<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 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>
who was the first landlord on three 's company
who was the first landlord on three 's company
Stanley Roper
Stanley Roper