Whatever Happened to Richard Kline – Larry Dallas from ‘Three’s Company?
One of the key reasons for the enduring success of Three’s Company was its unique cast of characters. Among them, a favorite of mine was charmingly sleazy used car salesman and Jack Tripper’s best friend, Larry Dallas, brought to life by actor Richard Kline.
Richard’s work as Larry Dallas was incredibly entertaining because, despite the writers occasionally having the character border on being a tad slimy, at his core, Larry was a good person and a faithful friend to Jack. I’m not certain there’s another actor who could have pulled off the character of the way Richard did. 
Everett CollectionDuring his time on Three’s Company, Richard also made a handful of appearances on The Love Boat, another one of my favorite TV shows from the late seventies and early eighties.
The Love Boat thrived on its casting decisions, and bringing Richard on board for a few episodes was definitely a good idea. However, these were rare appearances for Richard outside of Three’s Company during that program’s run. Quite frankly, he was very loyal to that show, and because of that, the show was loyal to him.
Everett Collection
Richard was a favorite of both cast members and the behind-the-scenes crew. Simply put, he was just so easy to get along with, and as such, as time rolled on, Larry Dallas seemed to make more and more appearances. And when the fourth season of the show premiered, he found himself in the opening credits of the show as a regular cast member. The following season of Three’s Company was a bit of a mess due to Suzanne Somers’ contract dispute, in which the star demanded an increase in pay and a percentage of the show’s profits — demands which ultimately ended up getting her fired from the show.
But Richard was there, along with the other remaining cast members, doing his very best. And when the dust settled, his character was an even more prominent member of the show. So much so that TV Guide included him on a cover featuring the primary cast members in 1982.
ph: Gene Trindl / TV Guide / ©ABC / courtesy Everett Collection
Richard also holds the distinct honor of being the only cast member to appear on Three’s Company, The Ropers, and then Three’s a Crowd. Quite frankly, Three’s a Crowd could have used more cast members from Three’s Company showing up every now and again, but that’s a story for another day. What is not a story for another day, however, is the very real and authentic friendship that Richard shared with John Ritter. These guys never lost touch and got together whenever they could, long after the end of Three’s Company.
In fact, just weeks before John’s death, the two attended a baseball game together. After Three’s Company wrapped, Richard found steady work as a semi-regular on the sitcom It’s a Living. He also made guest appearances on other network television shows like Matlock and Murder, She Wrote. During the nineties, Richard could be seen on shows like L.A. Law, Step by Step, and Married… with Children.
Then, somewhere along the way, Richard decided to become an acting coach. He wanted to share the joy that he’d experienced for decades with others, and he has always treated his acting workshops in exactly the same way that he has every other gig throughout his career: he gives it his all, 100%. For Richard, his acting workshops are not just a way to pay the bills; they truly seem to be a passion project for him.
Richard can still be seen onscreen. He’s made appearances in a couple of Adam Sandler flicks, like I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry as well as Jack and Jill. And even more recently, Richard toured the country in a national production of Waitress, taking over the role that Andy Griffith made famous in the movie that inspired the play. But Richard hasn’t forgotten about Three’s Company — and couldn’t if he wanted to. Speaking to journalist Ed Gross in 2019, here’s what Richard said about the show and its longevity: “You can’t escape the notoriety, and worldwide notoriety, of Three’s Company. Who knew that this show would still be rerun forty-some odd years later? It’s insane.”
Where Are They Now? Music Legends
July/August 2025
They rocked and rolled us, they shredded, they head-slammed and they crooned, but what happened to them and where are they now?
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