If you just typed joyce dewitt and husband into your search bar, you're definitely not the only one. People have been trying to track down the mysterious "Mr. DeWitt" for nearly fifty years.
Here is the thing, though. He isn't there.
Joyce DeWitt, the woman who played the pragmatic, level-headed Janet Wood on the legendary sitcom Three's Company, has never actually been married. Not once. While her character Janet famously tied the knot with Philip Dawson in the series finale back in 1984, Joyce herself chose a very different path in real life.
It's kinda wild when you think about it. We live in an era where celebrity dating lives are basically public property, yet DeWitt managed to keep her personal world so private that people are still convinced they just missed the wedding announcement.
The Relationship That Everyone Remembers (But Wasn't a Marriage)
When people go looking for a husband, they usually stumble across the name Ray Buktenica.
They were together for a long time. Seven years, to be exact, from 1973 to 1980. This was right at the height of Three's Company mania. Because they were a "power couple" of the era—Ray was a successful actor and director himself—many fans just assumed they had eloped or were secretly hitched.
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They weren't.
Honestly, the breakup was reportedly pretty tough. When it ended in 1980, it wasn't just a quiet "we're moving on" situation. It was a significant life shift for Joyce during a time when she was already dealing with the massive pressure of being one of the most famous women on television.
Why the "Husband" Rumors Never Die
Why do we keep searching for this? Part of it is just how we're wired to view sitcom stars from that era. We want the "happily ever after."
There’s also a lot of confusion caused by:
- The Three's Company Finale: In the episode "Friends and Lovers," Janet Wood gets married. If you grew up watching reruns, that image of her in a wedding dress is burned into your brain.
- Internet Obituaries: This is a big one. If you search "Joyce DeWitt husband" today, you might see an obituary for a Joyce M. DeWitt who passed away in 2019 and was married to a man named Frank. It’s a different Joyce.
- The Randolph Mantooth Rumor: For years, the internet insisted she was engaged to the Emergency! star. Mantooth actually went on the record to say he’d never even met her.
A Deliberate Choice to Stay Single
Joyce has actually spoken about this in a few rare, candid interviews. She once mentioned that as a young girl, she looked around and saw that most women only had two choices: get married or become a nun.
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She knew she wanted to work. She knew she wanted to be an actress.
Somewhere on an unconscious level, she basically decided that marriage and children just weren't going to be part of the equation for her. She loved men, and she loved being in relationships, but she also really valued her independence.
After Three's Company ended, she didn't jump into another show. She didn't try to become a movie star. She actually disappeared for about twelve years. She traveled the world. She studied with spiritual teachers. She lived in New Mexico.
Basically, she chose a life of "being" over a life of "doing" for the cameras.
What is Joyce DeWitt Doing in 2026?
At 76 years old, Joyce is still working, but on her own terms. You won't find her in a tabloid-ready marriage, but you will find her on stage. Theater has always been her first love—she started at 13—and she continues to perform in regional productions across the country.
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She's also been very active in the "fan" circuit lately. She recently appeared in a viral video opening old Three's Company trading cards from 1978. Fans were floored by how much she still looks like the Janet Wood we all loved.
If you're looking for the "actionable" takeaway here, it's pretty simple: stop looking for a husband.
Instead, look at her career as a blueprint for how to handle fame without letting it swallow you whole. She didn't follow the Hollywood script. She didn't feel the need to provide a "plus one" for the red carpet just to satisfy public curiosity.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check Local Theater Listings: Joyce often tours with plays like Nunsense or Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating & Marriage.
- Verify Your Sources: If you see a headline about her "secret husband," check the fine print. It's almost always a different person or a reference to a 40-year-old script.
- Support Her Causes: She has spent decades working with organizations like LIFE (Love Is Feeding Everyone) to fight homelessness and hunger.
Joyce DeWitt's life is proof that you can be a household name and still keep your most private moments for yourself. No husband required.