The stars of the beloved 1970s-1980s sitcom Three’s Company reunited for a good cause on Thursday, joined by the late John Ritter’s son Tyler.
Joyce DeWitt, who played Janet Wood in all eight seasons of Three’s Company, and Priscilla Barnes, who played Terri Alden in seasons six through eight, hit the red carpet.They attended The John Ritter Foundation’s An Evening From the Heart LA for Aortic Health, held at the Sunset Room in Hollywood. The sitcom’s two stars posed with Tyler Ritter, the 39-year-old son of John Ritter, who died of an aortic aneurysm in September 2003 at the age of 54.
The event was a fundraiser for the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, which raises awareness of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection surgery through research, education and advocacy. Tyler Ritter, 39, who followed in his father’s footsteps in acting, opted for a black suit with a purple tie while sporting a goatee. He was joined by DeWitt, 75, and Barnes, 69, with DeWitt opting for a black sweater with white trim and black polka dots, along with black shoes and dress shoes.
Barnes opted for a white blouse with black pants for the outing, as the actresses also posed with their late co-star’s widow, Amy Yasbeck. John Ritter was rehearsing for the comedy 8 Simple Rules (starring Kaley Cuoco as his teenage daughter), when he suddenly began having heart problems.He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment of a heart attack, despite the fact that he had an aortic aneurysm.
An aortic dissection occurs when the aorta allows blood to flow between the walls of the aorta, causing a great deal of pressure. Ritter was rushed into surgery for the heart attack, although he died of the aortic aneurysm later that night. The actor’s sudden death spawned what is now known as Ritter’s Rules, a list of symptoms and risk factors to prevent aortic aneurysms from being misdiagnosed again.
Ritter’s big break came with Three’s Company, which followed two female roommates – Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) and Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers) – who take in struggling culinary student Jack Tripper (Ritter). Although the show’s first six-episode season failed to find solid footing, it was renewed and has since become a top 10 TV show.
Ritter and DeWitt were the only two main cast members to stay for all eight seasons, with Somers leaving after Season 5. Somers was first replaced by Jenilee Harrison as Cindy’s cousin Chrissy Snow, and then by Barnes’ Terri Alden for the final three seasons.
