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Where Are They Now? The Cheers Cast In 2025—Including The Tragic Passing Of A Beloved Star

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The iconic Boston bar where everybody knows your name may have closed its doors decades ago, but the lives and careers of the *Cheers* cast continue to make headlines in 2025. This year has brought a mix of major career milestones, a high-profile television cancellation, and the heartbreaking news of a beloved cast member's passing, making the question of "Where are they now?" more poignant than ever. From Ted Danson’s latest Netflix hit to Woody Harrelson’s upcoming film slate, the stars of the 1980s and 90s sitcom are still very much a part of the entertainment landscape, even as they mourn the loss of one of their own.

Current updates from December 2025 confirm that the spirit of *Cheers* endures, particularly through the ongoing legacy of the *Frasier* spinoff, although its future is currently uncertain. The most significant and saddest update of the year, however, was the death of the man who played the ultimate barfly. This deep dive covers the full biography of the core cast, their latest projects, and the enduring legacy of one of television's most decorated sitcoms, which holds the record for 117 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

The Main Cheers Cast: Full Biography and Character Profiles

The core ensemble of *Cheers* was a revolving door of talent, anchored by a few constants. Here is a complete profile of the main cast members, including those who have sadly passed away, providing a foundation for their careers before and after the iconic sitcom.

  • Ted Danson (Sam Malone)
    • Born: Edward Bridge Danson III, December 29, 1947, San Diego, California, U.S.
    • Character Role: Sam Malone, the charming, womanizing former Red Sox pitcher and owner of the bar.
    • Career Highlights: *The Good Place*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Damages*, *Three Men and a Baby*.
  • Shelley Long (Diane Chambers)
    • Born: Shelley Lee Long, August 23, 1949, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
    • Character Role: Diane Chambers, the intellectual, pretentious, and often neurotic waitress and love interest to Sam.
    • Career Highlights: *The Money Pit*, *Troop Beverly Hills*, *The Brady Bunch Movie* (as Carol Brady).
  • Kelsey Grammer (Dr. Frasier Crane)
    • Born: Allen Kelsey Grammer, February 21, 1955, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
    • Character Role: Dr. Frasier Crane, the pompous, acerbic psychiatrist who became a bar regular and later the star of the highly successful spin-off, *Frasier*.
    • Career Highlights: *Frasier* (original and reboot), *The Simpsons* (voice of Sideshow Bob), *Boss*.
  • Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli)
    • Born: Rhea Jo Perlman, March 31, 1948, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
    • Character Role: Carla Tortelli, the sharp-tongued, no-nonsense waitress known for her quick wit and large family.
    • Career Highlights: *Matilda*, *Taxi*, *Poms*, and numerous stage productions.
  • Woody Harrelson (Woody Boyd)
    • Born: Woodrow Tracy Harrelson, July 23, 1961, Midland, Texas, U.S.
    • Character Role: Woody Boyd, the naive, sweet-natured bartender from Indiana who replaced the late Coach.
    • Career Highlights: *True Detective*, *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*, *The Hunger Games*, *Natural Born Killers*.
  • John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin)
    • Born: John Deszo Ratzenberger, April 6, 1947, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
    • Character Role: Cliff Clavin, the know-it-all mailman whose endless supply of dubious trivia became a running gag.
    • Career Highlights: The only actor to voice a character in every Pixar film (*Toy Story*, *Cars*, *A Bug's Life*, etc.).
  • George Wendt (Norm Peterson) - Deceased
    • Born: George Robert Wendt Jr., October 17, 1948, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
    • Character Role: Norm Peterson, the ultimate bar regular whose arrival was always greeted with a hearty "Norm!" and a fresh beer.
    • Death: May 20, 2025, at age 76.
  • Kirstie Alley (Rebecca Howe) - Deceased
    • Born: Kirstie Louise Alley, January 12, 1951, Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
    • Character Role: Rebecca Howe, the high-strung, ambitious, and often hapless new manager who replaced Diane as Sam's foil.
    • Death: December 5, 2022, at age 71 (Colon Cancer).
  • Nicholas Colasanto (Coach Ernie Pantusso) - Deceased
    • Born: Nicholas Colasanto, January 19, 1924, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
    • Character Role: Coach Ernie Pantusso, the kind-hearted, slow-witted bartender and Sam's former baseball coach.
    • Death: February 12, 1985, at age 61 (Heart Attack).

The Cheers Cast in 2025: New Projects, Awards, and Tragic Loss

The year 2025 has been one of significant activity and reflection for the surviving *Cheers* family. The news of George Wendt’s passing in May 2025 brought the cast together in shared mourning, even as their individual careers continue to flourish across film, television, and stage.

A Final Farewell to Norm: George Wendt’s Passing

The most impactful news for the *Cheers* community came on May 20, 2025, when actor George Wendt, known universally as Norm Peterson, passed away peacefully at the age of 76. Wendt's death came on the 32nd anniversary of the *Cheers* series finale, a coincidence that added a layer of bittersweet nostalgia to the news. His character, Norm, was the quintessential barfly, a man whose entire existence revolved around his stool at the bar, whose entrance was a ritual, and whose tax-evading, beer-loving persona resonated with millions of viewers. Tributes from co-stars like Ted Danson and John Ratzenberger poured in, celebrating the Chicago native's comedic genius and kind nature.

Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson: Still On-Screen Powerhouses

Two of the show's biggest stars, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, cemented their status as Hollywood heavyweights with major 2025 projects. Ted Danson, who played Sam Malone, received the prestigious 2025 Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award for his career achievements. He also returned to television in a starring role in the Netflix comedy-crime series, *A Man on the Inside*, which premiered in 2025 and quickly became a streaming hit. Danson’s enduring appeal, evident in his prior acclaimed roles in *The Good Place* and *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, shows no signs of slowing down.

Woody Harrelson, who joined the cast as Woody Boyd after the death of Nicholas Colasanto, had a packed 2025 film schedule. The Academy Award-nominated actor starred in the survival thriller *Last Breath*, released on February 28, 2025. He is also slated to reprise his role as Merritt McKinney in the third installment of the magic-heist franchise, *Now You See Me: Now You Don't*, which is scheduled for a November 2025 release.

The Uncertain Future of the Frasier Spinoff

Kelsey Grammer’s character, Dr. Frasier Crane, is the star of the most successful television spin-off in history. However, the 2023 revival of *Frasier* faced a major hurdle in early 2025 when Paramount+ officially canceled the show after its second season. Despite this setback, Grammer is "very positive" and actively working to find a new network or streaming service to pick up the sitcom for a third season, believing there is "a better home for it." The revival, which saw Frasier return to Boston, has sparked renewed speculation about potential cameos from other *Cheers* stars like Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, and John Ratzenberger, though none have been confirmed.

The Enduring Legacy and Topical Authority of Cheers

Beyond the personal lives of the actors, the legacy of *Cheers* remains a cornerstone of television history. The show’s topical authority is built on its groundbreaking run and its pervasive cultural impact.

  • Awards Dominance: Over its eleven seasons (1982–1993), *Cheers* received a staggering 117 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning 28, including four for Outstanding Comedy Series. It also won six Golden Globes, including Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical in 1992.
  • The Theme Song: The iconic theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," was co-written and originally performed by Gary Portnoy. The song perfectly encapsulated the show's central idea of a welcoming, communal third place—a concept that continues to resonate today.
  • Filming Locations: While the interior scenes of the bar were filmed on Stage 25 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California, the instantly recognizable exterior shots were of the Bull & Finch Pub (now officially called "Cheers Beacon Hill") in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • The Spinoff Phenomenon: *Frasier* is one of the few sitcom spinoffs to achieve critical and commercial success equal to or greater than its predecessor. The character of Dr. Frasier Crane, introduced in Season 3 of *Cheers*, became a cultural entity in his own right.

The cast members who are still with us, including Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, and John Ratzenberger, continue to be celebrated for their defining roles. Ratzenberger, the voice of Pixar favorites like Hamm in *Toy Story*, is a regular on the convention circuit, meeting fans who still adore his character, Cliff Clavin. Rhea Perlman, who had a guest role in the second season of the crime mystery series *Poker Face* in 2025, also remains active on the stage, a testament to her versatile career. As the years pass, the updates on the *Cheers* cast serve as a reminder of the powerful, comforting nostalgia of a place where everyone knew your name.

Where Are They Now? The Cheers Cast in 2025—Including the Tragic Passing of a Beloved Star
cast of cheers
cast of cheers

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