The Real Story of Why Norman Fell Left ‘Three’s Company’

You’ve got to hand it to Norman Fell: the guy knew when he had a good thing going. And the role of Stanley Roper on Three’s Company was a very good thing indeed. For three seasons beginning in 1976, he, along with actress Audra Lindley, played the wacky landlords who frequently butted into the lives of their tenants Jack (John Ritter), Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) and Janet (Joyce DeWitt) on the classic series.

Fell, who had previously appeared in roles in dozens of films and TV shows including The Graduate, was a genuinely funny guy, with pitch-perfect comedic timing.