See the 'Cheers' Cast Then and Now

After a series of TV movies and one-episode stints on other shows, Danson really broke out on “Cheers” as ex-baseball star Sam Malone. His banter with Shelley Long really made the entire show work. Danson has had the same effect in recent years on “The Good Place” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, as well as appearances on a slew of other shows.

From romantic interest to mother figure to surprise demise, Long’s TV roles have really morphed from her time on “Cheers”. Until recently she appeared on “Modern Family” as Claire and Mitchell's mother, until a Halloween episode in 2018 saw her character killed off.

Arguably the best actor to rewatch in old episodes for sheer transformation, Harrelson joined the “Cheers” cast in the fourth season as a good-hearted, if slow Midwestern bartender. These days he’s crushing the big screen in flicks like “Zombieland: Double Tap”, “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, and “Venom”.

While her entrance signaled a dark turn in the plot on “Cheers”, with Diane leaving Sam and the bar owner selling out to a corporate owner, she eventually proved a lovable member of the cast. More recently she’s appeared in “Scream Queens” and had guest spots on a few other shows.

Carla was a fan favorite among many “Cheers” devotees, and Perlman never lost that New York sass. She has appeared on Broadway alongside her daughter, Lucy DeVito (her child with husband Danny DeVito) and on “The Mindy Project”.

Norm! Wendt immediately endeared his character into viewers’ hearts, making what was intended to be a one-time pilot role into a series-long rock of the show. The actor has kept busy on TV in guest spots and on the stage.

It was Ratzenberger who came up with the idea for his know-it-all barfly character. These days he provides his lustrous vocal tones to many animated characters in Pixar movies. You might recognize his distinctive phrasing as Hamm in “Toy Story”, Mustafa in “Ratatouille”, or Mack in “Cars”.