'Cheers' cast members mourn death of Kirstie Alley CBSBoston.com Staff 12/6/2022 BOSTON - Members of the iconic show "Cheers" are mourning the death of actress Kirstie Alley, who died. ", He also has played dramatic roles, like Dr. Geoffrey Skadden in "Dr. Death," and Gore Bellows in "Proven Innocent.". The actor died from complications of cancer at age 75 in 2019. In the episode, Sam gets the idea that Heather is hitting on him, which creates a bit of a problem for Diane, who initially shrugs his claim off before becoming jealous after Carla eggs her on. Jamie Lee Curtis, who appeared with Alley in the Scream Queens television series, shared on Instagram that Alley was a beautiful mama bear in her very real life and that She helped me buy onesies for my family that year for Christmas.. All Rights Reserved. Before transitioning into acting, Jay Thomas was a popular DJ in New York. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Cheers Cast Deaths That Fans Still Haven't Recovered From In "Adventures in Housesitting," Rebecca offers to housesit for Sheridan, and of course, everything goes comically wrong. After her fianc Sumner Sloan abandons her in the Cheers bar in the pilot episode, Diane works as a bar waitress. For many of the cast members, Cheers was just the beginning of their careers. DailyMail.comlast spotted him inSeptemberin a rare public outing just ahead of the 40-year anniversary of the sitcom that made him famous. Besides Hamm, his other famous Pixar roles include the Abominable Snowman in "Monster's Inc., " the Underminer in "Incredibles" and "Incredibles 2," and Mack in the "Cars" franchise. "We really felt like welcome to our show.". That same year, she made her "Cheers" debut as Corinne, a relief server at the bar. Cheers ranks near the very top of any list of the all-time great TV comedies. Image: facebook.com, @OfficialTedDanson. There were customers at Cheers beyond just Norm Peterson, Cliff Clavin, and bespectacled Paul. During season three of the show, he was hospitalized. The actor remained popular for years, having shown up eight times on "Saturday Night Live" within a four-year span. Woody was the simple-minded and kind-hearted bartender at Cheers. Ratzenberger married Georgia Stiny in 1984 and the couple have two children together. "I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. I will miss her," Danson told Deadline. Chelsea Lauren / Variety via Getty Images, Cheers star Kirstie Alley dies at 71 years old. She spent the better part of a decade in that role, appearing in 159 of the show's 193 episodes. Ratzenbergers distinctive voice helped to land him roles in every Pixar animated film to date, including Hamm the pig in the Toy Story series and Mack the truck in the Cars franchise. Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images. Shelley Long's final episode of Cheers, before the series finale, was the last episode of the show's fifth season. He died on December 22, 2009, while at home with his family. Stream all seasons of "Cheers" with a Parmount+ subscription: When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. After a much-publicized struggle with her weight, she appeared in the unscripted comedy series Fat Actress (2005) and the same year published a book, How to Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life, which chronicled her personal experiences with weight loss. He began performing on stage in the 1960s and continued working in the theater for years, earning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in "The Rothschilds." This list includes all of the Cheers main actors and actresses, so if they are an integral part of the show you'll find them below. Cast of 'Cheers': Where Are They Now? - TV for Grownups Cheers cast members reacted with sadness to the news. George Wendt, as barfly Norm Peterson, was the sageif wisecracking best friend to Cliff Clavin and will be greeted with shouts of Norm! anytime he enters a drinking establishment. Alongside television, she has also starred in iconic cult classic films like "Matilda" (which was directed by her husband Danny DeVito), "Class Act" and "Sunset Park. She was 71. She wrote two books, The Art of Men, published in 2012, and How To Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life, published in 2005. In 2018, news broke that Anderson died following a stroke on April 16. Shelley quit at the end of Season 5 in 1986, believing her character had run its course. The Church of Scientology called her a beloved member and said she will be missed. He was written out of the show as having died off-screen and a picture from his dressing room was placed on the set as a tribute. Shelley Long; Photos: (Left) Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images (Right) Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic. Alley was a member of the Church of Scientology, which she often defended in interviews. Jay Thomas, the Emmy-winning actor known for his work on the classic sitcoms Cheers and Murphy Brown, has died of cancer at age 69. Cheers Cast | List of All Cheers Actors and Actresses - Ranker Per Deseret News, Keene Curtis served in the Pacific during World War II before returning to the States to study acting. A number of celebrities took to Twitter to pay memorial to Kirstie Alley in the wake of news of her death at 71 following a brief battle with cancer. About a decade after the conflict ended, he began studying acting. In the episode, Carla begins dating for the first time after Eddie's death, but it's not easy for her. Danson on the other hand is much more of a one-woman man, having been married to actress Mary Steenburgen since 1995 after meeting on the set of Pontiac Moon in 1993. As I got off the plane, I heard that Kirstie had died, Danson said in a statement. Outside of television and movies, she's also a children's book author. As they well know, their mother had a heart of gold. Brown often worked as a voice artist too, heard on cartoons including Paddington Bear, Gravedale High, and the infamousFish Police. You can various bits of trivia about these Cheers stars, such as where the actor was born and what their year of birth is. Ratzenberger earned two Emmy nominations for his role as Cliff. Frasier won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, which was then a record for the most Emmys for a scripted series, including five straight wins for Outstanding Comedy Series. Rees was primarily a stage actor despite his first acting credit coming from television. Brown returned to play the character once more in "Madame LaCarla," and continued working in television until 1992. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Grammer earned two Emmy nominations for his role as Frasier on "Cheers.". After Frasier ended in 2004, Grammer began appearing in more films, and scored roles in blockbusters including X Men: The Last Stand and Transformers: Age of Extinction and was known for his voice work, notably as the evil Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons. He also had repeated appearances on "Saturday Night Live" in the '90s and early 2000s. Frasier was a sensitive intellectual who got quickly engaged to Diane during season three. He was very well-known by the employees, and always received a loud greeting whenever he entered the bar. Alley joined the cast of "Cheers" as Rebecca Howe in Season 6,filling the role left vacant when Shelly Long departed the series. She's best known, however, for her voice acting originating the role ofLunchlady Doris on The Simpsons, where she also worked as a script supervisor (a job she held on more than four dozen movies and television series, dating back to the 1950s). He was also a beloved recurring guest on The Late Show WithDavid Letterman for years, throwing footballs and re-telling what Dave called "the best story I've ever heard" every Christmas. Next year, she'll be in the "Barbie" film. She earned an Emmy Award and Golden Globe for her role in 1991. The popular NBC comedy shared some of the same success as "Cheers," and it made Anderson a star. Kirstie was one of the most special relationships Ive ever had. She also made headlines later in life, claiming last year that she had become 'blackballed' by Hollywood after vocally supporting Donald Trump and the Republican party. Although he hated the food, he kept going back and it turned out to be where Corrine labored when she wasn't at Cheers. The details of her illness were not disclosed. She won her second Tony Award in 1997 for Broadways Chicago. Actor John Ratzenberger helped create the mustachioed blowhard who famously competed on Jeopardy! Roger Rees' career began in 1975 when he appeared in a television movie called "The Place of Peace." According to the Los Angeles Times, he eventually gave "his Tony Award and 48 boxes of theater memorabilia and personal papers" to the University of Utah, his alma mater. She won two Emmy awards for outstanding lead in a comedy series in Cheers in 1991, and for outstanding lead in a miniseries or special for her role as Sally Goodson in Davids Mother in 1994. Dark Secrets The Cast Of Frasier Tried To Hide - NickiSwift She also reprised her role as Diane in the Cheers spin-off "Frasier." He continued playing small parts in film and television before landing the role that earned him the most fame, playing Willie Tanner on "Alf" from 1986 to 1990. Diane left "Cheers" after season five, but returned in the final episode of season 11. She also worked on that series' scripts and had a long and impressive career making people laugh. The man who played executive Mr. Sheridan: veteran character actor Michael Currie. About a year after receiving a cancer diagnosis, Rees died in 2015 at age 71. The Ultimate Guide to What to Watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and More in March 2023 Emmy-winning actor Kirstie Alley, known for her role in the sitcom "Cheers," the "Look Who's Talking" films and other roles, has died of cancer, her family said in a statement Monday. "I am so sad and so grateful for all the times she made me laugh. His wife was with him at the time and reported his death. Diane Chambers - Wikipedia Post's manager, Ellen Lubin Sanitsky, said Post died Saturday in Los Angeles after a years-long battle with cancer. George Wendt asNorm Peterson; (L)Wendt, 74, pictured in a Cheers cast portrait, (R)Wendt seen onAugust 30, 2022 in Los Angeles. IE 11 is not supported. Madame Lazora is a character in the expanded Cheers universe, appearing once in 1990 and again in 1991. Anderson's Harry "The Hat" Gittes, a swindler with a knack for sleight of hand, appeared in six episodes from 1982 until '87. He visited the Boston bar 142 times, making him one of the background characters with the most appearances. In the early seasons of Cheers, much was made of how lead character Sam Malone (Ted Danson) was a former Sox pitcher and recovering alcoholic who had turned his life around, somewhat ironically, by buying and running a bar. Ted Danson and several other "Cheers" stars are remembering their co-star Kirstie Alley following her death on Monday. 'You people have lost your minds. After playing "The Hat" on "Cheers," Anderson landed the lead in "Night Court" and continued from there. During one of their "off" periods, she fell in love and got engaged to Dr. Frasier Crane, played by Kelsey Grammer, but left him at the altar to be with Sam but that didn't last either. Colosanto also worked as an actor in various films, but he's best known for playing Coach on "Cheers.". Control artists, control individual thought .. OSCAR ORWELL' she tweeted. ", She also starred in movies that are now cult favorites, like "It Takes Two," which co-starred the Olsen twins, "Look Who's Talking," "Looking Who's Talking Too," "Look Who's Talking Now," "Drop Dead Gorgeous," and "Deconstructing Harry. ET): An earlier version of this article misidentified a Star Trek film. Kelsey Grammer asFrasier Crane; (L) Grammer, 67, pictured asFrasier Cranein a Cheers cast portrait, (R)Grammer seen onNovember 23, 2013 leaving a medical building. He famously starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry on the NBC sitcom for ten years across 150 episodes. Wendt married Bernadette Birkett in 1978 and they have three children together. But, sadly, when he arrived, he found out that Coach had died (due to the real-life death of actor Nicholas Colasanto), Sam hired Woody on the spot, and took on a big brother role with him. Nicholas Colasanto pictured as 'Coach' Ernie Pantusso in1982. Check out what the cast has been up to since the last call at the bar where everybody knows your name. The good guys eventually won, however, getting the rooms back (for a large sum) while keeping John Allen Hill at a hostile arm's length for 15 episodes, during which time the character also engaged in an unlikely affair with Carla. 'I'm in love. The character was eventually reintroduced into "The Simpsons" universe as Lunchlady Dora. The show lasted another 11 seasons, meaning Grammer played Frasier for a total of 20 years. Perlman won four Emmys for her role as Carla. Although Frasier got his drinking under control, he still remained a consistent customer at Cheers. A Juilliard School-trained performer, Grammer made his Broadway debut in the 2010 musical revival of La Cage Aux Folles for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, and originated the role of Captain Hook in the Broadway production of Finding Neverland in 2015. Grammer has appeared on numerous sitcoms since the end of "Frasier," such as "Modern Family," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "30 Rock," and "Carol's Second Act." Mr. Sheridan returns once more in "For Real Men Only," which centers around Rebecca throwing a retirement party for the company. The show remains one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time. After Cheers, Danson made guest appearances as Malone on Frasier and The Simpsons, but went on to compete with Woody Harrelson for the most diverse career among former cast members.He starred in . Today's Birthdays: Recent Deaths: New Listings: Living Oscar Winners: Oldest Living Major Leaguers: Alive in Baseball Hall of Fame: Dead Playboy Playmates ", As of late, she appeared in eight episodes of "Modern Family" as Claire and Cam's mother, and the 2021 film "The Cleaner.". star of the television series "Spencer For Hire," visits with "Cheers" cast members, left to . Later, the show would air "Birth, Death, Love and Rice," an episode that addressed Coach's death and introduced Woody Harrelson as a new (also dim) bartender. Unable to get doctors to declare him healthy enough to return to work, Coach's absence was explained with a variety of excuses. She has credited Scientologys Narconon program with helping her defeat a cocaine addiction. But he was a shady and fickle scoundrel, however, and ended up ultimately discredited, left broke, and sent to prison for embezzlement at which point Rebecca lost interest (and Sam got his bar back). I have to kiss Rhea Perlman.'". He has been nominated for an Oscar three times for The People vs Larry Flynt, The Messenger and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Before the series began, he was a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox when he became (and still is) a friend of Coach, but then he became alcoholic, which took a toll on his baseball career. Kirstie Alley and John Travolta at the premiere of "The Fanatic" in 2019. As big of a hit as "ALF" was, it sounds like things weren't entirely cheerful behind the scenes. Working as the bar's primary server, no-nonsense Carla held a steady job throughout Cheers, but she was always unlucky in love. Plagued bya bad memory, he told lots of long and rambling stories that never went anywhere but it was hard to not enjoy the ride anyway. Nicholas Colasanto - Wikipedia Offscreen Danson divorced Casey Coates in 1992 after 15 years of marriage and embarked on a highly publicized but short-lived relationship with .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Whoopi Goldberg. The children of the actress, True, 30, and Lily, 28, issued a statement on social media Monday confirming the sad news of her passing, just four months after the 40th anniversary of the show. In 1971, he won a Tony Award for his work in the Broadway musical The Rothschilds, just before he'd go on to guest on episodes of everything fromM*A*S*H toBaretta, Cannon, Wonder Woman, Quincy M.E., and Three's Company. What began as simply a guest spot, Grammer's Frasier became a fixture at the bar and a beloved series regular. In the episode "Adventures in Housesitting," Rebecca agreed to house-sit for Mr. Sheridan (only to lose his dogs), and the character returned again in "For Real Men Only" when Rebecca threw a retirement party for one of the character's business associates. She was also a member of and vocal supporter of the Church of Scientology. Alley had a successful acting career after "Cheers." Despite the volatile nature of her and Sam's relationship, they attempted to make it work romantically frequently throughout the show. Ironically, the former Red Sox pitcher was a recovering alcoholic. ", In the '90s and early 2000s, Long portrayed Carol Brady (the matriarch of the Brady family) in the "The Brady Bunch Movie," as well as the follow-up films "A Very Brady Sequel" and "The Brady Bunch in the White House. Travolta was among the first to share his thoughts after Alleys death was announced. Her joy of being was boundless, Perlman said in a statement. First she divorced the sleezy Nick Tortelli (Dan Hedaya), but she later remarried Eddie LeBec, a somewhat equally-sleazy French Canadian pro hockey star turned ice show performer. Anderson was 65. In the mid-2000s, Perlman authored the book series "Otto Undercover.". NEW YORK Markie Post, who played the public defender in the 1980s sitcom "Night Court" and was a regular presence on television for four decades, has died. When he left the show, Curtis continued to work on various television series and made-for-TV films. I admire her. He is a pescatarian and is a dedicated advocate of ocean conservation. Kirstie Alley, 'Cheers' star, Emmy winner, dies at 71 Ted Danson; Photos: (Left) NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images (Right) Ron P. Jaffe/CBS via Getty Images. Following "Cheers," she won an Emmy for her role in Davids Mother (1994) and starred in sitcoms Veronicas Closet (1997-2000) and Kirstie (2013-2014). For 11 years "Cheers" was the most popular show on TV. Ted Danson got his big break on "Cheers," starring as bartender Sam Malone from 1982-1993. Want to go where everybody knows your name? In the past few years, Wendt has also been in hilarious movies, co-starring in comedy films such as "Grand-Daddy Day Care" and "Americanish.". After the show wrapped, Wright explained toPeoplethat he "washugely eager to have it over with" and that acting opposite a puppet "was hard work and very grim." While his character was memorable, Philip Perlman's work on the show was likely more significant to the actor than some viewers may realize: His daughter, Rhea Perlman, played Carla Tortelli throughout the series, which meant he was able to work alongside her for much of that time. Five-time Emmy-winner Kelsey Grammer will forever be associated with the erudite, if hapless, psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, whom he portrayed for two decades on "Cheers" (1984-1993) and the spinoff sitcom Frasier (1993-2004). Shelley, who has been divorced twice and is a mother of one, has lived in a $1.3 million condo in the upscale West Los Angeles enclave of Pacific Palisades, California, since divorcing her second husband Bruce Tyson in 2004. News of his passing spurred an outpouring of love and support from his friends and co-stars, including Marsha Warfield, Markie Post, and many others. Shelley Lee Long was born at 7:15 am on Tuesday, August 23, 1949 in Indian Village, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, the only child of Ivadine (Williams), a schoolteacher, and Leland Long, a teacher who had previously worked in the rubber industry. Alley, a native of Wichita, Kansas, married actor Parker Stevenson in 1983, and they adopted children William True and Lilly Price. Kirstie was known the world over for her generosity, charisma and irresistible sense of humor, it said in a statement. Then in February 1985, Colasanto died at age 61. Long married investment advisor Bruce Tyson in 1981 and they have one daughter together. Currie's appearances on "Cheers" were mere blips in his long career in film and on television. Madame Lazora is a character in the expanded Cheers universe, appearing once in 1990 and again in 1991. "Cheers" established pretty much every member of the ensemble as a power player of sitcom television, and many continued appearing in hits long after Sam Malone said his final "Last call." Gone too soon: Following the news of actress Kirstie Alley death at the age of 71 on Monday, after a short cancer battle, DailyMail.com can reveal where the rest of the beloved cast of Cheers are now; Pictured 2018. Rosen was in his seventies when he joined the auxiliary cast of Cheers, having worked in the entertainment industry since the 1940s as an extra and bit player, then as a production supervisor for soaps and game shows. Max Wright spent much of his early career appearing on stage and in films, where he played minor roles. Shelley Long, 73, found fame playing intellectual barmaid Diane Chambers in the 1980s sitcom but has also appeared in a string of other hit shows and movies including The Money Pit, Troop Beverly Hills, Hello Again and The Brady Bunch Movie. The cast of Cheers, then and now, ranked by their net worth She was 70. At the time, she was in London to film a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. Philip Perlman didn't become an actor until he retired working in the toy industry, according toThe Hollywood Reporter. Fun fact: Wendt's nephew is none other than "Ted Lasso" creator Jason Sudeikis. The writers chose tooff his character off-screen and made him a polygamist, which was revealed at his funeral. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Playing kind but slow-witted Woody Boyd, Woody Harrelson took on the assistant bartender role following the death of actor Nicholas Colasanto who played Coach during the first three seasons of. Mail carrier and dubious fact teller Cliff Clavin was a "Cheers" favorite as much for his inane trivia as his postal worker uniform during the shows 11 seasons. Last year, she told Fox host Tucker Carlson that she was frequently attacked for her beliefs. For the most part, he was there to add additional levity to random situations, often including calls to the bar. He has two children with second wife Cassandra Coates, who he divorced in 1993. She was Ms. Robin Elizabeth Bishop in the 1987 film Summer School, and played Gladys Leeman in Drop Dead Gorgeous, which came out in 1999. Early life [ edit] He was extremely natural.". As Diane Chambers, Shelley Long was the perfect counter-balance to Dansons Malone. Her children announced her death in a heartfelt statement on Instagram. A few years before that happened, he had some success as Karl Shub on "Buffalo Bill" before landing a role on "Cheers." Cliff's best friend was fellow bar patron Norm Peterson. Thomas was. On TV she featured on Deadline (2000-2001), Bored to Death (2009-2011), The Good Wife (2012-2013), Madame Secretary (2014-2017), Blue Bloods (2013-2018) and again as Lilith on Frasier (1994-2003). He is a father to three daughters with his wife Laura Louie, who he has been with since 1987. (1998) and as the voice of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons (1990-2017). The star expressed her confusion at why her support of Trump was so controversial: 'Its so strange to me because artists are free-thinkers, for the most part. His charisma translated to the small screen, and he gained fame early in his career playing Remo DaVinci on "Mork and Mindy." Alley won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role as Rebecca. "Our mother's zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did. From that appearance, Brown earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. In addition to acting, he worked as a stuntman for The Three Stooges. Ernie "Coach" Pantusso was introduced in the pilot as Sam Malone's former coach and mentor when he played ball for the Red Sox. Curtis died in 2002 at age 79 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. READ MORE: How Woody Harrelson Helped Cheers Overcome the Death of a Beloved Character. Thirty years ago this week, Cheers faced that same dilemma when co-star Nicholas Colasanto passed away from a heart attack at the age of 61. Other sitcom roles included Wings (1992), Just Shoot Me! That handles a lot. Suffice to say, his career ran the gamut of genres. He played the character from 1990 until '93, appearing in a total of 15 episodes. Long won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her role as Diane. Currie worked only occasionally in the 1990s, and retired from acting entirely after the new millennium. Pointing out that Cheers' pool room and bathrooms technically belonged to Melville's, he demanded rent, and when Sam refused to pay, he sealed them off. Harrelson won an Emmy for his role as Woody Boyd. Other than his success in the hit sitcom, the popular entertainer has appeared in shows such as Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Columbo and Wings. Perlman died in 2015 at age 95. ", Alley also appeared in reality show competitions like "Dancing With the Stars" and "Celebrity Big Brother (UK). As part of the extended Cheers plot arc in 1989 in which The Lillian Corporation bought the Cheers bar from Sam, Rebecca was placed in charge of the business and spent most of her days trying to impress her corporate overseers. He is also an athlete, playing in two Unicef Soccer Aid matches in the UK in 2010 and 2012 for the Rest of the World team. The Cast Of Cheers Looks Different Today - Looper Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a short battle with cancer, four months after the 40th anniversary of the TV show that propelled her Hollywood career - Cheers. Woody Harrelson, 61, arrived at the bar in season four as the new bartender Woody Boyd. Her character's on-again, off-again romance with former Red Sox relief pitcher Sam Malone (played by fellow Emmy winner Ted Danson) kept the show on the top of the ratings chart year after year. The show's main cast includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, and many more. The character of Fleener appears in only those two Cheers episodes, but the actor who portrayed the character is highly recognizable from his extensive work in 1980s sitcoms. Other than Cheers, his biggest claim to fame was a brush with some other comedy legends: he was a stuntman for The Three Stooges. Nicholas Colasanto (January 19, 1924 - February 12, 1985) was an American actor and television director who is best known for his role as "Coach" Ernie Pantusso in the American television sitcom Cheers. When that wrapped, Post continued acting in movies and on various series, including a "30 Rock" episode titled "The One with the Cast of 'Night Court.'" The company was the same one that Rebecca Howe worked for and was the owner of Cheers after purchasing it from Sam. He left the show in a rather strange and abrupt way via the episode "Death Takes a Holiday on Ice." Allie had been married twice and leaves behind two children. Perlman married actor Danny DeVito in 1982 and they have three children together. Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer lead cast raising a glass to star, Do not sell or share my personal information. Alley joined "Cheers" in its sixth season, replacing original cast member Shelley Long, who left the show. He'd appeared in dozens of TV shows before his short run on Cheers, and usually in a similar capacity, lending his talents to an episode or two as an authority figure.