What happened to Joyce DeWitt’s career??

[Yong Fang]

I will have to say that I am not a fan of Three’s Company. No offense and just an opinion, I thought the show was dumb. But as a youth of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s I did watch a bit of the show. Probably because it was the best thing on at the time. Mr Roper was hilarious.

It has probably been asked and answered, what happened to Joyce DeWitt? She was the one girl who lasted on the show the entire time (which was what, eight seasons?) The blonde roommate was sort of a revolving door with Suzanne Somers(who I never particularly liked), the second girl and Patricia Barnes. I could almost make this question about Barnes also. Maybe she did a lot of stuff and me not knowing, but keep this about DeWitt.

But why has she not really been in anything else. Like I mentioned before, she was on the show the whole time. I think she did a good job playing her character and millions of people watched her. Then 1984 came and she just disappeared.

Did she just retire? Do actors, young actors sometimes do this after being on a wildly successful series? The thinking of, I was on this show for eight years, made a couple of million dollars and now I just want to do whatever and not work anymore. Or did DeWitt want to work and no one will hire her and why? I have never heard any negative stories about her, like maybe with Somers. I think her attitude might have been, I am on a very successful show making a lot of money and accept John Ritter making more. I mean, DeWitt could have been part of the rebellion Sommers put up for more pay, DeWitt didn’t do that. So she wasn’t a troublemaker, and even Suzanne the troublemaker was on several more series after Threes Company. Joyce just disappeared except for a few reunion interviews.

Why? I always thought she was the most attractive of them all and the spin-off should have been Jack marrying Janet. I don’t know if this would have worked but it would have been better than what they did.

[rusty spike]

Or did DeWitt want to work and no one will hire her and why?

I think after the Sommer standoff, she became more assertive the last couple of seasons in regard to the scripts. I think she mistakenly believed that she had better ideas or a desire to excise creative control of the show.

One thing that is 100 percent factual is that DeWitt was visibly upset that John was moving on with his own show/spin-off and she had been cut off. I'm thinking that producers take notice of touchy/sentimental/sensitive outbursts. I think the world of acting is very misogynistic and the "boss" expect the actors to know their roles of doing their jobs.

Is it unrealistic for a TV actor/actress to be always working in a hit show/series?

I think so. Either he/she is too picky and the offers dry up or they accept every part that is offered and typecasting occurs.

[thejasoomian]

Here's a article you might like:

http://www.tvbanter.net/2019/09/what...ce-dewitt.html

[TMC]

I too wonder why Joyce DeWitt didn't obtain more high profile acting gigs post-Three's Company. She could've easily had another go at a sitcom. Unlike Suzanne Somers, Joyce wasn't seen as a diva or difficult to work with. Ironically, Suzanne against all odds if you will, managed to land another sitcom or two with She's the Sheriff and later, Step by Step.

[TMC]

What Happened To Joyce DeWitt After Three's Company?

Joyce DeWitt's star shined bright while she was on "Three's Company" with Suzanne Somers and John Ritter. But what has the actor been up to since then?

[Dianne3]

Another question, what TV shows was Joyce in before TC?

Both John, Suzanne and Priscilla guested on other shows before TC, but I have not seen Joyce anywhere pre TC.

[ClarenceAlabama]

Originally Posted by Dianne3

Another question, what TV shows was Joyce in before TC?

Both John, Suzanne and Priscilla guested on other shows before TC, but I have not seen Joyce anywhere pre TC.

Joyce was in a Robert Stack pilot in 1976 called "Most Wanted". She had a very small part. Here it is...

https://youtu.be/6qSDedz5IeM?si=KTIsnzdmilevFBMe&t=2240

[BestTVever]

Joyce made a fortune on those Leggs commercials. Ritter did work after Threes Company but I was always surprised he did not have a much bigger career in movies and such. I know he got jobs (so please dont start listing them). My point is he had the talent to be huge.

[biffbronson]

Series like Hearts Afire and Hooperman and 8 Simple Rules I think collectively were pretty significant for Ritter... I don't think in the modern era it's necessary to be in big theatrical films to be considered a big star or even superstar.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Series like Hearts Afire and Hooperman and 8 Simple Rules I think collectively were pretty significant for Ritter... I don't think in the modern era it's necessary to be in big theatrical films to be considered a big star or even superstar.

Fair point but he also was in bad cancelled shows like Threes A Crowd. That character he was playing expired yet the network was still trying to milk it.
I think John was far more talented than George Clooney and he only had small parts in old sitcoms before landing his own series and then exploded with opportunities. I think maybe he was too good and maybe typecasted like many on successful shows.

[PaperClips]

Ritter didn't have the looks or business sense Clooney had.

Clooney was smart - just kept making friends and running up the ladder.

Ritter
was very good at physical comedy but that gets you so far.

Dewitt was the 3rd Wheel - easily replaceable.

Business wise - Somers was smarter than any of them. Of all of them, she was the one who got rich,

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by PaperClips

Ritter didn't have the looks or business sense Clooney had.

Clooney was smart - just kept making friends and running up the ladder.

Ritter
was very good at physical comedy but that gets you so far.

Dewitt was the 3rd Wheel - easily replaceable.

Business wise - Somers was smarter than any of them. Of all of them, she was the one who got rich,

Thanks Thighmaster


I have no opinion if George Clooney is better looking that Ritter. I personally believe Ritter is a better actor. Have you seen him on the Waltons? He played the serious minister very well. It was a different time back then. TV stars and movie stars did not mix. And only a few TV stars went on to big movies until the late 80s came along. Look at Friends. It was a top show just like Threes Company and almost every cast member made a bunch of movies. However John Ritter had more talent in his left toe than anyone on Friends. Threes Company gave him the stereotype of physical comedy but he was just as good for drama.

[ClarenceAlabama]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Thanks Thighmaster


I have no opinion if George Clooney is better looking that Ritter. I personally believe Ritter is a better actor. Have you seen him on the Waltons? He played the serious minister very well. It was a different time back then. TV stars and movie stars did not mix. And only a few TV stars went on to big movies until the late 80s came along. Look at Friends. It was a top show just like Threes Company and almost every cast member made a bunch of movies. However John Ritter had more talent in his left toe than anyone on Friends. Threes Company gave him the stereotype of physical comedy but he was just as good for drama.

I remember he got a lot of attention for his movie role in Sling Blade in 1996.

Billy Bob Thorton was on the sitcom Hearts Afire with him and gave him a dramatic role in the film he directed. There was even Oscar buzz for John, but he didn't get nominated. I was expecting him to get bigger movie roles after that, but it didn't happen.

Six years later he was back on television starring in 8 Simple Rules.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

Or did DeWitt want to work and no one will hire her and why?

I think after the Sommer standoff, she became more assertive the last couple of seasons in regard to the scripts. I think she mistakenly believed that she had better ideas or a desire to excise creative control of the show.

One thing that is 100 percent factual is that DeWitt was visibly upset that John was moving on with his own show/spin-off and she had been cut off. I'm thinking that producers take notice of touchy/sentimental/sensitive outbursts. I think the world of acting is very misogynistic and the "boss" expect the actors to know their roles of doing their jobs.

Is it unrealistic for a TV actor/actress to be always working in a hit show/series?

I think so. Either he/she is too picky and the offers dry up or they accept every part that is offered and typecasting occurs.

If you read Chris Mann's Come and Knock on Our Door book, which was a backstage account of Three's Company, Joyce admits that she didn't have the stomach to deal with the internal politics surrounding Three's Company and TV shows in general. She loathed the producers (she even admits Suzanne Somers had valid concerns concerning the show she just dealt with it poorly) and was deeply hurt that they didn't tell Priscilla Barnes and her until the last minute that the finale would be a backdoor pilot for John Ritter's spinoff, Three's a Crowd. She was much more comfortable doing theater.

[TMC]

Remember Joyce DeWitt? This is why she's no longer acting...

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