‘Three’s Company’ Revisited: Original Photos, Headshots, and the Legacy of TV’s Most Beloved Roommates

Nearly five decades after it first aired, “Three’s Company” still feels like comfort TV. Built on physical comedy, misunderstandings, and the chemistry between John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, and Suzanne Somers, the sitcom turned a simple roommate setup into television gold.

Revisiting original photos, headshots, and video clips brings plenty of smiles, along with a sense of loss. Ritter died in 2003, and Somers passed away in 2023. Even so, the show’s humor still resonates, reminding fans why “Three’s Company” holds such a lasting place in TV history.

Why ‘Three’s Company’ Still Resonates

When “Three’s Company” premiered in 1977, the premise couldn’t have been more straightforwards: two women and a man share an apartment, and the man pretends to be gay to appease their conservative landlord. What could have been a one-note joke quickly turned into a goldmine of comedy.

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The series leaned hard into slapstick, farcical misunderstandings, and playful innuendo, carrying those elements through 172 episodes across eight seasons before ending in 1984. It offered an escape — silly, light, and unapologetically fun — at a time when audiences were craving something easy to laugh at.

“People initially may have tuned in for the titillation, but they kept knocking on the trio’s door for the laughs,” said Chris Mann, author of “Come and Knock on Our Door: A Hers and Hers and His Guide to Three’s Company.”

“The show’s zany format was a welcome departure from life’s stresses. It was a great escape with friends who were each others’ — and our — extended family.”

Ritter himself once captured the show’s rewatchability perfectly. Speaking to Conan O’Brien in 1997, he joked, “It’s like Chinese food, you watch it and a half an hour later you’re ready for more comedy. People still seem to like it.”

Inside the Cast’s Lives, Legacies, and Careers

Ritter played Jack Tripper, the clumsy but charming roommate whose physical comedy became the backbone of the show. While he had worked steadily beforehand — including a role on “The Waltons” — “Three’s Company” made him a star. After the series ended, Ritter continued to build an impressive career with projects like “Three’s a Crowd,” “Hooperman,” “Hearts Afire,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” and “8 Simple Rules,” along with films such as “Sling Blade,” “Bad Santa,” and “Bride of Chucky.”

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Ritter died on Sept. 11, 2003, after suffering an undiagnosed aortic dissection while filming “8 Simple Rules.” In the years since, his widow, Amy Yasbeck, has worked to honor his legacy by founding The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.

Somers brought bubbly charm to Chrissy Snow, the sweetly naive roommate whose misunderstandings fueled many of the show’s biggest laughs. Her time on the series ended after season 4 following a contract dispute over pay equity. “The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’” Somers told People in 2020.

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After a difficult period, Somers reinvented herself, becoming the face of ThighMaster, starring on “Step by Step,” and building a successful business empire. She died on Oct. 15, 2023, from complications related to breast cancer.

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DeWitt, who played the grounded and sharp Janet Wood, remained with “Three’s Company” for its entire run. Reflecting on the show’s impact, she said in “Suzanne Somers: Breaking Through” in 2012, “The only reason ‘Three’s Company’ is worth remembering is that it created an opportunity for all of us to laugh together.”

After the sitcom ended, DeWitt stepped away from television stardom and focused largely on theater.

Together, Ritter, Somers, and DeWitt created something rare — a sitcom that still feels familiar, funny, and comforting decades later. For many fans, “Three’s Company” doesn’t just bring laughs. It feels like home.

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