For millions of television fans, Joyce DeWitt will always be Janet Wood — the smart, grounded roommate who helped make Three’s Company one of the most beloved sitcoms of its era. But behind the laughter, quick wit, and perfectly timed punchlines was a woman far more private and complex than audiences ever realized.
Decades after the show ended, DeWitt remains a fascinating figure — not because she chased fame, but because she quietly stepped away from it.
Here are five surprising truths many fans still don’t know.
1. She Was Already a Serious Actress Before Sitcom Fame
Long before stepping into Janet’s shoes, DeWitt had deep theatrical roots. She began performing on stage as a teenager and later earned a bachelor’s degree in theater followed by a Master of Fine Arts from UCLA.
Unlike many sitcom stars who stumble into comedy, DeWitt approached acting as a craft — something she studied, trained for, and respected.
Ironically, the role that made her famous was lighter than the dramatic work she originally envisioned for herself.
2. Fame Was Never Her Goal
While Three’s Company turned its cast into household names, DeWitt never felt comfortable in the spotlight.
After the series wrapped, she intentionally sought fewer acting roles and retreated into what she described as her naturally introverted shell.
She once admitted she never wanted much attention and often tried to “hide” when the press arrived — a rare mindset in an industry built on visibility.
For DeWitt, success was about the work — not celebrity culture.
3. The Romance Rumors Were Mostly Overblown
Fans were always curious about her love life, but the reality was far quieter than Hollywood gossip suggested.
DeWitt never married and has no children, though she was in a long-term relationship with actor-director Ray Buktenica from 1973 to 1980.
Instead of dramatic tabloid romances, her life leaned toward independence — a choice that only added to her mystique.
4. A Feud That Lasted Decades — Then Ended With a Hug
One of the most talked-about tensions surrounding the show involved co-star Suzanne Somers. The conflict reportedly stemmed from salary negotiations after Somers sought a major pay raise, eventually leading to her departure.
For years, the actresses barely spoke.
But time softened old wounds.
More than three decades later, they reunited on Somers’ talk show in 2012, embracing and acknowledging their different career paths.
Sometimes, even Hollywood’s longest feuds can find closure.
5. She Chose a Quiet Life — Not a Forgotten One
Unlike some stars who chase comeback headlines, DeWitt transitioned mostly into theater work and stayed largely out of mainstream Hollywood.
Today, she divides her time between homes in Los Angeles and New Mexico and occasionally appears at events or conventions.
Her low profile isn’t a disappearance — it’s a deliberate way of living.
And perhaps that’s the most Janet Wood thing about her: grounded, thoughtful, and uninterested in unnecessary drama.
The Legacy She Never Tried to Build — But Did
Born in 1949 in West Virginia, Joyce DeWitt built a career that spanned decades, with Three’s Company remaining her defining role.
Yet her real legacy may be something subtler.
In an industry obsessed with staying relevant, DeWitt proved that stepping away can be its own kind of power.
No scandals.
No desperate reinventions.
No loud comeback tours.
Just a respected actress who understood when the spotlight no longer belonged at the center of her life.
And sometimes, that quiet confidence is far more compelling than fame itself.
If you want, I can write another version that’s more dramatic and click-driven, or one that feels deeper and more nostalgic, like a long-form magazine feature.