9 Times John Ritter Took on Darker Roles

John Ritter dark TV roles, featured in in IT — Everett Collection

John Ritter spent years making viewers laugh as Jack Tripper on Three’s Company, and later as Paul Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules. But if you know him mainly from those sitcoms, some of his other roles may come as a surprise.

Ritter died on September 11, 2003, at 54, just days before his birthday on September 17, after suffering an aortic dissection. In honor of the anniversary of his death, we’re looking back at nine darker roles, from dangerous men to sympathetic characters facing frightening situations.

It (1990)

STEPHEN KING'S IT, Richard Thomas, Harry Anderson, John Ritter, 1990 TV Movie

Everett Collection

Before the later big-screen adaptations, Ritter played the adult Ben Hanscom in ABC’s 1990 It miniseries. Based on Stephen King‘s novel, it reunites the childhood friends known as the Losers Club when the evil they once fought returns to Derry. The late Tim Curry plays Pennywise, and the adult cast also includes Richard Thomas, Annette O’Toole, and Tim Reid. Ben joins his friends to face the creature again after children begin dying in their hometown, forcing the group to confront the enemy they thought they had defeated. Ritter said of the series, “It is really scary. It’s a real good film.”

Sling Blade (1996)

SLING BLADE, front from left: Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, John Ritter, 1996

Miramax/Everett Collection

Ritter plays Vaughan Cunningham, a gay store manager and friend of Linda Wheatley (Natalie Canerday), in Billy Bob Thornton‘s Sling Blade. Vaughan also befriends Thornton’s Karl Childers, who returns to town after years in a psychiatric hospital. Vaughan is one of the sympathetic characters in this story about violence and abuse. He cares about Linda and her son, Frank (Lucas Black), while her boyfriend, Doyle (Dwight Yoakam), treats the people around her with hostility. Ritter and Thornton had already worked together on Hearts Afire. In a 2001 Fresh Air interview, Ritter said he chose Vaughan’s last name because he wondered what happened to Richie Cunningham’s (Ron Howard) brother on Happy Days.

Unforgivable (1996)

UNFORGIVABLE, from left: John Ritter, Harley Jane Kozak, 1996

Cliff Lipson/CBS/Everett Collection

One of Ritter’s most disturbing departures from his sitcom work came in the CBS television movie Unforgivable. He plays Paul Hegstrom, a car salesman who abuses his wife, Judy (Harley Jane Kozak), and terrorizes their children. Based on a true story, the film follows Paul after he leaves his family and nearly kills his girlfriend, Beth (Susan Gibney). He reluctantly enters a treatment program, with the story examining his violence and efforts to change his behavior.

Nowhere (1997)

Ritter appears in Gregg Araki’s Nowhere as Moses Helper, a televangelist that the characters watch on television. The film follows young people in Los Angeles through a day involving drugs, violence, and alien encounters. His preaching accompanies a sequence involving the suicides of two troubled young characters. Fellow television stars Christopher Knight and Eve Plumb of The Brady Bunch also appear in the cast.

Montana (1998)

Columbia/Everett Collection

Montana stars Kyra Sedgwick as hitwoman Claire and Stanley Tucci as her partner, Nick, who work for a crime boss played by Robbie Coltrane. Ritter enters the story as Dr. Wexler, a motivational author with a self-help program. Wexler is also the boss’s silent partner and has helped organize a betrayal within the criminal operation.

Bride of Chucky (1998)

BRIDE OF CHUCKY, from left: Tiffany (voice: Jennifer Tilly), John Ritter, 1998

George Kraychyk/Universal Pictures/Everett Collection

In Bride of Chucky, Ritter plays Chief Warren Kincaid, the controlling uncle and guardian of Jade (Katherine Heigl). He disapproves of her boyfriend, Jesse (Nick Stabile), and uses his position as police chief to interfere in their relationship. Warren’s attempt to frame Jesse also interferes with Chucky and Tiffany’s plans, making him a target for the dolls. Their attack includes a trap that sends nails right into his face.

TripFall (2000)

TRIPFALL, Eric Roberts, John Ritter, 2000

Artist View Entertainment/Everett Collection

A family vacation becomes a hostage situation in TripFall, with Ritter playing businessman Tom Williams. Tom travels to Southern California with his wife, Gina (Rachel Hunter), and their two children, only to encounter criminals led by Mr. Eddie (Eric Roberts). Eddie demands Tom’s $1.2 million in savings in exchange for the family’s freedom. Ritter plays the father trying to find a way out and protect his loved ones in this thriller written and directed by Serge Rodnunsky.

Full Disclosure aka Terror Tract (2000)

In Full Disclosure, also known as Terror Tract, Ritter plays real estate agent Bob Carter. He shows a young couple three houses, but each property comes with a gruesome history. Bob’s descriptions of the previous residents introduce the anthology’s horror stories, which include a family’s disastrous experience with a pet monkey. As the couple keeps turning down the properties, he becomes increasingly desperate to make a sale.

Panic (2000)

Ritter plays Dr. Josh Parks, the therapist Alex visits, a hitman played by William H. Macy. Alex wants to leave the killing business he shares with his father, Michael (Donald Sutherland). Written and directed by Henry Bromell, the film follows Alex’s family troubles and his attraction to a woman he meets in a waiting room. Neve Campbell and Tracey Ullman also star, while Ritter’s character listens as his patient reveals that working for his father involves killing people.

Which other films would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

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