Stanley Roper
Encyclopedia
Stanley Roper is the name of a fictional character from the sitcom Three's Company
and its spinoff The Ropers
.
that is home to Jack Tripper
, Janet Wood
and Chrissy Snow
. He has a love-hate relationship
with his wife, Helen
. Although they care deeply for each other, Helen and Stanley regularly bicker and engage in one-upmanship, with Helen usually the intellectual victor. A significant amount of their tension is due to Helen's regular desire for romance with Stanley, while Stanley is either clueless or uninterested. During the character's time on the series, he was known for breaking the fourth wall
by smiling and snickering at the camera after telling a one liner joke, often at his wife's expense.
Stanley is generally friendly towards the roommates but can be very angry if the rent is late. He is also not above exploiting his tenants' fear of raised rents to get chores and favors done. He is told that Jack is homosexual to bypass any objections he might have to a man living with two women. He does not appear to hate Jack or homosexuals in general, but he does see Jack's supposed homosexuality as a source of amusement and makes several jokes at his expense.
Stanley is extremely cheap (from episode "Stanley's Hotline" in which the roommates call him 'the cheapest man alive' and very much penny wise, pound foolish). He drives a run down 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air, which he attempted to sell to the roommates, but reneged when he learned he could get a lot more money for it from another buyer (who thought it was the classic and far more valuable 1957 model). After the intended buyer learned it was actually a 1958 model, he offered to tow it away if Roper paid him $25.
After Mr. Roper sold the building to Bart Furley, Bart's brother Ralph
took over as landlord.
and live next door to snobby real estate agent, Jeffrey P. Brookes III (who eventually sells them their house).
Stanley intensely dislikes Jeffrey and the feeling is mutual. When Stanley and Helen were investigating buying the house, Jeffrey's son David came in and explained to Stanley that if his father didn't like Stanley and Helen, he would never let them move in. When Jeffrey arrived for the showing, Stanley begins telling an invented story that this house was perfect for his "drums" and "wild parties". Very quickly, Stanley and Helen are thrown out of the building by Jeffrey, but with much prompting from Helen, soon came back to get another look at it. Jeffrey puts a phony "sold" sign in front of the house to deter them. Stanley conceals his joy, but for Helen's sake he feigns sadness, saying "I would buy it this in an instant if it wasn't sold!" Seeing through Stanley's ploy, Jeffrey tells them that the house isn't sold and Stanley is stuck buying it.
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
and its spinoff The Ropers
The Ropers
The Ropers is an American sitcom that ran from March 13, 1979 to May 22, 1980 on ABC. The series is a spinoff of Three's Company and based on the British sitcom George and Mildred...
.
Background
In Three's Company, Stanley Roper owns and manages the apartment building in Santa MonicaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
that is home to Jack Tripper
Jack Tripper
Jack Tripper is a fictional character on the sitcoms Three's Company and Three's a Crowd, based upon the character, Robin Tripp, of Man About the House and Robin's Nest. Jack was played by the late John Ritter.-Introduction:...
, Janet Wood
Janet Wood
Janet Wood is a fictional character on the television sitcom Three's Company played by Joyce DeWitt.-Fictional character biography:Janet and Chrissy shared an apartment in Santa Monica, California, and needed a third roommate to pay the rent after their old roommate, Eleanor, got married and moved...
and Chrissy Snow
Chrissy Snow
Christmas "Chrissy" Noelle Snow was a fictional character on the sitcom Three's Company. Chrissy was played by Suzanne Somers.In the original unaired pilot to Three's Company, the character that became Chrissy was portrayed by Susanne Zenor. Zenor was not picked for the second filming, so actress...
. He has a love-hate relationship
Love-hate relationship
A love–hate relationship is an interpersonal relationship involving simultaneous or alternating emotions of love and hate. This relationship does not have to be of a romantic nature, and may be instead of a sibling one...
with his wife, Helen
Helen Roper
Helen Roper is a character on the situation comedy series, Three's Company and its later spin-off series The Ropers. In both shows, she is played by Audra Lindley....
. Although they care deeply for each other, Helen and Stanley regularly bicker and engage in one-upmanship, with Helen usually the intellectual victor. A significant amount of their tension is due to Helen's regular desire for romance with Stanley, while Stanley is either clueless or uninterested. During the character's time on the series, he was known for breaking the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
by smiling and snickering at the camera after telling a one liner joke, often at his wife's expense.
Stanley is generally friendly towards the roommates but can be very angry if the rent is late. He is also not above exploiting his tenants' fear of raised rents to get chores and favors done. He is told that Jack is homosexual to bypass any objections he might have to a man living with two women. He does not appear to hate Jack or homosexuals in general, but he does see Jack's supposed homosexuality as a source of amusement and makes several jokes at his expense.
Stanley is extremely cheap (from episode "Stanley's Hotline" in which the roommates call him 'the cheapest man alive' and very much penny wise, pound foolish). He drives a run down 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air, which he attempted to sell to the roommates, but reneged when he learned he could get a lot more money for it from another buyer (who thought it was the classic and far more valuable 1957 model). After the intended buyer learned it was actually a 1958 model, he offered to tow it away if Roper paid him $25.
After Mr. Roper sold the building to Bart Furley, Bart's brother Ralph
Ralph Furley
Ralph "RF" Furley is the name of a fictional character from the sitcom Three's Company, played by Don Knotts.Mr. Furley is the landlord of a Santa Monica apartment building that is owned by his brother, Bart, who acquired it from Stanley Roper. It is the home to Jack Tripper, Larry Dallas, Janet...
took over as landlord.
The Ropers series
For The Ropers, Stanley and Helen move to Cheviot Hills, CaliforniaCheviot Hills, Los Angeles, California
Cheviot Hills is a small residential district on the West Side of Los Angeles, California. It served as the location for the Three's Company spin-off The Ropers.-Geography:...
and live next door to snobby real estate agent, Jeffrey P. Brookes III (who eventually sells them their house).
Stanley intensely dislikes Jeffrey and the feeling is mutual. When Stanley and Helen were investigating buying the house, Jeffrey's son David came in and explained to Stanley that if his father didn't like Stanley and Helen, he would never let them move in. When Jeffrey arrived for the showing, Stanley begins telling an invented story that this house was perfect for his "drums" and "wild parties". Very quickly, Stanley and Helen are thrown out of the building by Jeffrey, but with much prompting from Helen, soon came back to get another look at it. Jeffrey puts a phony "sold" sign in front of the house to deter them. Stanley conceals his joy, but for Helen's sake he feigns sadness, saying "I would buy it this in an instant if it wasn't sold!" Seeing through Stanley's ploy, Jeffrey tells them that the house isn't sold and Stanley is stuck buying it.