Surprising Stories from the Set of Three’s Company

At the end of season three, Mr. Roper announces that he has sold the apartment building and that he and Helen are moving away. On screen, Mrs. Roper seems unsure about the change, a hesitation that mirrored real life in an unexpected way.

Audra Lindley was enthusiastic about starring in a spin-off, but Norman Fell was reluctant to leave Three’s Company. He worried about walking away from a hit series and took nearly six months to agree. Only after much persuasion did he finally commit to The Ropers.