Joyce DeWitt is most widely known to audiences for her starring role as Janet Wood in the ABC Television hit series "Three's Company," where she worked for many years with her dear friend, the amazing John Ritter. She has an extensive theatrical background, working both as an actress and director in a stage career which spans over 50 years.
In those 50 years, DeWitt has starred in theatrical productions of every genre. The classics include Moliere's "Tartuffe," Shakespeare's "Macbeth," and Euripides' "Medea," contemporary dramas such as Paddy Chayefsky's "Middle of the Night," Eugene O'Neill's "Desire Under the Elms," the 2000 Pulitzer Prize-winning "Dinner With Friends," and the North American premiere of Australia's complicated yet romantic "Daylight Savings."
Her career also includes starring roles in such comedic hits as Sam Bobrick's "Remember Me," Neil Simon's "Star Spangle Girl," his comical yet tender "Chapter Two," as well as the hilarious British farce "Noises Off," the Tony Award-winning "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," and the endearing "Same Time Next Year." Her long list of starring roles in musicals includes "South Pacific," "Damn Yankees," "Sweet Charity," "Oklahoma," "Married Alive," "Leader of the Pack," "They’re Playing Our Song," "Hats," "All Shook Up," revivals of Cole Porter's Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes," Mama Rose in "Gypsy," and the mythical "Olympus on My Mind" for which she completed the cast recording - her first Broadway album.
Most recently, DeWitt's joy has been in several productions of A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters" with her dear friend Tab Hunter, touring with the adorable and talented Adrian Zmed in "TV Hit Parade," starring in productions of the "Vagina Monologues" in multiple cities, as well as the premiere production of the hysterical, yet musically unexpected, "I'm Connecticut" by "The Simpsons'" creator/producer/writer Mike Reiss. Additionally, DeWitt loved every minute of starring in New York in the off-Broadway production of "Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage" and having the great pleasure of participating in Broadway Cares.
In her film and television life of variety shows, comedies, and dramas she has had the pleasure of appearing with such wonderful talents as Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Ann Miller, Bill Cosby, Darlene Love, Perry Como, Anne Murray, Florence LaRue, Tony Randall, Rich Little, Cheryl Ladd, Robert Loggia, Steve Martin, Charles Durning, Martha Reeves, and Queen Latifah.
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, DeWitt is one of four children. Her childhood years were divided between West Virginia and Indiana. DeWitt holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ball State University and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from UCLA, where she was awarded the Master of Fine Arts Fellowship as well as the Clifton Webb Scholarship.
DeWitt is also a passionate activist and philanthropist. Working with Valerie Harper and Dennis Weaver, DeWitt participated with members of the House and Senate at the Capitol Hill Forum on Hunger and Homelessness and has hosted presentations for the Family Assistance Program of Hollywood. She hosted the International Awards Ceremony at the White House for the Presidential End Hunger Awards, as well as co-hosted the World Food Day Gala at the Kennedy Center with Jeff Bridges.
