McBroom bids adieu to old friend, Ritter
By Jesse Phelps

His many fans reacted with shock and surprise at the recent death of talented comedian John Ritter, most famous for his long-running portrayal of Jack Tripper on the hit 1970s situation comedy "Three's Company."

Ritter died suddenly on Sept. 11, 2003 from an aortic aneurysm.

After an illustrious career that included extensive film and television work, including a hilarious turn in the underrated Blake Edwards comedy "Skin Deep" in 1989 and a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated "Sling Blade" in 1996, Ritter made his comeback to primetime last year with "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter." His last episodes are currently airing on Tuesday nights on ABC.

Ojai's Amanda McBroom has been a close friend of the Ritter family for many years and sang the Beatles' "In My Life" at a small, private funeral service in Los Angeles. She called the death "totally unexpected."

McBroom, who has also done extensive television work, said that she met Ritter just as both of their careers were about to skyrocket.
"John Ritter and I did a 'Hawaii 5-0' together back in 1976," said McBroom. "He played my little brother. Over a period of years he and his wife and my husband and I became very close friends.

"When we met, I was playing him a song I had just written called 'The Rose' in my dressing room and he was telling me about a job he had just gotten on a show called 'Three's Company.' It was like we were in the same place."

McBroom remembers Ritter as an immensely talented comedian and as, perhaps, an under-appreciated dramatic actor. "He was wonderfully talented actor who had a great gift for comedy," she said. "He was wonderful dramatic actor, but comedy is where his heart was. He was one of the funniest people who ever lived and certainly one of the kindest."

McBroom said Ritter could be counted on for his generosity. "He was great guy. He was kind, he was friendly to everybody and he gave of himself hugely," she said.

She said she chose the song not just for its topical significance but because "The Beatles were his favorite group in the world."
Ritter would have celebrated his 55th birthday just a week after his death.

Meanwhile, for McBroom, the show must go on.

She said she is currently performing a series of concerts in Hollywood and about to go to Virginia to do a concert in October. Next June, at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, she'll unveil a one-woman musical called Lady McBeth Sings the Blues.

"Shakespeare's female characters are all over it," she says, of the show that she wrote and will perform alone. "There will be some blues, a bunch of everything in it."

And in November, she'll be part of a concert in Las Vegas to benefit children of special operations officers who served in Iraq. The Gala Benefit For The Children Of Heroes will take place on Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 at the Ibiza USA in Desert Passage at The Aladdin Hotel & Casino.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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