Dewitt was born in West Virginia to Norma and Paul DeWitt. Although she was born in West Virginia, Joyce grew up in Speedway, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis. After she received a bachelor's degree from Ball State University, she moved to California to earn her masters degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). While attending UCLA, she worked part-time as a house painter Read more...

Being an avid pantyhose wearer, DeWitt is famous for refusing to do any scenes bare-legged (she always wore either pantyhose or tights), and she became a paid endorser for L’eggs hosiery in the late 1970s. She became almost as famous for her disappearance after the series as she did for her Three's Company role; after the series, she did not appear as a regular player on any television series, Read more...

DeWitt and her former Three's Company co-star Suzanne Somers have had an acrimonious relationship (caused by Somers' mid-season salary negotiation ploy in 1980) and, according to many sources, still do not speak to each other. However, she and Priscilla Barnes (Somers's replacement on the show) became lifelong friends. She is the second cousin of actress Stepfanie Kramer.

DeWitt dated actor Read more...