career

From 1977 to 1984, Joyce DeWitt enchanted the nation on Three's Company, and this Tuesday, she's celebrating her 75th birthday. But even after 55 years of a celebrated career, DeWitt is keeping things at a quiet level that suits her just fine. This time, however, will be her first year as the last of the original trio from the series. DeWitt started acting in 1962, and the latter half of the first leg of her career was dominated by Three's Company. That was followed by a brief hiatus that lasted until the '90s, but despite her national fame thanks to the ABC sitcom, DeWitt was content to take work as it came and favor privacy over fame whenever possible, a habit that continues into her 75th birthday. Joyce DeWitt has been favoring privacy ahead of her 75th birthday THREE'S COMPANY, 1977-84, Suzanne Somers, John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, second season / Everett Collection Taking up the role of Janet Wood in Three's Company in '77 represented a big break for DeWitt and put her alongside the equally talented John Ritter (Jack Tripper) and Suzanne Somers (Chrissy Snow). She stayed on for the rest of the series even after Somers left, and appeared in 1984's Finder of Lost Loves after the show wrapped up. RELATED: Suzanne Somers Honored By ‘Three’s Company’ Co-Star Joyce DeWitt After that, DeWitt allowed herself a break. When she returned to acting, she went with theater, appearing in a 1991 production of Noises Off at Michigan's Cherry County Playhouse. Standouts of her on-screen credits since her return include Hope Island, Living Single, and Cybil. She updated her resume with a new project every few years, but her most recent movie credit was in the 2022 feature film Ask Me to Dance. However, in 2023, she also appeared in a music video for the Davisson Brothers Band, for the song "Home." The song pays tribute to the band's roots in West Virginia roots, where DeWitt was born. The song acts as a love letter to her own success since setting off from her hometown and has a photo of herself, Ritter, and Somers in it. She is the last of the original 'Three's Company' trio The actress took a break from the limelight and still takes things easy / ImageCollect Following Somers's departure from the show during a season five contract dispute, Chrissy was replaced by Jenilee Harrison playing Chrissy's cousin Cindy Snow. Somers explained her reasoning for insisting on a bigger salary but the air would be tense between the former castmates for a while before reconciliation was achieved. Fortunately, Ritter and Somers were able to reconnect, but this celebratory reunion would be marred by Ritter's passing on September 11, 2003, at the age of just 54. Then, last October, Somers too passed away; she died on October 15, 2023, at the age of 76. Her family had shared the plans she'd made to celebrate the big day. Joyce DeWitt marks her 75th birthday as the last of the original Three's Company trio / Birdie Thompson/AdMedia Now, DeWitt marks her 75th birthday as the last of the three who made up the original lineup that got fans so hooked on Three's Company. "My heart goes out to Suzanne’s family," said DeWitt following knows of Somers's passing. "They are a very close family — deeply connected and caring one to the other. I can only imagine how difficult this time is for all of them. I’m sure Suzanne was greeted by Angels into the loving wisdom waiting for all of us on the other side, and I hope that will assist her family’s hearts in healing as they travel through this difficult time."