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Cheers is one of the most beloved and enduring TV shows of the late ’80s. Running through 1993, the show focused on a dive bar dubbed “Cheers,” located in Boston, Massachusetts, and the locals and staff who spend their days frequenting the low-key bar.

The theme song, the characters, and the bar itself quickly went down in pop culture history, and to this day, fans watch Cheers when they want to enjoy a feel-good show that encapsulates everything good about the entertainment scene of the ’80s and early ’90s. As for the ensemble cast of Cheers, many of the stars went on to appear in other television shows, while some became major Hollywood power players.

Cheers cast in front of the bar
(Top, L-R) Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane, Ted Danson as Sam Malone, Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, (Bottom, L-R) John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin, Rhea Perlman as Carla Lozupone Tortelli LeBec, Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, George Wendt as Norm Peterson | NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Ted Danson is now a television icon

Ted Danson played Sam Malone, a bartender and former baseball pro who serves as the show’s lead. Danson was a relative unknown when he was cast on Cheers, but fans gravitated to him, and to the character of Sam – and he quickly became a star. Danson received critical acclaim for his work on the show, including two Emmy Awards. He appeared on Cheers through the entire series run, until it went off the air in 1993.

Since his time on Cheers, Danson has appeared on many other TV shows, including Becker, Fargo, and The Good Place. He is now considered to be one of television’s most prominent icons and is still acting on a regular basis. He also lends his time to charitable causes and is particularly passionate about ocean conservation. 

Shelley Long is best known for playing Diane Chambers

Shelley Long played Diane Chambers on Cheers, a sweet and occasionally ditsy woman whose on-off relationship with Sam formed the basis of many of the show’s early storylines. Like Danson, Long became a star after her tenure on Cheers – but after she departed the series as a main cast member in 1987, her career faltered a bit. She went on to appear in TV shows like the Cheers spinoff Frasier, Modern Family, and Murphy Brown. According to Biography, Long has worked consistently in both TV and film, although she hasn’t had any role more enduring than that of Diane Chambers.

Big-name Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson got his start on Cheers, playing a slow-witted bartender named Woody Boyd. Harrelson was cast on the series in 1985 and quickly made an impact, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on the show. Of course, these days, Harrelson is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, headlining major movies and earning acclaim for his ability as both a comedic and dramatic actor.

Kelsey Grammer landed a spinoff show of his own

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Kelsey Grammer played psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers from 1984 until 1993. A bar regular, Frasier became one of the most popular characters on the show, and in 1993, Grammer started acting in his very own spinoff series, Frasier. Grammer has also become known as a popular character actor, acting in Broadway productions and embarking on a prolific career as a voice performer.

George Wendt might not be the most recognizable name in the Cheers cast list, but for many viewers, his character, Norm, is indispensable. A bar regular, Norm seemed to utilize only one word, often yelling “Beer!” when he wanted a refill. Wendt received multiple award nominations due to his work on Cheers and went on to appear in a number of movies and TV shows. These days, Wendt is still acting, most recently appearing in movies like Stealing a Survivor and VFW.

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