Jack Tripper
Encyclopedia
Jack Tripper is a fictional character
on the sitcoms Three's Company
and Three's a Crowd
, based upon the character, Robin Tripp, of Man About the House
and Robin's Nest
. Jack was played by the late John Ritter
.
. He was discovered in Janet Wood
and Chrissy Snow
's shower on the morning after a party they threw, explaining, "I had a friend who knew one of the gate-crashers." He previously lived at the YMCA
and needed a place to stay. Janet reasoned with the landlord, Stanley Roper
, and he agreed that Jack could stay because Janet told Mr. Roper that Jack was gay
. Jack was, however, actually straight
(the comedy stemming from having to "play gay" provided much of the story for the sitcom). He has an older brother named Lee who once came to visit the apartment and Jack displayed his feelings of inferiority when compared to Lee (Jack felt perpetually in his shadow when they were children). Jack Tripper Sr. was played on the series by comedian Dick Shawn
. In the Season 7 episode "Extra, extra", his mother was played by actress Georgann Johnson.
. Much of the character's humor is derived from slapstick
comedy. He is extremely clumsy and accident-prone, and is well known for his comic pratfalls
. Jack also is a sort of ladies' man, but is also, however, kind-hearted and demonstrates loyalty and a willingness to stand up for his friends and those he cares about. Despite having been a boxer in the navy, he often cowered and allowed other men to bully him.
s and held down odd jobs in his spare time. After completion of his schooling, he found full-time work as a chef
working for a popular restaurateur named Frank Angelino (Jordan Charney
). Later, with Angelino's help, he eventually opened his own restaurant, Jack's Bistro.
When one of his roommates (Janet Wood) gets married to Phillip Dawson in the Three's Company series finale, Jack proposes to flight attendant, Vicky Bradford. Even though she loves him, Vicky turns him down since she doesn't want to get married and wants them to live together instead. Jack refuses at first but then changes his mind and they move into the apartment above his bistro (Three's Company then ends and the series becomes Three's A Crowd with Vicky and Jack living above his bistro and Vicky's father having purchased the bistro from Mr. Angelino)
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the sitcoms Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
and Three's a Crowd
Three's a Crowd
Three's a Crowd is an American television sitcom spinoff of Three's Company...
, based upon the character, Robin Tripp, of Man About the House
Man About the House
Man About the House is a British sitcom starring Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett that was broadcast for six seasons on ITV from 1973 to 1976. It was created and written by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. The series was considered daring at the time due to its subject matter of...
and Robin's Nest
Robin's Nest
Robin's Nest is a British sitcom starring Richard O'Sullivan as Robin Tripp, one of the lead characters in the sitcom Man About the House, which had ended in 1976. Robin's Nest aired for six series from 1977 to 1981, and co-starred Tessa Wyatt as Robin's girlfriend and later wife and Tony Britton...
. Jack was played by the late John Ritter
John Ritter
Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for having played Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the ABC sitcoms Three's Company and 8 Simple Rules, respectively...
.
Introduction
Jack served in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He was discovered in Janet Wood
Janet Wood
Janet Wood is a fictional character on the television sitcom Three's Company played by Joyce DeWitt.-Fictional character biography:Janet and Chrissy shared an apartment in Santa Monica, California, and needed a third roommate to pay the rent after their old roommate, Eleanor, got married and moved...
and Chrissy Snow
Chrissy Snow
Christmas "Chrissy" Noelle Snow was a fictional character on the sitcom Three's Company. Chrissy was played by Suzanne Somers.In the original unaired pilot to Three's Company, the character that became Chrissy was portrayed by Susanne Zenor. Zenor was not picked for the second filming, so actress...
's shower on the morning after a party they threw, explaining, "I had a friend who knew one of the gate-crashers." He previously lived at the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and needed a place to stay. Janet reasoned with the landlord, Stanley Roper
Stanley Roper
Stanley Roper is the name of a fictional character from the sitcom Three's Company and its spinoff The Ropers.-Background:In Three's Company, Stanley Roper owns and manages the apartment building in Santa Monica that is home to Jack Tripper, Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow. He has a love-hate...
, and he agreed that Jack could stay because Janet told Mr. Roper that Jack was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. Jack was, however, actually straight
Heterosexuality
Heterosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, physical or romantic attractions to persons of the opposite sex";...
(the comedy stemming from having to "play gay" provided much of the story for the sitcom). He has an older brother named Lee who once came to visit the apartment and Jack displayed his feelings of inferiority when compared to Lee (Jack felt perpetually in his shadow when they were children). Jack Tripper Sr. was played on the series by comedian Dick Shawn
Dick Shawn
Dick Shawn was an American actor and comedian.-Early life and career:Shawn was born as Richard Schulefand in Buffalo, New York. He played Sylvester Marcus, son of Mrs. Marcus , in Stanley Kramer's It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Lorenzo St...
. In the Season 7 episode "Extra, extra", his mother was played by actress Georgann Johnson.
Personality
Jack is known for being a klutzAccident-proneness
Accident-proneness, also known as clumsiness, is the conception that some people might have predisposition, or that they might be more likely to suffer accidents, such as car crashes and industrial injuries, than other people...
. Much of the character's humor is derived from slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
comedy. He is extremely clumsy and accident-prone, and is well known for his comic pratfalls
Physical comedy
Physical comedy, also known as slapstick, is a comedic performance relying mostly on the use of the body to convey humour.Physical comedy, whether conveyed by a pratfall , a silly face, or the action of walking into walls, is a common and rarely subtle form of comedy...
. Jack also is a sort of ladies' man, but is also, however, kind-hearted and demonstrates loyalty and a willingness to stand up for his friends and those he cares about. Despite having been a boxer in the navy, he often cowered and allowed other men to bully him.
Jobs
Jack attended a local technical college on the G.I. Bill for a degree in culinary artCulinary art
Culinary art is the art of preparing and cooking foods. The word "culinary" is defined as something related to, or connected with, cooking. A culinarion is a person working in the culinary arts. A culinarian working in restaurants is commonly known as a cook or a chef. Culinary artists are...
s and held down odd jobs in his spare time. After completion of his schooling, he found full-time work as a chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
working for a popular restaurateur named Frank Angelino (Jordan Charney
Jordan Charney
Jordan Charney is an American character actor.Many of his earliest roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Jordan created...
). Later, with Angelino's help, he eventually opened his own restaurant, Jack's Bistro.
When one of his roommates (Janet Wood) gets married to Phillip Dawson in the Three's Company series finale, Jack proposes to flight attendant, Vicky Bradford. Even though she loves him, Vicky turns him down since she doesn't want to get married and wants them to live together instead. Jack refuses at first but then changes his mind and they move into the apartment above his bistro (Three's Company then ends and the series becomes Three's A Crowd with Vicky and Jack living above his bistro and Vicky's father having purchased the bistro from Mr. Angelino)
In popular culture
- In an episode of Designing WomenDesigning WomenDesigning Women is an American television sitcom that centered on the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by head writer...
, Charlene dreams about John Ritter as Jack Tripper falling over stuff. - Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
also refers to himself as "The black Jack Tripper", in reference to Snoop always having two women. - Lyrics from R. KellyR. KellyRobert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
's "Double Up": "Doublin up for me is like routine playa, I'm a go getta, Mix em up like I'm a dealer, Man three's company b*tch call me Jack Tripper" - Suga FreeSuga FreeDejuan Rice , better known by his stage name Suga Free, is an American rapper from Pomona, California.-Biography:Suga Free was born in Oakland and raised in Compton, later becoming based in Pomona, California....
referred to himself as "The young Jack Tripper", in his track titled "Allergic to B*llshit". This was in reference to himself being with multiple women at once. - South Park MexicanSouth Park MexicanCarlos Coy , better known by his stage name South Park Mexican, is an American rapper, founder of Dope House Records, and convicted felon...
refers to Jack Tripper in many songs. - Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
referred to Jack Tripper on Janet JacksonJanet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's song "My Baby" from her 2004 album Damita Jo. "You was tryna stab one like Jack the Ripper, I was tryna stab two like Jack the Tripper." West was referring to cheating with two women. - In the movie Stay Tuned, Roy Knable (played by John Ritter) leaps from channel to channel in a world made of TV shows. At one point, he finds himself on the set of Three's Company, dressed like Jack Tripper. Screaming in terror, he leaps to another channel.
- Brand NubianBrand NubianBrand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
reference Jack Tripper on their song "One for All", the title track off their 1990 debut album: "I'm living kinda good similar to Jack Tripper." - In American Dad!American Dad!American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...
Roger slips on goo he's leaking and shouts "Oh, not this bit! I'm Jack Tripper over here". - Pimp CPimp CChad Lamont Butler , better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper, singer, and producer...
refers to "Jack Tripper" in the track " I'm a Hustler". - WaleWaleA wale is a broad, thick plank around the outside of a wooden ship.The garboard is the wale next to the keel; the gunwale is the top such plank and covers the heads of the timbers between the main and fore drifts....
referred to Jack Tripper in the song "Mother Nature" - In the song "3-Way (The Golden Rule)3-Way (The Golden Rule)"3-Way " is a song by American comedy music group The Lonely Island featuring American pop singers Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. It appeared as an SNL Digital Short in the May 21, 2011 episode of the sketch comedy television series Saturday Night Live , which saw Timberlake and Gaga as the host...
" by The Lonely IslandThe Lonely IslandThe Lonely Island is an American comedy troupe composed of Akiva "Kiv" Schaffer, Jorma "Jorm" Taccone, and David Andrew "Andy" Samberg, best known for their comedic music. Originally from Berkeley, California, the group is currently based in New York City. The group broke out due to their...
featuring Justin TimberlakeJustin TimberlakeJustin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
and Lady GagaLady GaGaStefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, a the subject of a threesomeThreesomeA threesome is a group of three engaged in the same activity. In relation to a sexual activity a threesome refer to the activity involving three people of any gender or sexual orientation...
between Timberlake, Andy SambergAndy SambergDavid Andrew "Andy" Samberg is an American actor, comedian, rapper and writer best known as a member of the comedy group The Lonely Island and as a cast member on Saturday Night Live...
and Gaga's characters is described as "two Jack Trippers and a Chrissie in a new Three's Company", with Timberlake and Samberg shown dressed as Tripper.