<P> The following is a list of major characters in the American television series Three's Company (1977--84). </P> <P> Jack E. Tripper, Jr., was portrayed by John Ritter . The character is based on the character Robin Tripp of the British sitcom Man About the House and Robin's Nest . Jack was the main character on Three's Company and its spinoff Three's a Crowd . </P> <P> Jack E. Tripper was a San Diego native who was a veteran of the United States Navy, where he was a member of a boxing team . He was discovered in the bathroom of Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow's apartment in Santa Monica on the morning after a going - away party they threw for their departing roommate Eleanor, explaining, "I came with a friend who knew one of the gate - crashers ." He previously lived at the YMCA and needed a place to stay, and the girls needed a new roommate to replace Eleanor . Janet reasoned with their landlord, Stanley Roper, who lived straight downstairs from the girls' apartment, and he agreed that Jack could stay because Janet told Mr. Roper that Jack was gay, without Jack's knowledge . Jack was, of course, straight (the comedy stemming from having to "play gay" provided much of the story for the sitcom), but to bypass Mr. Roper's policy against single men sharing an apartment with single women, Jack had to pose as a homosexual to Mr. Roper (and later to Mr. Furley, as well). </P> <P> Jack attended LA Tech on the G.I. Bill to follow his dreams of running a small French restaurant one day . He pursued a degree in culinary arts and worked odd jobs from time to time . After completion of his schooling, he found full - time employment as a chef, working for a popular restaurant owner named Frank Angelino (Jordan Charney). He worked his way up to head chef, and, around season seven, finally opened his own French restaurant called Jack's Bistro . </P>

Who was the first landlord on three's company