Skip to content
MovieCove
John Ritter

John Ritter

Actor, also producer and writer · Died September 11, 2003, aged 54 · Burbank, California, USA

Johnathan Southworth "John" Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian, perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the ABC sitcoms "Three's Company" and "8 Simple Rules," respectively. Don Knotts called him the "greatest physical comedian on the planet." Ritter's final films "Bad Santa," "Clifford's Really Big Movie" and "Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up" were all dedicated in his memory.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 17, 1948
Died
September 11, 2003 (aged 54)
From
Burbank, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
82 on MovieCove · 132 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

What are John Ritter's films like?

Across their 46 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
37%
Self
21%
Morality
14%
Survival
13%
Power
5%
Ideas
5%
Society
3%
Family bonds17 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 41 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 26 · Serious 10 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 21 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 19 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 9

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 16

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 5

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 29 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 35 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

36 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 21 of 36 analyzed roles.

Hero
21 of 36
Mentor
4 of 36
Trickster
3 of 36
Ally
3 of 36
Shadow
3 of 36
Threshold guardian
1 of 36
Herald
1 of 36
Show the 36 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
19
Absurd
17
Tense
15
Joyful
13
Melancholic
12
Other
39

How their films linger

Feel-good25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet18
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Ritter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 48 of their 82 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Ritter's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

132 credits, 82 with a MovieCove page; 37 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    In Memory Of · as Great Uncle Stew (voice)

  • Clifford's Really Big Movie(2004)

    In Memory Of · as Clifford the Big Red Dog (voice)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Bad Santa(2003)

    In Memory Of · as Bob Chipeska

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Manhood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Eli

  • The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • 8 Simple Rules(2002)

    Show 31 episodes · as Paul Hennessy

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Tadpole(2002)

    as Stanley Grubman

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Breaking News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Man of the Year(2002)

    Producer · as Bill

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as John Ritter

  • Nuncrackers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Dorian

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • TV Funhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

  • Panic(2000)

    as Josh

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Full Disclosure(2000)

    as Bob Carter

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Clifford the Big Red Dog(2000)

    Show 130 episodes · as Clifford (voice)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • TripFall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Tom Williams

  • Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel(2000)

    as Christian Therapist

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Lethal Vows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as David Farris

  • Family Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Andrews

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Richard Manning

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • It Came from the Sky(1999)

    as Donald Bridges

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Holy Joe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Joe Cass

  • Batman Beyond(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. David Wheeler (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Husbands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Dr. Carter Elston

  • Bride of Chucky(1998)

    as Chief Warren Kincaid

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Loss of Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Bruce Simon Barker

  • Felicity(1998)

    Show 7 episodes · as Mr. Andrew Covington

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • I Woke Up Early the Day I Died(1998)

    as Robert Forrest

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Shadow of Doubt(1998)

    as Steven Mayer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Chance of a Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Tom Maguire

  • Montana(1998)

    as Dr. Wexler

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Over the Top (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Justin

  • Veronica's Closet(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim Margolin

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Hacks(1997)

    as Hank

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as George Madison

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • A Gun, a Car, a Blonde(1997)

    as Duncan the Bartender

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Nowhere(1997)

    as Moses Helper

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Ted Buchanan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Dead Man's Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry McDonacle

  • A Child's Wish(1997)

    as Ed Chandler

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · as Eugene Grandy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • For Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Date #5 (uncredited)

  • Mercenary(1996)

    as Jonas Ambler

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Sling Blade(1996)

    as Vaughan Cunningham

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Unforgivable(1996)

    as Paul Hegstrom

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Colony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Rick Knowlton

  • Gramps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Clarke MacGruder

  • NewsRadio(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Westford

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike O'Conner · as Sheriff Tom McKinsley

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Dysmerski

  • North(1994)

    as Ward Nelson

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Only Way Out(1993)

    as Jeremy Carlisle

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Dave's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as John Ritter

  • Heartbeat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Bill Grant

  • Hearts Afire(1992)

    Show 54 episodes · as John Hartman

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Ritter

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Stay Tuned(1992)

    as Roy Knable

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Noises Off...(1992)

    as Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Fish Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 6 episodes · as Inspector Gil (voice)

  • The Real Story of O Christmas Tree(1991)

    as Piney (voice)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Problem Child 2(1991)

    as Ben Healy

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Summer My Father Grew Up(1991)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Dreamer of Oz(1990)

    as L. Frank Baum

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • IT(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ben Hanscom

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Problem Child(1990)

    as Ben

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Poochinski (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Executive Producer

  • Wings(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Stuart Davenport

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • My Brother's Wife(1989)

    as Barney

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Anything But Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 5 episodes · as Patrick Serreau

  • Skin Deep(1989)

    as Zach

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Tricks of the Trade(1988)

    as Donald Todsen (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Mickey's 60th Birthday(1988)

    as Dudley Goode

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Real Men(1987)

    as Bob Wilson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Hooperman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 42 episodes · as Detective Harry Hooperman

  • Prison for Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as David Royce

  • The Last Fling(1987)

    as Phillip Reed

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • A Smoky Mountain Christmas(1986)

    as Judge Harold Benton (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Unnatural Causes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Frank Coleman

  • Life with Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as John Ritter

  • Letting Go(1985)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Muppet Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Three's a Crowd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 22 episodes · as Jack Tripper

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Evans

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Love Thy Neighbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Danny Loeb

  • Sunset Limousine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Alan O'Black

  • In Love with an Older Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Robert

  • Nature(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Flight of Dragons(1982)

    as Peter Dickinson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Pray TV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Tom McPherson

  • They All Laughed(1981)

    as Charles Rutledge

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Wholly Moses!(1980)

    as Satan (The Devil)

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body(1980)

    Writer · as Self / Various

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Comeback Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bubba Newman

  • Hero at Large(1980)

    as Steve Nichols

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Americathon(1979)

    as President Chet Roosevelt

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Ropers(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Leave Yesterday Behind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Paul Stallings

  • Ringo(1978)

    as Marty Flesh

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ben Cummins · as Dale Riley

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Three's Company(1976)

    Show 171 episodes · as Jack Tripper

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Nickelodeon(1976)

    as Franklin Frank

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Night That Panicked America(1975)

    as Walter Wingate

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Audience Member (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Doc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Cole

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Prisoner of Second Avenue(1975)

    as Elevator Passenger (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Bob Crane Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Petrocelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as John Oleson

  • Rhoda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry Blocker · as Vince Mazuma

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenny Soames

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Stone Killer(1973)

    as Hart

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Bauer

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Rockwell

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as John 'Johnny' Steiner

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Private Carter

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Bob Newhart Show(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 17 episodes · as Rev. Matthew Fordwick

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Other(1972)

    as Rider

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Evil Roy Slade(1972)

    as Priest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Greg

  • Scandalous John(1971)

    as Wendell

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Barefoot Executive(1971)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard

  • Dan August (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Coley Smith

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Chatfield

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronnie

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Welles · as Ryan Moore

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Cliff Elgin

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 132 titles from 1967 to 2006; peak year 1991.

Biggest box office

Bad Santa (2003)

$76M worldwide

Highest rated

Sling Blade (1996)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

IT (1990)

Film career

19672006

Peak 1991 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 14 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting130 of 132: 127 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thWriting1 of 132: 1 only writing, 0 with another roleProducing1 of 132: 1 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew3 of 132: 0 only other crew, 3 with another role

132 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1960s3 · acting1970s32 · acting1980s27 · 26 acting · 1 crew1990s51 · 50 acting · 1 crew2000s19 · 19 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 30% of 27 roles
718191

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do John Ritter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 51; across their 41 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Midcredits score across 82 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th26
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 82 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed32

Most divisive · actor

Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel (2000)

92nd percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sling Blade (1996)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is John Ritter's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles21–71 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles23–55 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles43–88 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles36–77 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles32–68 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Ritter work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Ritter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jack Bender shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers