'Cheers' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

Dead last in the ratings and nearly canceled after its first year, <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/cheers/62256/main" target="_blank">'Cheers'</a> went on to become one of the most successful sitcoms in history. We revisited the happy half-hour at the bar where everybody knows your name to find out what the regulars have been up to since Sam's joint was shuttered 15 years ago. --<i>By Jefferson Reid</i>

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ted-danson/16938' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Ted Danson</font></a>

Sam Malone (1982-1993)

<b>Then:</b> Former Red Sox pitcher, recovering alcoholic and unrepentant ladies man Sam Malone was rarely Sam Alone as bartender/owner of the Cheers pub. Whether he was romancing Diane or indulging in one-night stands, his banter with the barflies was as nonstop as his love life.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ted-danson/16938' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Ted Danson</font></a>

Sam Malone (1982-1993)

<b>Now:</b> Post-'Cheers,' Danson dated <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/whoopi-goldberg/27431" target="_blank">Whoopi Goldberg</a> and caused an uproar by donning blackface for a Friar's Club roast. Since marrying <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/mary-steenburgen/67856" target="_blank">Mary Steenburgen</a> in 1995, he's starred in <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/becker/133834/main" target="_blank">'Becker,'</a> supported eco-causes and dabbled in home-brewed scotch (Danson's Best).

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/shelley-long/43119' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Shelley Long</font></a>

Diane Chambers (1982-1987)

<b>Then:</b> Haughty hottie Diane was stranded at Cheers by her fianc&#233; in the series pilot and stayed to play barmaid for five seasons. An academic fish out of water amid the tanked bar patrons, she enjoyed a volatile relationship with Sam, which led to marriage proposals ... but no wedding.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/shelley-long/43119' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Shelley Long</font></a>

Diane Chambers (1982-1987)

<b>Now:</b> Shelley left 'Cheers' for movie stardom that never quite happened (<a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/the-money-pit/1023537/main" target="_blank">'The Money Pit,'</a> <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/troop-beverly-hills/1036733/main" target="_blank">'Troop Beverly Hills'</a>), but stayed in the game by playing Carol Brady in <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/the-brady-bunch-movie/1242/main" target="_blank">'The Brady Bunch Movie'</a> and appearing in scads of episodic TV, including several eps of the 'Cheers' spin-off <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/frasier/157772/main" target="_blank">'Frasier.'</a>

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kirstie-alley/1093' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Kirstie Alley</font></a>

Rebecca Howe (1987-1993)

<b>Then:</b> Neurotic businesswoman Rebecca became Sam's foil and femme fatale after Diane left. She didn't just turn up the heat -- she burned Cheers down at one point. And though she swooned over rich men, she flushed her ambitions of wealth by marrying a plumber (<a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/tom-berenger/5539" target="_blank">Tom Berenger</a>) in the series finale.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kirstie-alley/1093' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Kirstie Alley</font></a>

Rebecca Howe (1987-1993)

<b>Now:</b> Kirstie hit it big with <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/veronicas-closet/237971/main" target="_blank">'Veronica's Closet'</a>; and after her Showtime comedy <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/fat-actress/762003/main" target="_blank">'Fat Actress,'</a> she cagily parlayed her weight problem into a gig with Jenny Craig. Dropped by Jenny in 2008, Alley's exploring her own diet business. An active Scientologist, she ranks as Operating Thetan Level 7.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/rhea-perlman/55684' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Rhea Perlman</font></a>

Carla Tortelli-LeBec (1982-1993)

<b>Then:</b> This sharp-tongued barmaid had a harsh word for everyone: "If you can't say anything nice, say it about Diane." Appearing in all 273 episodes (along with Sam and Norm), Perlman's Carla had eight kids, two ex-husbands, and one TV-requisite heart of gold.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/rhea-perlman/55684' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Rhea Perlman</font></a>

Carla Tortelli-LeBec (1982-1993)

<b>Now:</b> Perlman's 'The Tortellis' was the first 'Cheers' spin-off but lasted only 13 episodes, sparking protests for perpetuating Italian-American stereotypes. These days, Perlman's busy with stage and screen work; she authored the Otto Undercover children's book series and is married to <A href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/danny-devito/17602/main" target="_blank">Danny DeVito</a>.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/woody-harrelson/30548/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Woody Harrelson</font></a>

Woody Boyd (1985-1993)

<b>Then:</b> Stepping in to fill the "adorable dumb guy" role after Coach died, assistant bartender and full-time straight man Woody was the butt of many jokes, most of them based on his relentlessly good-hearted idiocy.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/woody-harrelson/30548/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Woody Harrelson</font></a>

Woody Boyd (1985-1993)

<b> Now: </b> After years of playing dumb, Woody made a lot of smart career moves, starring in hit movies like <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/white-men-cant-jump/6250/main" target="_blank">'White Men Can't Jump,'</a> <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/indecent-proposal/7946/main" target="_blank">'Indecent Proposal'</a> and <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/kingpin/2231/main" target="_blank">'Kingpin.'</a> Nominated for an Oscar in <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/the-people-vs-larry-flynt/3323/main" target="_blank">'The People Versus Larry Flynt,'</a> Harrelson also champions environmental causes and the legalization of marijuana.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/george-wendt/75525' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>George Wendt</font></a>

Norm Peterson (1982-1993)

<b>Then:</b> Ultimate regular Norm (or "NOOORM!") was a beer-drinking machine who joked constantly with bar staff and his snide-kick, Cliff. A six-time Emmy nominee and a very Norm-like six-time loser, Wendt appeared in every 'Cheers' episode.

The New Generation of Tween Dreams

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/george-wendt/75525' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>George Wendt</font></a>

Norm Peterson (1982-1993)

<b>Now:</b> Wendt's career has mostly amounted to appearances as Norm on series like <A href="http://television.aol.com/show/st-elsewhere/233652/main" target="_blank">'St. Elsewhere,'</a> <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/wings/241102/main" target="_blank">'Wings,'</a> <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/the-simpsons/62653/main" target="_blank">'The Simpsons'</a> and <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/frasier/157772/main" target="_blank">'Frasier.'</a> In 1993, Wendt and <A href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/john-ratzenberger/58910" target="_blank">John "Cliff" Ratzenberger</a> sued (and settled with) Paramount for using their likenesses on robot characters at a chain of 'Cheers'-themed bars.

The New Generation of Tween Dreams

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/john-ratzenberger/58910' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>John Ratzenberger</font></a>

Cliff Clavin (1982-1993)

<b>Then:</b> After auditioning unsuccessfully for the part of Norm, Ratzenberger convinced producers that Cheers needed a know-nothing know-it-all. So they created mama's boy mailman Cliff to wax erroneous on topics like how the first Thanksgiving involved ancient Egyptians and space aliens.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/john-ratzenberger/58910' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>John Ratzenberger</font></a>

Cliff Clavin (1982-1993)

<b>Now:</b> Since 'Cheers,' Ratzenberger has had a full dance card, including lasting six weeks on <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/dancing-with-the-stars/419134/main" target="_blank">'Dancing with the Stars.'</a> His voice is featured in all of Pixar's movies (<A href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/toy-story/1756/main" target="_blank">'Toy Story,'</a> <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/finding-nemo/13806/main" target="_blank">'Finding Nemo,'</a> <a href="http://movies.aol.com/movie/cars/18763/main" target="_blank">'Cars,'</a> etc.), and he hosts the Travel Channel series <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/john-ratzenbergers-made-in-america/354099/main" target="_blank">'John Ratzenberger's Made in America.'</a>

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kelsey-grammer/28139' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Kelsey Grammer</font></a>

Frasier Crane (1984-1993)

<b>Then:</b> Freudian fussbudget Frasier joined the 'Cheers' party two years late, but stayed to the bittersweet end with his smart putdowns and snooty 'tude. Left at the altar by Diane, the Harvard shrink married fellow intellectual Lilith before dumping her on the way to his own hit sitcom in Seattle.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kelsey-grammer/28139' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Kelsey Grammer</font></a>

Frasier Crane (1984-1993)

<b>Now:</b> As Frasier, Grammer enjoyed a 20-year run on 'Cheers' and <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/frasier/157772/main" target="_blank">'Frasier'</a>; he also won an Emmy as Sideshow Bob on <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/the-simpsons/62653/main" target="_blank">'The Simpsons.'</a> And despite early personal traumas, including the murders of his father and sister, Grammer continues to succeed, bouncing back with the 2007 sitcom <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/back-to-you/1342119/main" target="_blank">'Back to You.'</a>

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/bebe-neuwirth/52321' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Bebe Neuwirth</font></a>

Lilith Stermin (1986-1993)

<b>Then:</b> Uptight Frasier met his match in psychiatrist Lilith, whose ice-queen exterior housed a smoldering sensuality. The combustible pair married and had a child, but split when she ran off to live in an eco-pod with a colleague.

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/bebe-neuwirth/52321' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Bebe Neuwirth</font></a>

Lilith Stermin (1986-1993)

<b>Now:</b> After the bar closed, Neuwirth, already a theater veteran, lit up the Great White Way as Velma Kelly in 'Chicago,' winning her second Tony. Between film and stage roles she also earned her third Emmy by reprising Lilith on <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/frasier/157772/main" target="_blank">'Frasier.'</a>

Whatever Happened to the Bar Gang?

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/nicholas-colasanto/13997' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Nicholas Colasanto</font></a>

Ernie 'Coach' Pantusso (1982-1985)

<b>Then:</b> Though he'd been Sam's Red Sox mentor, the dim-bulb barman said he got the name because he liked flying coach.