An engaging, rather boyish, sometimes goofy comic lead, John Ritter began his acting career while still an undergraduate at USC, appearing at the Edinburgh Festival in 1968. Following his graduation, this younger son of cowboy actor-singer Tex Ritter landed stage roles in summer stock productions of "Desire under the Elms" with Eva Marie Saint and "Butterflies Are Free" alongside Jean Stapleton. Ritter made his film acting debut in Disney's "The Barefoot Executive" (1971), but found steadier work and star-making vehicles on TV....