cheers is a beloved, feel-good sitcom centered around the titular Boston bar and the many colorful patrons and workers who socialize there. The celebrated comedy ran for eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993 and received 28 Primetime Emmy Awards during its highly popular tenure. The show’s massive series finale was watched by a whopping 80.4 million viewers, becoming the most-watched episode of the ’90s and cementing its legacy as one of television’s most-appreciated gems.
The long-running sitcom helped launch the careers of stars like Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, and Kirstie Alley and continues to land on countless critics’ lists of the greatest TV shows of all time to this day. It’s been 30 years since the loveable misfits said their goodbyes, so let’s take a look at what the cast has been up to since the last curtain fell.
Ted Danson (Sam Malone)
Ted Danson starred as live-in ladies’ man and titular Boston bar owner Sam Malone, who has a troubled will-they-or-not-they relationship with Diane before later pursuing Rebecca Howe. Over the celebrated show’s 11 seasons, Danson won two Golden Globes and two Primetime Emmys, and would later reprise his character in guest appearances in the spin-off. Frasier.
The seasoned actor soon found more success with starring roles in popular shows such as Becker, Schade, CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationAnd Control your enthusiasmand recently won over audiences with his portrayal of the scheming Michael The good place. He remains a decorated and highly sought after movie and TV star who is also a very vocal ocean conservation and environmental awareness activist.
Shelley Long (Diane Chambers)
Shelly long portrayed the posh and savvy graduate student-turned-waitress Diane Chambers, who captured the hearts of audiences and Sam Malone alike throughout the show’s first five seasons. The book smart Diane was initially a fish out of water at the bar, but eventually came into her own and gained confidence during her tenure.
Long decided to leave the sitcom in 1987, partly to spend time with her daughter. In an interview with Where are they now, Long said she “didn’t want to keep doing the same episode and story over and over again. I didn’t want it to get old and stale.” The Golden Globe-winning actress would later appear in shows like 8 simple rules, Frasier, And Yes my dear, and especially as DeDe Pritchett on Modern family.
Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli)
Bold and feisty cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli constantly complains about the bar’s many colorful visitors and never shys away from cynical remarks about her fellow friends. The wisecracking Carla is regularly at odds with her nemesis Diane and is close to Sam and Coach throughout the series.
Rhea Perlman won four Emmy Awards for her role and memorably co-starred with husband Danny DeVito in the 1990s fantasy classic Matilda but also in movies like Sing, funny faceAnd You peopleand on the sitcom The Mindy Project. Perlman also shared the stage with daughter Lucy DeVito in the off-Broadway play Love, loss and what I wore.
George Wendt (Norm Peterson)
Regular Cheers Norm Peterson was known for giving loud greetings to those at the bar and hilariously announcing his arrival while sitting in the same seat for the show’s eleven years. The beer-loving, sardonic customer was just one of three characters (along with Sam and Carla) to appear in every episode of the sitcom, hilariously racking up a huge bill during its run.
Afterall Cheers, George Went made numerous TV appearances in shows such as The Simpsons, The Larry Sanders Show, The Goldbergs, And Family man, and most recently on the reality singing competition program The masked singer.
Nicholas Colasanto (Ernie “Coach” Pantusso)
Nicholas Colasanto was a decorated performer with an impressive acting resume with roles in movies like Raging bull And family plot, and directed episodes of popular TV shows such as Hawaii Five-O, Bananza, Starsky & HutchAnd towbar. The World War II veteran became a beloved household name when he took on the role of Ernie “Coach” Pantusso Cheers, portraying the witty and warm-hearted bartender who had a penchant for being forgetful.
Colasanto sadly died of a heart attack on February 12, 1985 after a battle with heart disease, and the character of Woody Harrelson was introduced in season 4 as a bond with Coach and to honor his legacy.
John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin)
Local know-it-all and often insufferable barfly Cliff Clavin was best friends with fellow patron Norm, with the postman serving as a fount of nonsensical knowledge that often annoyed his buddies. John Ratzenberger was inspired for the role by a police officer he knew in his hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut, after the actor initially auditioned for the role of Norm.
Ratzenberger is a beloved Pixar legend, who has lent his voice to hits like Monster’s Inc., Cars, And The incrediblesand as Hamm in the blockbuster franchise Toy Story. In 2023, he appeared in an episode of Poker face as Abe the mechanic, opposite Natasha Lyonne.
Woody HarrelsonWoody Boyd
The dim-witted but charming Woody Boyd arrived at Cheers looking for his “pen pal” Coach and was eventually hired as a bartender when Sam told him of the likable character’s untimely demise. After traveling from the Midwest to the bar in Boston, the kind-hearted Woody was taken into Sam’s care and quickly became a fan favorite of the show. Woody Harrelson starred as the aptly named character from 1985 to 1993, earning an Emmy Award and becoming a household name in the process.
He found immense success in both TV and film, garnering three Oscar nominations during his career and delivering phenomenal performances in films such as The People vs. Larry Flynt, Zombieland, No country for old menand as Haymitch Abernathy in The hunger Games franchise. He will play E. Howard Hunt in the upcoming satirical political series Plumbers in the White House on HBO.
Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane)
cheers upcoming talent Kelsey Grammer joined the show during the season 3 premiere, with his character serving as a new love interest for Diane after her split from Sam. Frasier Crane was primarily introduced as Sam’s main romantic rival for Diane’s affections, with the psychiatrist being dragged into a love triangle with the duo in his early seasons. Many viewers didn’t embrace Frasier at first, thinking he came between Sam and Diane, but he would later become a popular regular at the bar and on the sitcom.
Grammer would only appear in a few episodes of Cheers, but his compelling portrayal earned executives appreciation and his role expanded. The actor got his own spin-off Frasier in 1993, which ran for eleven seasons and won a whopping thirty-seven Primetime Emmy Awards. Grammer later appeared on shows such as 30 Rock, the unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, And Bossand will reprise his role as Frasier Crane in a revival spin-off at Paramount+ later this year.
Kirstie Alley (Rebecca Howe)
After Shelley Long left the series after five seasons, Kirsty Alley was brought in as Sam’s new female foil Rebecca Howe, beating out fellow actresses like Kim Cattrall and Sharon Stone for the part. The often neurotic and wonderfully eccentric Rebecca immediately caught Sam’s eye, and he would try to pursue a romantic relationship with her for much of her time on the show. Alley won both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award in 1991 for her vivacious performance as the endearing waitress and bar manager.
Alley’s popularity skyrocketed when she joined Cheers, with the actress in films like Look who’s talking (and its two sequels), MadhouseAnd Sibling rivalry during his run. She would go on to play roles in shows like The Last Don, Hot in ClevelandAnd King of queensand appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the stars And The masked singer in 2022. Alley sadly passed away on December 4, 2022 from stage four colon cancer along with her colleague cheers castmates paying tribute to the late actress.
Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith Sternin)
The tense Dr. Lilith Sternin was first introduced as a romantic partner for Frasier during the fourth season, though their date does not go well due to her disdain for the bar and his behavior in it. Despite a rocky start, the duo eventually have a long and complicated relationship, which includes getting married and having a son named Frederick.
Bebe Neuwirth would reprise her role frasier, and the actress won two Emmy Awards for her time as the tightly wound psychiatrist. After the show, she starred in TV dramas such as Madam Secretary, Blue BloodsAnd The good fightand most recently appeared as Avis DeVoto in the HBO Max series Juliet.