The Cheers Cast: Where Are They Now? Shocking Deaths, 2025 Projects, And The Emotional Emmy Reunion

The iconic cast of Cheers, the beloved NBC sitcom that ran from 1982 to 1993, continues to make headlines and shape the entertainment landscape decades after the Boston bar closed its doors. As of December 13, 2025, the cast has experienced both professional triumphs—including new 2025 projects and major industry awards—and profound personal loss, which has brought the surviving members together in emotional tributes and public reunions.

The biggest news is the recent passing of a central figure, which has prompted a surge of nostalgia and appreciation for the show’s legacy. From a major Netflix star to a Pixar legend, here is the complete, up-to-the-minute look at the lives and careers of the legendary actors who brought Sam, Diane, Carla, Norm, Cliff, Woody, and Frasier to life.

The Main Cheers Cast: A Complete Biographical Profile

The core ensemble of Cheers featured a rotating cast over its 11-season run, with the main characters becoming some of the most recognizable figures in television history. Here is a detailed look at the actors who anchored the show, their roles, and their key biographical facts.

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• Ted Danson (Sam Malone): The charismatic, womanizing former baseball pitcher and owner of the bar.
  • Born: Edward Bridge Danson III, December 29, 1947, in San Diego, California.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: Becker, Curb Your Enthusiasm, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Good Place, and Mr. Mayor.
  • Current Status: Highly active, starring in a major Netflix series.
• Shelley Long (Diane Chambers): The intellectual, often pretentious, and romantic counterpart to Sam. She left after Season 5.
  • Born: August 23, 1949, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: The Money Pit, Troop Beverly Hills, The Brady Bunch Movie, and guest spots on Modern Family.
  • Current Status: Continues to act at a more moderate pace, focusing on film and TV guest roles.
• Kirstie Alley (Rebecca Howe): The high-strung, ambitious, and later hapless new manager of the bar, replacing Diane.
  • Born: January 12, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: Look Who's Talking film series, Veronica's Closet, and Scream Queens.
  • Status: Passed away on December 5, 2022, at age 71.
• Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli): The wisecracking, cynical, and fiercely loyal waitress.
  • Born: March 31, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: Matilda, 13: The Musical, and the 2023 hit film Barbie.
  • Current Status: Active in film and television, with a recent guest role in a major streaming series.
• George Wendt (Norm Peterson): The beloved, perpetually unemployed, and beer-guzzling regular.
  • Born: October 17, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: Various TV and film roles, and stage work like Hairspray on Broadway.
  • Status: Passed away on May 20, 2025, at age 76.
• John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin): The know-it-all, eccentric mail carrier and bar regular.
  • Born: April 6, 1947, in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: The only actor to voice a character in every Pixar film (e.g., Hamm in Toy Story, Mack in Cars).
  • Current Status: Continues his voice work and is a vocal advocate for skilled labor and American manufacturing.
• Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane): The intellectual, neurotic psychiatrist who became a regular.
  • Born: February 21, 1955, in Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: The spin-off series Frasier (1993-2004) and its revival (2023-2025).
  • Current Status: Actively seeking a new home for the Frasier revival following its cancellation.
• Woody Harrelson (Woody Boyd): The naive, good-natured bartender from Indiana. He joined in Season 4.
  • Born: July 23, 1961, in Midland, Texas.
  • Key Roles Post-Cheers: Natural Born Killers, The People vs. Larry Flynt, True Detective, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
  • Current Status: A major Hollywood film star with multiple big-budget movies slated for 2025.

Emotional Tributes and The 2025 Loss of a Bar Legend

The Cheers family has navigated significant loss in recent years, with the passing of two major cast members. The most recent and profound news is the death of George Wendt, who played the beloved Norm Peterson, in May 2025.

Wendt’s passing prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from his former co-stars. Ted Danson, who shared countless scenes with Wendt as Sam Malone, and Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli), who often traded barbs with him, both released statements honoring their friend.

This follows the sad news of Kirstie Alley's death in December 2022. The actors who worked with her, including Danson, Perlman, and Kelsey Grammer, all paid their respects to the actress who took over as the female lead, Rebecca Howe, in the show's later seasons.

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The collective grief and subsequent public acknowledgment of these losses have reinforced the enduring bond among the cast members, proving that the friendships forged in the fictional Boston bar were very real. These events have also highlighted the show’s topical authority as one of the most successful and enduring sitcoms of all time, maintaining a place in pop culture decades later.

2025 Career Updates: New Projects, Awards, and Sitcom Revivals

Far from retiring, the surviving Cheers cast members are currently involved in a diverse range of high-profile projects, demonstrating their continued relevance in the entertainment industry. Their individual successes, particularly in 2025, are a testament to the talent that made the original show a hit.

Ted Danson: The Netflix Star and Award Winner

Ted Danson is arguably the most active of the group, cementing his status as a television legend. In 2025, Danson is starring in the second season of the Netflix comedy series A Man on the Inside, where he plays a former detective who goes undercover. Furthermore, his career was honored with the prestigious 2025 Carol Burnett Award, recognizing his exceptional and sustained contributions to television.

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Woody Harrelson: The Big Screen Powerhouse

Woody Harrelson, who played the naive bartender Woody Boyd, has transitioned into a major Hollywood film star. His 2025 calendar is packed, including the release of the survival thriller Last Breath in February and the highly anticipated sequel Now You See Me: Now You Don't in November.

The Frasier Revival and Kelsey Grammer's Future

The highly publicized Frasier revival, which saw Kelsey Grammer reprise his role as Dr. Frasier Crane, was officially canceled by Paramount+ in early 2025 after two seasons. However, Grammer remains "very positive" about the show finding a new home on another streaming service or network, keeping the door open for more episodes of the popular spin-off.

Rhea Perlman and John Ratzenberger's Diverse Roles

Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli) continues her impressive late-career resurgence, following her popular role in 2023's Barbie. In 2025, she had a guest role in the second season of the critically acclaimed crime mystery series Poker Face. Meanwhile, John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin) is continuing his lifelong advocacy for American skilled labor and manufacturing, a cause he frequently discusses in public appearances. He is also scheduled to appear at the 2025 SiouxperCon event, where his legacy as a Pixar voice actor (the only one to appear in every film) is celebrated.

The 2024 Reunion: Who Was Missing?

The most recent major public gathering of the Cheers cast was an emotional reunion at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards. The event saw Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, and the late George Wendt reunite on stage to present an award. The reunion was a nostalgic highlight for fans, but it also drew attention to the absence of the show’s original female lead, Shelley Long (Diane Chambers).

While Long has kept a lower profile in recent years, focusing on a moderate pace of acting, her absence from high-profile reunions is not uncommon. She was, however, recently featured in a commercial with other cast members. Earlier in 2024, before his passing, George Wendt also had a sweet reunion with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson when he appeared as a guest on their podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, further illustrating the enduring friendships of the sitcom legends.

The legacy of Cheers, from the unforgettable Sam and Diane dynamic to the endless supply of Norm's jokes, is clearly alive and well, carried forward by a cast that continues to define television excellence in 2025.