BIOGRAPHY

Occupation - Actress
Date of Birth - April 23, 1949
Birth Place - Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
Residence - Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Barbera.
Religion: Catholic
Height - 5' 3½" (1.61 m)  
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Education - Attended Ball State University
in Muncie, Indiana. Received a master of
fine arts in acting from the University
of California, Los Angeles. (UCLA)

Marital Status: Single never married, Dated Tab Hunter,
lived with boyfreind of 7 years Ray Buktenica.
Currently Single.

Joyce Anne DeWitt was born the second oldest of four children to Italian / Swedish parents Paul and Shirley DeWitt on April 23, 1949 in Wheeling, West Virginia but grew up in suburban Indiana. Joyce began taking acting lessons when she was in high school she was very active in school plays and started acting in other projects at age 13. Joyce was a cheerleader in high school and got good grades. Although her father was hardly thrilled at his daughter's ambition, she persuaded him to let her major in theater in college at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Joyce soon moved to southern california and finished her master of fine arts degree in acting from UCLA, where she eventually receives her master's degree.

After college, she worked as a legal secretary while at the same time going from audition to audition. In 1975 she got her big break appearing in two "Baretta" (1975) episodes in September and December of the same year.
Joyce was 26 years old the year she appeared on the TV show "Baretta". The guest spot on Baretta got Joyce her first agent. That agent quickly got his client an audition
on TV's "Happy Days".

Joyce auditioned as Fonzie's girlfriend on "Happy Days" in 1977, although she didn't get the part (explaining she was too short and young), the CBS network paid her not to take another role, she was cast as Janet Wood on CBS Three's Company just a few weeks later. Many weeks passed before ABC offered her a choice of two comedy pilots but gave her only 24 hours to decide on which. After reading both scripts in a hurry, she chose the one about one guy living with two girls ("Three's Company'). She had been in numerous plays before but became familiar to everyone as the sensible, down-to-earth, the sexy good girl brunette roommate, Janet Wood.

ABC in late 1975, picked up the rights for a new series on a British sitcom about, "A Man About The House," and John Ritter beat out 50 people including a young Billy Crystal, to get a major role. The first pilot was trashed, and in order for it to be improved, Joyce DeWitt, an unknown actress, played the role of Janet Wood, the following year, along with Susan Lanier as the dumb blonde, Chrissy Snow. Unlike the first pilot, it did better but the producers still needed a change and Suzanne Somers was brought onto the show. The series, "Three's Company" (1977), was born. When it debuted as a mid-season replacement, it became a ratings hit, like many other sitcoms of the 70s, and it focused mainly on his character, Jack Tripper, an aspiring chef who shared an apartment with two very attractive single women. Jack was only allowed to "live with the girls" because Mr Roper (the landlord) wouldn't allow a straight guy to live with 2 single women. Joyce's character Janet Wood worked at a flower shop whoose owner would change every time. Suzanne Sommers who played Crissy Snow a naive and strick ministers daughter from the mid west.

The show was an almost instant hit and ran from 1977-1984 producing 172 episodes total. Joyce and John remained on the show for the entire run of all 8 seasons. The first 2 seasons sported tight sexy 70s fashions with a nipple rating of 9.99. With scenes just short of bra and panty tickle fights in the bedroom, the "oops your naked" gags were used up in the first 3 seasons. Janet and her neighbor even end up at a nude beach bikini-less (in civil protest) as they find their way home after it's raided by the police. America wondered how Jack got so lucky and horny teenagers realize that Janet and Chrissy are really hot and they sleep in the same bedroom. Today this show concept would have a completely differant meaning. Outside maybe dorm life. Episode Guide All Seven Seasons.

By the Show's end, it had plenty of turmoil and scandel along the way. Suzanne's character Crissy was fast becoming a hollywood sex symbol later appearing in playboy magazine. Suzanne was getting all the press for the show and Joyce and John were sort cast out of the spotlight. Crissy's sexy looks and skimpy outfits made ratings soar with each giggly new nipple poking episode. In the first 2 seasons Joyce's wardrobe sports some of the sexist outfits ever in the series.Ultimataley she is more comedy relief BUY DVD HERE . Suzanne was eventually forced off the show for not showing up on time, demanding more money and/or not showing up for at all. Influenced by her husband who also acted as her manager/lover at the time. Increasingly her Three's Company co-stars were sick of her pre madonna routine as well. CBS even had to write episodes where Crissy was "away" someplace or she would be acting and shooting totally separated from the other cast members. Which explains a lot about weird episodes where Crissy is seen in a phone booth once or twice in an episode. Suzanne Somers days at CBS were over, she is fired after 2 1/2 seasons. Joyce and Suzanne have had an acrimonious relationship and according to many sources, did not speak to each other for approximately two decades.

Three's Company was still popular into the 80s and still enjoyed moderate sucess airing 4 years after Suzanne was fired. Several actresses filled in nicely after Miss Sommers departure from the show. Thru the next 4 years of the show ratings slowly dropped. The network brings in 2 hotties to replace the Chrissy Snow character. Sexy blondes were brought to bolster ratings namely Pricilla Barnes (hottie Penthouse Pet of the Month March 1976) (also dated actor legend "Telle Savalas" aka "Kojak") and Jenni Lee Harrison "Cindy" Criss's sister known for her epic performances wearing half shirts featured a knitwitted blond ever giggly, hot, perky and braless. I personally thought Joyce was the underated hottie and loved the pink football nightgown. The first 2 seasons are now availible on DVD HERE. After the the new actors came on, Joyce's character seemed to turn into the cute sexy sweet good girl on the show and the skimpy outfits are left to Pricilla and Jennilee for last few seasons mostly. The new characters on the show Pricilla Barnes plays a registered nurse (Terry Alden) and Crissy's sister (Cindy Snow) played by (JennilLee Harrison).

Things went very well for the hot fresh young hollywood actress during this time. She would be at the pinacle of her career success. She further demonstrated her singing and dancing talents in various specials including The Perry Como Christmas Special, The Steve Martin Special, The Cheryl Ladd Special, and with her former co-star-- John Ritter, Being of Sound Mind and Body. DeWitt has also made guest appearances in television programs: Living Single, Cybill, and The Love Boat. She starred in the television movies "With This Ring" and "Spring Fling". Appearing also on the ill fated "Supertrain" and the doomed spinoff pilot of "The Ropers" which introduced "Don Knotts" to the show. Joyce also appears in the Feature film "Airplane II" 1983 as a juror in the court scene (uncredited).

Miss DeWitt is seen having romantic dinners at trendy LA hot spots with Tab Hunter kissing in public and is even over heard saying "I love you" but the relationship doesn't last. Joyce buys a posh Malibu home over looking the pacific ocean and has a live in boyfreind Ray Buktenica of TVs "Rhoda" (1981). What did she ever see in that guy? wow what a dork. Afore mentioned dork seen HERE -->
They are often seen jogging on Malibu Beach and are rumored to have a torrid relationship that lasts 7 years, but they were never married. Joyce has a jaded view of marriage after seeing Suzannes relationship with her husband no doubt. Incredibly he torpedos Suzanne's career after "Three's Company" at least for sometime anyway.

When shooting 'Three's Company', early on Joyce always wore either pantyhose or tights, and refused to work bare-legged. Women burned their bras in the 70s but kept their pantyhose on appantly. Though this caused conflict between her and the show's producers, it endeared her to hosiery manufacturers, and she became the spokeswoman for L'eggs pantyhose in the late 70s and early 80s. Who could forget the plastic egg ? and that couldn't miss slogan "Nothing beats a great pair of legs". When the show ended in 1984 the last episode features Janet getting married to some guy named "Phil". The wedding ceremony is held in the apartment in a small service, 2 part episode. Also in the finale Terry moves to Hawaii and Jack marrys his new girlfriend. A new TV series begins for John in 1984 called "Three's A Crowd" whichs dies a silent death.

If Miss DeWitt had better agent after Three's Company" ended, her career would've went thermal. Joyce never really did any nudity throughout her acting career. She was sexy enought for magazine modeling but she never really found it her style appparently. Instead Miss DeWitt chooses a diffferant path in life after the show ended. Joyce was about 35 years old after the show was cancelled in 1984 and she started to travel around the world. It is possible this was about the time she was thinking about marriage and/or starting a family. During this time she also ends her long term relationship with Ray Buktenica after 7 years. Scattered infomation is availible about joyce's personal life at this time. When she came back or reappears in the states she eventually settles in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the southwest USA.

Joyce made a comeback of sorts in the 90's and appeared on an episode of "Living Single" in 1993 then age 44. Also she made an guest appearance on "Hollywood Squares" in 1998. Recently she appears in the 2001 indy movie "18". Joyce has a second home in Santa Barbara, so she can work in L.A. and shes began putting out serious feelers and recieved some positive reponses. Joyce always liked working in theater as opposed to Television or Film so maybe we ll see in her in the future, hopefully.

New Movie ! a behind the scenes movie was made about the "Threes Company" TV series which aired in 2003. Essentially a behind the scenes look at what happened during the TV series. More info HERE Joyce works as a Co-Producer on the TV Movie and seems to use the opportunity to bring Suzanne's 70's anyics beyond the light of the editing room.

Sadly in 2004 actor John Ritter passes away suddenly at the age of 54, while on the set of his successful new TV series "8 Simple Rules". Joyce and John were always great friends over the years even after the show ended. Miss DeWiit appeared on "Larry King Live" at the time on CNN to discuss the tragic news of John's shocking passing. It was very sad news, my sincerest condolences to his friends and family.

FACTS

After "Three's Company" ended, she traveled the world before settling in New Mexico, USA.

She and 'Suzanne Somers' have not spoken
for almost 20 years.

Went to Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

Received a master of fine art in acting from the University of California, Los Angeles (year unknown).

When shooting 'Three's Company', she always wore either pantyhose or tights, and refused to work bare-legged. Though this caused conflict between her and the show's producers, it endeared her to hosiery manufacturers, and she became the spokeswoman for L'eggs pantyhose in the late 70s.

Very active in theater since the age of 13 and prefers stage work to television.

Auditioned as Fonzie's girlfriend on Happy Days in the late 1970s, although she didn't get the part (explaining she was too short and young), the CBS network paid her not to take another role, she was cast as Janet Wood on CBS Three's Company just a few weeks later.

Is a part of the LIFE (Love Is Feeding Everyone) organization where she, and other famous actors (Dennis Hopper), helping fight world hunger and homelessness.

Was a cheerleader in high school

Has three other siblings

Is part Swedish, part Italian.

QUOTES

"My Italian lineage is where
I get my temper".

Talking about the politics of Hollywood, "If that's
the way the game is played, I don't want to
play anymore."


CONTACT INFO

Joyce DeWitt
c/o JG Business Management
1250 6th Street
Suite 403
Santa Monica, CA 90401
USA


Joyce Dewitt
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