One of ABC’s biggest hits of the 1970s was Three’s Company, the sitcom filled with a non-stop stream of slapstick comedy, hilarious misunderstandings and incredible chemistry between stars John Ritter (Jack Tripper), Joyce DeWitt (Janet Wood) and Suzanne Somers (Crissy Snow). The show itself, which ran from 1977 to 1984, followed the trio as they engaged in dating disasters on-screen, but, as it turns out, the actors’ off-screen love lives were just as fascinating. From high-profile relationships to both long and short-term marriages, the cast had their own real-life romances that many people may be unaware of.
What follows is a look at the real-life couples of Three’s Company, and not just Ritter, DeWitt and Somers, but Don Knotts (so beloved as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show), who played Ralph Furley; Norman Fell and Audra Lindley (the Ropers) and others as well.
John Ritter and Nancy Morgan
John Ritter (Jack Tripper) and Nancy Morgan were married on October 16, 1977, after meeting through mutual friends in the entertainment industry. Before they divorced in 1996, they had three children: actor Jason Ritter (born February 17, 1980), musician Carly Ritter (March 1, 1982) and actor Tyler Ritter (January 31, 1985).
John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck
John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck share a relationship that began in both professional and personal ways. The two met while working together on the 1990 film Problem Child, where they played a married couple. Their on-screen chemistry soon translated into a real-life romance, and they began dating after the film’s release.
They married on September 18, 1999, in a ceremony held at Wilmington, Ohio’s Murphy Theater, which was located near Yasbeck’s hometown. the Murphy Theater in Wilmington, Ohio, near Yasbeck’s hometown. They had a daughter named Stella Ritter on September 11, 1998, although she has transitioned and is now named Noah Lee Ritter.
Ritter and Yasbeck’s life together was tragically cut short when he unexpectedly died on September 11, 2003, from an undiagnosed aortic dissection.
Joyce DeWitt and Ray Buktenica
Joyce DeWitt, best known for her Three’s Company role of Janet Wood, was in a long-term relationship with actor Ray Buktenica during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Buktenica was known for his roles on shows such as Rhoda, where he played Benny Goodwin, and House Calls. They were together for seven years, though neither has spoken about what happened.
Suzanne Somers and Bruce Somers
Suzanne Somers (Chrissy Snow) married Bruce Somers in 1965 when she was just 19 years old. The marriage came during a challenging period in her life, as she was navigating early adulthood while also dealing with personal struggles, including an abusive childhood at the hands of her father. The couple had one son, Bruce Somers Jr., born in 1965. The couple divorced three years later.
Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel
Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel share one of Hollywood’s most enduring and loving relationships. The couple first met in the late 1960s when Somers, a single mother and aspiring actress, appeared on a game show Hamel was hosting. Their connection was instant, and the pair began a relationship that would span more than five decades.
They married in 1977, blending their families from previous relationships—Somers had son Bruce, while Hamel had two children from his prior marriage. Throughout their time together, Alan became not only Somers’ life partner, but also her professional manager and business collaborator. Together, they built a wellness empire, with Alan playing a key role in guiding her career beyond acting into writing, public speaking, and entrepreneurship. Sadly, Somers died on October 15, 2023, just one day shy of her 77th birthday.
The three marriages of Norman Fell
Norman Fell, best known for his role as landlord Stanley Roper on Three’s Company and its spin-off, The Ropers, was married three times. His first wife was Dolores Pikoos, who he married in 1951. Not much is widely known about their relationship, as it occurred early in his career, long before his rise to fame, but they divorced in 1954.
Fell’s second marriage was to Diane Weiss, whom he married in 1961 and was with until their divorce in 1973 And then there was Karen Weingard, who he married in 1975 and was with until they, too, got divorced in 1995.
Audra Lindley and Aaron Hardy Ulm
Audra Lindley, recognized for her role as Helen Roper on Three’s Company and The Ropers, was married to Aaron Hardy Ulm, a playwright and screenwriter, from 1943 until his death in 1970. Their marriage lasted 27 years.
Audra Lindley, recognized for her role as Helen Roper on Three’s Company and The Ropers, was married to Aaron Hardy Ulm, a playwright and screenwriter, from 1943 until his death in 1970. Their marriage lasted 27 years.
Audra Lindley and James Whitmore
Audra Lindley and James Whitmore, both prominent actors, were married in 1972, two years after the death of Lindley’s first husband. Whitmore was well-known for his roles in Battleground, The Shawshank Redemption, and his one-man stage show Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!. They were only together until 1979, when they divorced.
Don Knotts and Kathryn Melz
After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Don Knotts (Ralph Furley on Three’s Company and before that Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show) married Kathryn Metz in 1947. The couple had two children: Karen Knotts, who later pursued a career as a comedian and actress, and Thomas Knotts. However, Don’s struggles with depression and his workaholic tendencies put a strain on their relationship, ultimately leading to their divorce in 1964 after 17 years of marriage.
