Joyce DeWitt Reflects on Final Meeting With John Ritter

Joyce DeWitt recently opened up about her final evening spent with her beloved Three's Company co-star John Ritter, describing the unexpected gathering as a deeply precious moment. DeWitt, who portrayed Janet Wood on the hit ABC sitcom, recalled crossing paths with Ritter in New York in August 2003, just weeks before his tragic passing.

Recalling the chance encounter, DeWitt explained that she had received word from paparazzi that Ritter was in town and quickly decided to reach out. She noted that if she had delayed her call by even a minute, she would have already left for Lincoln Center. Instead, the two actors met up at an Italian restaurant in the Village alongside actor Jim Belushi.

"We had such a good time," DeWitt recalled of the dinner, adding that she had no inkling it would be their final time hanging out together. The classic television series, which ran from 1977 to 1984, remains a defining piece of American comedy history, largely remembered for the joyful environment it fostered among its cast.

Ritter passed away suddenly in September 2003 at the age of 54 while rehearsing for the sitcom 8 Simple Rules. While initial public perception often misattributed his death to a conventional heart attack, medical evaluations confirmed he suffered an aortic dissection, which is a catastrophic tear in the wall of the primary body artery.

In the wake of the tragedy, Ritter's widow, Amy Yasbeck, established the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health to promote early detection, raise public awareness, and fund medical research. Yasbeck has continued to honor his legacy through advocacy and by keeping his memory active within their family through daily conversations and shared laughter.

To further support the foundation's mission, DeWitt recently reunited with Ritter's legacy in New York for a special celebration benefiting the organization. The charity event featured an all-star celebrity script reading of classic sitcom material, honoring the comedic roots that made Ritter a household name while raising crucial funds to protect other families from aortic emergencies.