Surprising Stories from the Set of Three’s Company

Before John Ritter was cast as Jack Tripper, several other actors were seriously considered for the role. Among them were Billy Crystal, Barry Van Dyke, and Michael Lembeck, each of whom auditioned during the casting process.

All three later went on to successful careers, but the part ultimately went to Ritter, whose physical comedy and nervous charm perfectly matched the character. In hindsight, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role, but the list of contenders shows just how competitive and wide-ranging the search for Jack Tripper really was.