Ball State University; after she graduated, she performed in summer stock theater until a director she encountered there suggested that she apply to UCLA, where she earned a master’s degree in theater.
The passion never faded, either. Even when she stepped away from TV for a while, she kept returning to her roots and performed live theater whenever she could. If you ask her, that’s always been her first love.
In a twist of fate that feels straight out of a sitcom itself, DeWitt once auditioned to play one of Fonzie’s girlfriends on Happy Days. She didn’t land the part because producers said she looked too young and too short for the role (ironically enough, Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie, is only 5’6″ while DeWitt is 5’4″!), but it didn’t set her back for long. Just a few weeks later, she landed the role that would define her career: Janet Wood on Three’s Company.
Fans of Three’s Company might remember the show’s bright ‘70s and ‘80s fashions, but few people know that DeWitt had one steadfast rule on set: no bare legs. She always wore pantyhose or tights while filming, a decision that didn’t sit well with everyone behind the scenes. Still, her dedication to hosiery ended up paying off in an unexpected way. Manufacturers took notice, and soon, DeWitt became a spokesperson for L’eggs pantyhose. Do you remember those commercials?
But not every episode left her smiling. One she wasn’t so fond of was “Janet Wigs Out,” where her character acts so out of line that Cindy (played by Jenilee Harrison) leaves the show entirely. It just didn’t sit right with her.
After Three’s Company wrapped in 1984, DeWitt didn’t just move on to the next gig; instead, she stepped away from the spotlight completely. She traveled the world, took time for herself and eventually settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She returned to acting onstage in the late ’80s and made occasional TV and film appearances after that, but her pace has always been intentional. Now, she continues to perform in regional theater productions across the country and occasionally appears at fan conventions. Her most recent film role was playing Nana in 2022’s Ask Me to Dance.
