Joyce Anne DeWitt, the second oldest of four children born to Paul and Norma DeWitt, entered the world on April 23, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia, but spent her formative years in Indiana. As a high school student, she began taking acting lessons, an ambition that did not initially resonate with her father. Nevertheless, she persisted, convincing him to allow her to major in theater during her college years.
DeWitt then made the move to UCLA, where she earned her master's degree. Following her graduation, she worked as a legal secretary while simultaneously attending auditions, a process that took months before ABC extended her an offer to choose between two comedy pilots. With only 24 hours to make a decision, she hastily read both scripts and opted for the one featuring a man living with two women, which would eventually become the iconic sitcom Three's Company (1976).
Although DeWitt had previously appeared in numerous stage productions, her portrayal of the down-to-earth, football jersey-wearing, and brunette roommate Janet Wood cemented her status as a household name. Throughout her career, she maintained a humble demeanor, eschewing the limelight and preferring to keep a low profile, despite the immense attention and fame that came her way.
