Abstract: A three-way reclining chair having a stationary base and a relatively movable seat, backrest, and footrest, with a linkage assembly mounted on each side of the recliner chair, having a seat linkage, a backrest linkage and a footrest linkage. A stop mechanism located within at least one of the backrest linkages prevents the seat from moving directly from a normal seating position to a reclined position while the footrest is in a fully retracted closed position. The stop mechanism also prevents the backrest from moving out of an upright position while the footrest is in the fully retracted closed position and returns the backrest to an upright seating position if the footrest is moved from a fully extended open position to the fully retracted closed position when the backrest is reclined. A tension spring interconnects the footrest linkage and seat linkage to positively bias the footrest to remain in the fully retracted closed position and the fully extended open position.