List of Cheers characters

This is a list of characters from the American television sitcom, Cheers.

Original main characters

Before the Cheers pilot, "Give Me a Ring Sometime", was finalized and then aired in 1982, the series originally consisted of four employees of Cheers, the bar, in the original script.^[1] There was neither Norm Peterson nor Cliff Clavin, regular customers of Cheers; later revisions added them as part of the series.^[2]

Sam Malone

Samuel "Mayday" Malone^[3] (Ted Danson) — a bartender and owner of Cheers. Sam is also a ladies' man. 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. He has had on-again, off-again relationships with Diane Chambers, his opposite, in the first five seasons (1982–1987). During the breaks in their relationship Sam has flings with many not-so-bright "sexy women",^[4] but doesn't pursue relationships^[4] and fails to seduce some intellectual women.

After Diane leaves Boston, he pursues Rebecca Howe, unsuccessfully. In the end, he is still unmarried, recovering from sexual addiction with help from Dr. Robert Sutton's (Gilbert Lewis) group meetings, advised by Frasier, in the penultimate episode "The Guy Can't Help It" (1993). Sam Malone was originally written as a former football player, but the casting of Ted Danson led writers to change Sam into an ex-baseball player.^[5]

Diane Chambers

Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) — a highly academic, sophisticated college student.^[1] In the pilot, Diane is abandoned by her fiancé Sumner Sloan (Michael McGuire), for whom she'd worked as an assistant, as he returns to his ex-wife. Without a job, money, or man, she reluctantly becomes a cocktail waitress. Over time, she becomes a close friend of Coach.^[6] She has an on-and-off relationship with bartender Sam Malone. When not involved with Sam, Diane dates men who fit her upper-class ideals, such as Frasier Crane. Later in the fifth season, she leaves Boston behind for a writing career and in the eleventh and final season lives in Los Angeles.

Coach

Ernie "Coach" Pantusso^[7] (or Pantuso) (Nicholas Colasanto) —, a "senile"^[4] co-bartender, widower, and retired baseball coach. Coach was also a friend of Sam and a close friend of Diane. He had a daughter, Lisa. Coach was often tricked into situations, especially ones that put the bar at stake. Nevertheless, he listened to people's problems and then solved them with advices and analyses. In the fourth season, Coach died without explicit explanation while the actor Colasanto himself died of a heart attack in February 1985.^[8]

Carla Tortelli

Carla Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone^[9] (née Tortelli and LeBec) (Rhea Perlman) — a "wisecracking, cynical"^[1] cocktail waitress, who abuses customers. At the series premiere, she was the mother of four children and divorced from Nick Tortelli (Dan Hedaya). She flirts with men, including ones who are not flattered by her ways, and believes in superstitions, but secretly carries the torch for Sam. She is both highly fertile and matrimonially inept.

Carla's last husband, Eddie LeBec, a washed-up ice hockey goalie whom she married during the run of the show, eventually died in an ice show accident involving a Zamboni. Carla later discovered that Eddie had cheated on her, committing bigamy with another woman whom he had gotten pregnant. Carla's sleazy first husband, Nick Tortelli (Dan Hedaya), also made appearances, variously challenging Carla with a custody battle or a legal scam stemming from their divorce. Carla's eight children, four of whom were born during the show's run, were notoriously ill-behaved, except for Ludlow, whose father was a prominent academician. Perlman's real-life pregnancies were written into the series as Carla's pregnancies.^[10]

Norm Peterson

Hilary Norman Peterson (George Wendt) — a bar regular and semi-unemployed accountant, whose common name "Norm" is often shouted whenever he enters the bar. Outside the bar, he frequently changes jobs and has a troubled marriage with (but is still in love with and married to) Vera, an unseen character. Later in the series, he becomes a house painter, especially for Rebecca's bar office. (Despite a few fleeting appearances and vocal cameos, Vera's body is seen in the fifth season episode "Thanksgiving Orphans" (1986), but her face is covered with a pumpkin pie. Her body is played by Bernadette Birkett, the real-life wife of George Wendt.^[11])

Originally, there was no Norm Peterson.^[2] Wendt auditioned for a minor role George for the pilot episode, who was Diane Chamber's first customer and had only one word in one line: "Beer!"^[12] After he was cast as George, Wendt's role was rewritten into Norm.^[13]

Cliff Clavin

Clifford C. Clavin, Jr.^[14] (John Ratzenberger) — a know-it-all bar regular and postman. He lives with his mother in an old house and later an apartment. In the bar, Cliff says anything that may either annoy people, motivate people into mocking him, drive people away, confuse people, be inaccurate, or be unnecessary to people. Ratzenberger auditioned for the minor role George, as well, but it was already given to Wendt before it evolved into Norm Peterson. Then he wanted a know-it-all,^[15] so the security guard Cliff Clavin was added for the pilot. However, the producers changed his occupation into the postal worker because they perceived postal workers as more knowledgeable than security guards.^[16]

Subsequent main characters

Woody Boyd replaced Coach, who died off-screen in the fourth season. Frasier Crane began as a recurring guest role and became a permanent character. Rebecca Howe replaced Diane Chambers, who left Boston for a writing career in 1987. Lilith Sternin started as a one-time character in the Season 4 episode, "Second Time Around" (1985), and became a recurring character in Season 5 (1986–87), and a regular character for Season 10 and the episodes that she appears in for Season 11 (1991–92).

Frasier Crane and Lilith Sternin

Frasier W. Crane^[17] (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith Sternin (formerly Sternin-Crane) (Bebe Neuwirth) — married psychiatrists and bar regulars, although Lilith rarely orders drinks. Frasier starts out as Diane Chambers's love interest. When she jilts him at the wedding altar in Europe, he ends up frequently going to Cheers pub for drinks and becoming everybody's bar friend. His first date with Lilith in "Second Time Around" (1986), Lilith's only episode of the fourth season, does not go well because they constantly argue. In the fifth season, Frasier and Lilith meet again when they are scheduled for a psychological talk show. With help from Diane, Frasier becomes aroused by Lilith's makeover, especially with her hair down, at the talk show. Frasier and Lilith flirt with each other on the talk show. Although they later feel guilty, Frasier and Lilith overcome their guilt with more help from Diane and begin their relationship.

They move in together, conceive a son Frederick in the eighth season (1988–1989) and get married in the tenth season (1991–1992). Their marriage ends in divorce when Lilith has an affair with Dr. Louis Pascal (Peter Vogt). In the Cheers spin-off Frasier, Frasier gives custody of Frederick to Lilith and moves from Boston to Seattle, and Lilith appears in the spin-off recurringly.

Woody Boyd

Huckleberry Tiberius Boyd^[18] (Woody Harrelson) — a co-bartender, commonly called "Woody". When he arrived from his Midwest hometown to Boston, Woody wanted to meet his pen pal Coach. However, he finds out that Coach already died, and is hired to work at the bar. Later, he dates Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson) and then marries her. At the end, they have a son and daughter as revealed in Frasier.

Rebecca Howe

Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) — a "volptuously beautiful"^[19] manager and occasional waitress. Initially, she starts out a strong independent woman, but after several romantic failures with (mainly) rich men, she becomes "more neurotic, insecure, and sexually frustrated".^[20] At the start, Sam attempts to seduce Rebecca without success,^[19] but, when her persona changes,^[20] he loses interest in her. In the series finale, she marries the plumber Don Santry (Tom Berenger). In Frasier, according to Sam, she divorces and then ends up visiting the bar without working there again.

Characters recurring throughout series

Each of the following characters of Cheers, portrayed by a celebrity, may or may not be particularly significant to the story of the series; each was introduced in one season and would appear in subsequent seasons—unless introduced in season 11, which was the last season. However, even when a character appeared earlier, information is arranged based on a character's first appearance rather than an actor's, especially when a same actor portrays different characters. Moreover, uncredited appearances are disregarded.

Introduced in season 1

Sumner Sloan

Sumner Sloan (Michael McGuire) — a professor and former fiancé of Diane Chambers, a former assistant. In the 1982 pilot "Give Me a Ring Sometime", he neglects Diane at the bar and then makes love to his ex-wife in Barbados, where he and Diane are supposed to elope. In "Sumner's Return" (1983), he returns to the bar and then pretends to be married to his ex-wife in order to get Diane back, but Diane turns him down.

In "I Do, Adieu" (1987), where he last appears, Sumner returns after he heard the news about Sam and Diane's engagement. Sumner tells Diane that he sent one of her unfinished manuscripts to one of his colleagues, who later praises it. He warns her that doing both a novel and being a housewife to Sam simultaneously is impossible. Moreover, he warns her that choosing one would put an end to the other, either marriage or talents. Finally, Diane orders Sumner to leave the bar right away.

Harry the Hat

Harry "the Hat" Gittes (Harry Anderson) — a con artist, first appeared in "Sam at Eleven" (1982). More often, Harry has been kicked out by Sam for his confidence tricks, while Harry tricks bar customers into giving him money. In "Pick a Con... Any Con" (1983), Sam bails Harry out of jail because Sam and Coach want him to spite a hustler George (Reid Shelton), who has been taking away $8,000 worth of bar assets from Coach at card games of gin rummy. Then Harry suggests poker, which he assumes that George may not be good at conning, and prices Sam's requests for $5,000. Later, Harry ends up "losing" to George at poker games.

However, as discovered, Harry's hand was four of a kind (four 3s), which would have beaten George's straight hand. As they later admit, Harry and George have been cheating players, including Sam, at poker to take away their money. Therefore, they play a serious but final game. When Coach scratches his nose, George indicates a gesture that his three Queens (three of a kind) would beat Harry's hand. This time, however, Harry's four 3s in his hand beats George's hand, so Harry takes all the money and then leaves the bar. Nevertheless, as it turns out, the whole events are Harry and Coach's doings to spite George, so Harry comes back after George leaves and then gives everyone back $8,000.

In "Bar Wars VII: The Naked Prey" (1993), Harry "refuses" to help out the Cheers gang spite Gary, who has been taunting the Cheers gang with superiority, pranks, and competitions. He tells the gang that they are naturally "losers" and that topping Gary is impossible. He cons Gary (Robert Desiderio; previously Joel Polis) by pretending to be a contractor with a fake name. Gary has his own pub, Gary's Olde Towne Tavern, demolished under Harry's "contract" for millions, but then Gary realizes that he was conned and that the money does not exist. Harry hides while Gary angrily exits the bar to chase after him. At the end, as discovered, Harry takes a stash of money from Cheers's cash register for the gang's requests on Gary.

Dave Richards

Dave Richards (Fred Dryer) — a sports commentator, friend of former baseball player Sam Malone, and divorced. In "Sam at Eleven" (1982), Dave wants to interview Sam only because, unbeknownst to Sam, none of high-profile celebrities at Dave's priorities were available. However, when one of high-profile sports celebrities are finally available, Dave halts his interview with Sam, which puts an end to Sam's second chance of fame.

In "Old Flames" (1983), Dave realizes that Sam and Diane are together and bets that their relationship will end in 24 hours, so he and Sam will do debauchery with women. Then Dave sets Sam up with another woman to put his relationship with Diane at stake. However, Sam cannot fling with that woman because he still thinks about Diane. After time expires, Dave fails to break them up because Sam and Diane are still together. In "Love Thy Neighbor" (1985), Dave is heard on the radio, where he interviews Sam about Diane. In "'I' on Sports" (1987), Dave offers Sam a job as Dave's substitute for covering sports on television, which Sam accepts. (Nevertheless, Sam's news career is short-lived.)

Fred Dryer originally auditioned for Sam Malone, a supposedly football player. Because he was a football player, Dryer was considered for that role. However, the role was already given to Ted Danson.^[5][21]

Paul

Paul (Paul Vaughn) — a bar customer who appears recurringly until "Manager Coach" (1983), an episode of the second season (1983–1984). He is not to be confused with Paul Krapence (Paul Willson).

Alan

Alan (Alan Koss) — a bar patron who appears recurringly through the show's entire run. In his first appearance "Let Me Count the Ways" (1983), Alan informs waitress Diane that she has given him a wrong drink. Immediately, she breaks into tears, so Alan tries to cheer her up without avail by "accepting" and then drinking the wrong order. In "The Heart Is the Lonely Snipe Hunter" (1985), he is one of the boys who purposely abandon Frasier at the fabricated snipe hunting game. In "Those Lips, Those Ice" (1988), when Carla assumes that her then-husband Eddie is cheating on her with another woman, Alan advises Carla to tell Eddie how she feels inside by expressing not only her heart but also her soul, so they both "give unto" each other. Norm reacts by calling him a "clown".

Andy Schroeder

Andy Schroeder (Derek McGrath) — an ex-convict. A stranger Andy first appears in "Diane's Perfect Date" (1983) as Diane's blind date, paid by Sam, who calls him "Andy-Andy" because he does not know and has not asked his surname, for $20. As discovered, he killed the waitress in an Italian restaurant, Via Milano, and was in prison for that. Also, he rides a motorcycle. During the date, Diane and Sam find Andy's comments murderous.

Andy later reappears in "Homicidal Ham" (1983) and then holds people hostage to commit robbery with a gun. Fortunately, Carla catches him after he drops the gun. As learned, Andy has no job because of his past; nevertheless, Andy learned acting in high school. Diane convinces Sam not to send him to the police and, instead, gives him a chance to do performance in a Shakespearean play Othello. Andy then falls in love with Diane, but he becomes jealous and then murderous when he see Sam and Diane kissing. At the play, performed in the bar, Andy chokes Diane to a near death until Sam rescues her and Norm and Cliff hold Andy away.

Later, he is sometimes called "Andy-Andy" by characters and real-life sources alike.^[22] In "Diane's Nightmare" (1985), Andy marries Cynthia (Nancy Cartwright), but the whole thing turns out to be Diane's dream. In "Do Not Forsake Me, O' My Postman" (1992), Andy returns to the bar with bomb detonator around his body and wants to see Diane. Woody tells him that Diane no longer works as a waitress anymore, so Andy leaves.

Boggs

Boggs (Duncan Ross) — a chauffeur of Diane and Mrs. Helen Chambers (Glynis Johns). In "Someone Single, Someone Blue" (1983), Boggs repeatedly asks Diane to be his wife to help her mother Helen keep her inheritance under Mr. Chambers's will. When the time expires and Diane is still single, Helen loses all the wealth. Fortunately, as he admits, Boggs embezzled Mr. and Mrs. Chambers's money in the past and has money still remaining. Then he proposes to be Helen's husband, and Helen accepts. In "Rebound, Part One" (1984), after Diane's huge breakup from Sam, Boggs takes Diane back from psychiatric hospital to her apartment. He notifies her that Helen felt uncomfortable contacting Diane while Diane was in the ward.

Introduced in season 2

Tom

Tom (Tom Babson), an aspiring lawyer who studies law and attempts to pass the bar exam. He is primarily involved in main stories that involve legality, like financial will and parental custody. Sometimes, his credited surname is either Sherry or Babson. In "Chambers vs. Malone" (1987), he is a defense attorney for Sam's court case of "assaulting" Diane. Although Sam testifies that there was no assault, Tom requests that Sam propose to Diane in front of the court, which Sam reluctantly does. Actor Babson appeared previously as an unnamed customer in "The Tortelli Tort" (1982) and Barney in "The Boys in the Bar" (1983). His last episode is "Airport V" (1988).

Nick and Loretta Tortelli

Nick Tortelli (Dan Hedaya) and Loretta (née Tortelli) (Jean Kasem), married couple currently living in Las Vegas. In previous season, Nick was referenced, mostly by his ex-wife Carla; as discovered, he was a deadbeat father and disloyal husband when he cheated on Carla with another woman. In their first episode "Battle of the Exes" (1983), after Nick and Loretta's wedding, Nick comes into the bar and then begs Carla to be together with him, despite that he is married to Loretta. However, Carla turns him down in "favor" of Sam (although, unbeknownst to him, Sam and Carla pretend to be together at the wedding to make Nick jealous), and then Nick and Loretta exit the bar.

In "An American Family" (1984), Loretta is discovered to never be able to produce children. Therefore, Nick and Loretta attempt to retrieve custody of one of Carla's children without avail. In "If Ever I Would Leave You" (1985), Loretta kicks Nick out for not supporting her decision to join the singing group, so he goes to Cheers to work as a janitor to prove himself as a better man to Carla. Three weeks later, Loretta comes to the bar and then begs him to be still her husband. At first he refuses, but he realizes his mistake, prompting him to dump Carla again.

In "Save the Last Dance for Me" (1986), Nick and Loretta enter the dance competition against Sam and Carla, but both are disqualified during the contest. Then Nick and Carla dance for one time and then win the competition. At the bar, Nick begs Carla to be together with him again behind Loretta's back, but Carla throws an egg literally on his face.

Then Nick and Loretta appear in their own short-lived spin-off The Tortellis, which lasted from January to May 1987. In "Spellbound" (1987), Loretta leaves Nick because she figures that Nick is not very faithful to her. She then goes to Cheers to seek help from Carla and Diane for independence, such as becoming a singer. Then Nick enters the bar to woo Diane, Loretta, and then Carla with violinist and dinner without success. Diane advises Nick to improve his marriage with Loretta, so he leaves the bar trying to go after Loretta. In "Loathe and Marriage" (1993), Nick and Loretta come to his daughter Sarafina's wedding with a retired police officer, located at the bar. Carla tries to throw him out, but Sarafina convinces her to let Nick stay. At the wedding reception, located also at the bar, Loretta sings.

Lewis

Lewis (Sam Scarber), an African-American "large, athletic male"^[23] postal worker. In his very first episode "Cliff's Rocky Moment" (1984), Cliff attempts to have Lewis brawl with Victor (Peter Iacangelo) without avail. In fact, both Lewis and Victor cannot stand Cliff because of his know-it-all behavior, and Lewis finally exits the bar. In his second and final episode "I Call Your Name" (1984), Lewis is fired from his job for stealing fragrant samples from people's mail. (Unbeknownst to him, Cliff has reported Lewis.) Lewis wants to find out an identity of the claimant to physically spite him, but then he decides not to do so. Therefore, he chooses to seek other jobs. In the book The Sitcom Reader, Robert S. Brown called him a stereotype to African Americans.^[23]

Steve

Steve (Steve Gianelli), a bar patron. His first episode is "Norman's Conquest" (1984); his final is "One for the Road" (1993), the series finale. Actor Gianelli previously appeared as unnamed customer in "No Help Wanted" (1984).

Al

Al (Al Rosen), an elderly male bar patron. Over the series until the actor's death in 1990,^[24] Al can attempt any woman, including some without luck, like Diane Chambers and an aging waitress Corinne (Doris Grau), or may be involved in dialogues, especially cold openings. In his first credited episode "Fortune and Men's Weight" (1984), when Carla asks men who the all-time "bigwig" is, Al declares "Sinatra" as an answer, befuddling patrons. In "Cheers: The Motion Picture" (1987), Al gives Woody Boyd's father a philosophical phrase that convinces him to let Woody stay in Boston rather than take him back to his hometown. In "Bar Wars" (1988), he attends Gary's Olde Towne Tavern, a bar whose patrons rival against those at Cheers. His last credited episode is "The Improbable Dream: Part 2" (1989).

Introduced in season 3

Larry

Larry (Larry Harpel), a bar patron. Larry's first episode is "Diane Meets Mom" (1984); his last is "One Last Fling" (1987). Actor Harpel previously appeared in the season premiere "Rebound" (1984) as an unnamed customer.

Tim

Tim (Tim Cunningham), a bar patron. He is one of boys in "The Heart Is the Lonely Snipe Hunter" (1985) who abandon Frasier, who has been playing a snipe hunting game in the woods.^[25] Actor Tim Cunningham previously appeared as Chuck in the first season and Greg in the second. As Chuck, Chuck works at a lab that creates mutated viruses. Whenever he visits and then exits the bar, people in the bar sanitizes everything to eliminate viruses, including ones that Chuck touches.

Walt Twitchell

Walt Twitchell (Raye Birk) is a postal carrier, rival of Cliff Clavin. In his first episode "Executive's Executioner Hines" (1985), Walt attempts to mail Cliff's letter that remarks insults to Cliff's noisy neighbors, but Cliff retrieves it and rips it to shreds. In "A Diminished Rebecca with a Suspended Cliff" (1992), he and his brother, posing as a postal inspector Henderson, tricks Cliff into believing that all postal employees must wear a new uniform.

Introduced in season 4

Beth Curtis

Beth Curtis (Amanda Wyss), Woody's old-time girlfriend from Indiana. In "Woody Goes Belly Up" (1985), Beth is reunited with her old-time friend Woody. During high school, both Woody and Beth were overweight. Over the years, they have lost weight. After their reunion, they end up overeating, and people unsuccessfully attempt to help them overcome it. Fortunately, Frasier tells Woody that she and Woody substitute overeating for premarital sex due to religious backgrounds. Although Sam and Diane take the couple to dinner to help them control their eating habits, Woody and Beth end up taking Frasier's psychological advice seriously and make plans to have sex.

In her second and last episode "The Book of Samuel" (1986), Beth ends up engaged with her fiancé Leonard Twilley (John Brace), much to Woody's disappointment. Beth confesses that she and Woody are two different people who are not meant for each other: Woody is adventurous, while she settles down into commitment.

Anthony and Annie Tortelli

Anthony Tortelli (Timothy Williams), a son of Nick and Carla Tortelli, and Annie (Mandy Ingber), Anthony's wife. In "The Groom Wore Clearasil" (1985), teenagers Anthony and Annie want to be married under his mother Carla's permission, but Carla refuses and tries to keep them apart without avail because she assumes that Anthony resembles his deadbeat father Nick. Suddenly, Annie's cousin Gabrielle (Sherilyn Fenn) walks into the bar, and Anthony becomes attracted to her, much to Annie's dismay. Anthony and Annie also appear as regular characters in the short-lived spin-off The Tortellis (1987) and live with Nick and his wife Loretta.

After the spin-off ended, in two-part episode "Little Carla, Happy at Last" (1987), as discovered, married Anthony and Annie were kicked out by Nick and then decide to live with Carla. At the bar, they meet pregnant Carla's new husband Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas) and then openly disdain him for getting Carla pregnant. In "Tale of Two Cuties" (1988), Annie finds her husband Anthony lazy because he has no job. Therefore, she works as a temporary waitress and then tries to flirt with the bartender Sam Malone repeatedly without avail. Then, finally, Anthony finds a job and works at a burger joint. At the end, he walks in the bar with his work uniform to prove himself to Annie, who becomes flattered and then praises him for that.

In their last episode "Slumber Party Massacred" (1988), Anthony impregnated Annie and then announces it to Carla at dinner in Carla's house. Carla scolds him for doing that with disapproval, so Anthony and Annie leave the house.

Gary

Gary (rotatingly Joel Polis and Robert Desiderio), a bartender and an owner of his own pub Gary's Olde Town Tavern. Often he challenges Sam and other Cheers patrons in contests and then wins them in his appearances. Nevertheless, in his first episode "From Beer to Eternity" (1985), Diane Chambers's strike in bowling helps the Cheers team win the game. In his final episode "Bar Wars VII: The Naked Prey" (1993), Gary has his bar demolished by Harry the Hat, who uses fake name, for millions of dollars. However, Gary realizes that Harry is a fake when Harry's check bounced, leaving Gary without money and the bar.

Paul Krapence

Paul Krapence (Paul Willson), a bar patron. His first episode is "Fools and Their Money" (1985), and his last is the series finale "One for the Road". More often he is excluded from Cheers gang's activities^[26] except some, which "he insisted".^[27] In "It's Lonely on the Top" (1993), Paul had sex with drunk Carla Tortelli offscreen, which she regrets, while he becomes proud. However, Sam orders him not to tell anyone about this for everyone's sake. Actor Paul Willson appeared previously in Cheers as Glen (although credited as "Gregg") in "Someone Single, Single Blue" (1983) and as Tom in "Little Sister, Don't Cha" (1983).

As discovered in "The Show Where Sam Shows Up", an episode of the spin-off Frasier, Paul slept with Sam's fiancée Sheila (Téa Leoni). (However, Sam becomes angrier when he finds out about her and Cliff, which ends Sam's relationship with her.) However, Paul's only Frasier episode that he appears in is "Cheerful Goodbyes" (2002).

Corinne

Corinne (Doris Grau), an elderly waitress, hired by Woody in her first episode "Diane Chambers Day" (1986). As discovered, she also works as a waitress at Norm's favorite restaurant, Hungry Heifer. Her last episode is "Cheers: The Motion Picture" (1987). Portrayer Doris Grau was also a script supervisor of Cheers.^[28]

Introduced in season 5

Esther Clavin

Mrs. Esther "Ma" Clavin (Frances Sternhagen), Cliff Jr.'s mother. As learned in "Sam Turns the Other Cheek" (1984), her husband Cliff Sr. left her and their son behind. She makes pretzels in unusual shapes, which Cliff brings them into the bar in "Second Time Around" (1986), an episode of the fourth season. Patrons find them awful to taste, but is unable to tell him without hurting Esther's feelings. Therefore, Cliff brings them again in other episodes. In an episode of the fifth season, "Money Dearest" (1986), where she first appears in the flesh, Esther is engaged to a wealthy man Duncan Fitzgerald (Richard Erdman), who dies hours later.

In "The Last Angry Mailman" (1987), Cliff and Ma Clavin sell their house only to have it bulldozed and then replaced by a convenient store. Since then, they live in an apartment together, which first appears in "My Fair Clavin" (1987). In "Look Before You Sleep" (1993), witnessed by Sam, Cliff and Ma argue over their lives together, including how dateless Cliff is, but then apologize, which stuns Sam. In her last episode "Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses" (1993), Cliff sends Ma to a senior center but then regrets it. Although she enjoys her life there, Cliff takes her back into the apartment.

Hugh

Hugh (Hugh Maguire), a tall, balding (with a fringe of dark hair) bar patron wearing usually a beige or brown sport jacket and tie. His first episode is "Chambers vs. Malone" (1987). His last is "Jumping Jerks" (1988).

Pete

Pete (Peter Schreiner), a friendly blonde man seen usually in casual clothing. His first episode is "Chambers vs. Malone" (1987). His last is "Is There a Doctor in the Howe?" (1993).

Eddie LeBec

In two-part episode "Never Love a Goalie" (1987), Carla meets the Boston Bruins ice hockey player, Guy "Eddie" LeBec (Jay Thomas), who has an endless winning streak and a French Canadian background, and then begins to date him. However, because of their relationship, Eddie's streak unfortunately comes to an end. Since both are superstitious, they end their relationship in order to avoid ruining Eddie's ability to play. Nevertheless, they reconcile shortly thereafter and promise to break up repeatedly before every game to avoid the "curse". In "Home Is the Sailor", Carla is revealed to be several months pregnant with Eddie's twins (incorporated by another of Perlman's pregnancies^[29]). In two-part episode "Little Carla, Happy at Last", Carla and Eddie wed. She almost quits her waitressing job because Eddie said that he would take care of her financially. However, the Bruins released him from his contract due to his age and declining athletic performance, and he could not find another team. In "Airport V" (1988), Eddie ends up as a penguin mascot for a traveling ice show in another state. Later in the 1987–88, Carla gives birth to their twin boys, named Elvis and Jesse.

In "Death Takes a Holiday on Ice" (1989), Eddie was killed by an ice resurfacer when he saved the life of another member of the ice show. At the funeral, it was revealed that he had concurrently another wife Gloria with twins, as well. Carla changes her surname back to Tortelli to avoid being confused with the other "Mrs. LeBec". The demise of Jay Thomas's character Eddie LeBec has been claimed to stem from Thomas's comments "about" Perlman in a radio show. However, Thomas denied this and declared that he was referring only to the Carla character.^[30] Despite Ken Levine's praise on Thomas's acting and pairing of Eddie and Carla,^[31] Eddie was written out of the show because Perlman thought that the pairing would make her "not part of the people in the bar."^[30]

Introduced in season 6

Joanne

Joanne (Catherine MacNeal), a newscaster. In her first episode "'I' on Sports" (1987), her short-time co-newsanchor Sam Malone flirts with her, but she resists and turns him down. In "Christmas Cheers" (1987), she reports a raging lunatic (presumably Cliff Clavin) throwing canned foods at the airplane. In her last episode "Where Nobody Knows Your Name" (1990), she reports that an imprisoned millionaire Robin Colcord cheated on Rebecca Howe with another woman.

Introduced in season 7

Father Barry

Father Barry (Eric Christmas), a priest, who usually gives advice about sexuality and spirituality. His first episode is "Swear to God" (1988), and his last is "Achilles Hill" (1991). In "Death Takes a Holiday on Ice" (1990), he officiates at Eddie LeBec's funeral.

Mr. Sheridan

Mr. Sheridan (Michael Currie), Rebecca' corporate vice president. In "Adventures in Housesitting" (1989), he assigns her to babysit his doberman, Buster. In "For Real Men Only" (1989), he assigns her to manage a retirement party at the bar for an employee, Larry.

Maggie O'Keefe

Margaret "Maggie" O'Keefe (Annie Golden), Cliff's on-and-off girlfriend. In her first episode "Please Mr. Postman" (1989), she is Cliff's postal trainee and becomes his girlfriend. She is caught taking the postal vehicle to a motel, costing her a job. Then she moves to Canada for a Canadian post office. In her last, "Do Not Forsake Me, O' My Postman" (1992), she becomes pregnant with another man's child. Cliff wants to be the child's stepfather, but then she decides to marry the father of the child, ending her relationship with Cliff.

Kelly Gaines

Kelly Gaines (née Boyd) (Jackie Swanson), Woody's wife. In her first episode "Golden Boyd" (1989), she begins dating with Woody only to make her then-boyfriend Nash (Tyrone Power, Jr.) jealous. Eventually, she and Woody become attracted to each other and then an official couple, ending her relationship with Nash. In a one-hour episode "An Old Fashioned Wedding" (1992), she marries Woody. Later in the spinoff Frasier, she and Woody have a son and a daughter.

Walter Gaines

Walter Gaines (Richard Doyle), Kelly's father and one of Rebecca's corporate executives. Since his first episode "Golden Boyd" (1989), Walter usually disapproves Kelly and Woody together. Eventually, he accepts the relationship when they become married since "An Old Fashioned Wedding" (1992). In "Ill-Gotten Gaines" (1992), he has a brief affair with his married sister-in-law Katherine (Sondra Currie). In "Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses" (1993), Walter asks Rebecca for a date at the bar, even after she gets drunk and then humiliates him at the party in the house. However, Rebecca turns him down because she identifies herself as a golddigger. Walter is divorced from Roxanne (Melendy Britt), who appears in "Woody Or Won't He" (1990). Walter's mother (Celeste Holm) accepts Woody as husband for Kelly in the episode "No Rest for Woody" (1992).

Ludlow Tortelli

In "I Kid You Not" (1989), Bennett Ludlow, Jr. (Jarrett Lennon), and who is bad at sports, whom Carla nicknames "Lud", befriends Frasier and Lilith and then enjoys his suitable activities, like opera and a foreign film, with them. Feeling bad for taking away her time with Ludlow, the Cranes invite her for dinner at the seafood restaurant. At the restaurant, Ludlow dislikes the food, so Carla tries to escort him, but the Cranes disallows in hopes that Ludlow will eventually like it. Ludlow burns Frasier's shoes, tarnishing his ties with Frasier. Carla is pleased that Ludlow is a rotten Tortelli and then takes him out for hamburgers, but not without making him apologize to Frasier. Ludlow appears briefly in two more episodes: "Unplanned Parenthood" (1991) and "Rich Man, Wood Man" (1992).

Introduced in season 8

Robin Colcord

Robin Colcord (Roger Rees) is a famous millionaire and Rebecca's fiancé.

Introduced in season 9

Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale (himself), Boston Celtics player. In his first episode "Cheers Fouls Out" (1990), he plays for Cheers's basketball team against rival bar Gary's Olde Towne Tavern. McHale is told by Sam that the game is a charity match, but then he finds out that it is a lie. During one of the games, he becomes injured. Although he is all right, the doctor declares him unable to play more games.

In "Where Have All the Floorboards Gone?" (1991), McHale is brought by Sam as a birthday present to Norm. Bar patrons, including Cliff, feed McHale bar trivia, including information about number of bolts on floorboards. McHale becomes obsessed with them that severely affects his basketball performance. Cheers gang try to undo the damage without avail.

Introduced in season 10

Sarafina Tortelli

This section is blank. For an entire entry, see Carla Tortelli.

Characters appearing in only one season

Each of following characters of Cheers or real-life people portraying themselves, notable or not, appears in only one season. Even if an actor portrays various characters in the series, a more significant character who appeared in only one season is listed below. However, a character is briefly listed usually without episode synopses.

Only in season 1

Recurring characters

• Jack (Jack Knight), a bar customer — first appearance is "Sam's Women" (episode 2); last appearance is "The Boys in the Bar"

One-time characters

• Brandee (Angela Aames), a flirtatious blond female customer, whose looks attracts men — "Sam's Women"
• Debra (Donna McKechnie), Sam's former wife (whose background has been omitted in some syndication prints) — "Sam's Women"
• Leo (Donnelly Rhodes), a customer whose son has a boyfriend — "Sam's Women"
• Big Eddie (Ron Karabatsos), a customer with a behavior and comments that annoys everyone — "The Tortelli Tort"
• Lisa Pantusso (Allyce Beasley) and Roy (Philip Charles MacKenzie), daughter of Coach and her fiancé — "Coach's Daughter"
• Rebecca Prout (Julia Duffy), Diane's friend — "Any Friend of Diane's". Actress Julia Duffy auditioned for Diane Chambers but did not get the part.^[5]
• Herbert Sawyer (James Read), Norm's (former) boss — "Friends, Romans, Accountants"
• Nina (Murphy Cross), Coach's apartment neighbor — "Coach Returns to Action"
• Tour Guide (Bill Wiley), a driver who frequently brings in tourists to Cheers until Sam kicks him out — "Coach Returns to Action"
• Rick Walker (Christopher McDonald), a baseball player — "Endless Slumper"
• Kevin (Boyd Bodwell), an aspiring monastic who wants to experience the bar only once before monastery — "One for the Book"
• Buzz (Ian Wolfe), an elderly World War I survivor — "One for the Book"
• "Eric Finch" / Thomas Hillian III (Ellis Rabb), a millionaire who mostly fabricates stories of his own — "The Spy Who Came In for a Cold One"
• Marshall Lipton (Mark King) — a nerdy customer, who possesses a huge book of cybernetics and is attracted to Carla — "Let Me Count the Ways" and "Father Knows Last"
• Lana (Barbara Babcock), an advertising agent who has a casual affair with Sam to advance his acting career — "Now Pitching, Sam Malone"
• Tom Kenderson (Alan Autry), a homosexual baseball teammate and friend of Sam Malone — "The Boys in the Bar"
• Gretchen (Gretchen Corbett), Sam's blind date, set up by her friend Diane — "Diane's Perfect Date"
• Tip O'Neill (himself), a United States House Speaker and Massachusetts Representative — "No Contest"
• George Wheeler (Reid Shelton), a hustler who cons people at card games, like gin rummy and poker — "Pick a Con... Any Con"
• Helen Chambers (Glynis Johns), Diane's mother — "Someone Single, Someone Blue"
• Derek Malone (voiced by George Ball), an unseen yet more successful, handsome, and highly-educated brother of Sam — "Showdown, Part One"

Only in season 2

• Annette Lozupone (Rhea Perlman), Carla's sister who flirts with every man, while she substitutes as a temporary waitress for Carla, who has given birth in the hospital — "Little Sister, Don't Cha"
• Professor DeWitt (Severn Darden), one of Diane's professors, who comes to see Andy and Diane's test scene of Othello — "Homicidal Ham"
• Henry "Hank" Zenzola (Don Amendolia), one of Carla's dates with fatal heart condition — "Affairs of the Heart"
• Didi (Elizabeth McIvor), a woman whom Dave Richards set his friend Sam up with — "Old Flames"
• Mort Sherwin (Herb L. Mitchell), a friend of Sam Malone and parent of a Little League Baseball player — "Manager Coach"
• Peewee (Elliott Scott), Moose (Corey Feldman), and Tank (Martin Davis), young players of the Little League team Titans — "Manager Coach"
• Dick Cavett (himself), a talk show host, whose publishers reject Sam Malone's proposed autobiography — "They Call Me Mayday"
• Wally Bodell (Walter Olkewicz), Norm's old high school wrestling rival, who dates with Vera while divorced from Norm for a while — "They Call Me Mayday"
• Heather Landon (Markie Post), an old friend of Diane, who is attractive, and whose looks come between Sam and Diane — "Just Three Friends"
• Malcolm Kramer (George Gaynes), a wealthy customer, who has six months to live and then gives a signed will of $100,000 to Cheers — "Where There's a Will..."
• Katherine (Eve Roberts), one of Coach's blind dates — "And Coachie Makes Three"
• Victor Shapone (Peter Iacangelo), a bar patron who demands Cliff to either tone down his know-it-all antics or leave the bar forever with shame — "Cliff's Rocky Moment"
• George Foley (James Gallery), with whom Norm befriends and whom Cliff is jealous about — "Snow Job"
• Tom (Fred Carney), Art (Arthur Lessac), Charlie (Don Bexley), Lefty (Jack O'Leary) — old baseball teammates of Coach (while Coach was a baseball player), who come to the funeral of their teammate T-Bone Scorpageoni, who made passes at their wives in the past — "Coach Buries a Grudge"
• Emily Philips (Anne Schedeen), Norm's new business client whom his friends encourages him to have an affair with — "Norman's Conquest"
• Philip Semenko (Christopher Lloyd), a painter whom Sam despises and whom Diane admires — Two-part season finale "I'll Be Seeing You"

Only in season 3

• Julie (P. J. Soles), a waitress who resigned because Sam cheated on her with her sister — "Rebound, Part Two" (1984)
• Tinker Bell (Bernadette Birkett), a woman who wears the "Tinker Bell" costume at the Halloween party and becomes attracted to Cliff in his own costume — "Fairy Tales Can Come True"
• Marvin (Carmen Argenziano), a jealous husband whose wife Maxine (Kim Lankford) had an affair with Sam — "Sam Turns the Other Cheek"
• Irene Blanchard (Bette Ford) — Coach's fiancée who wins the lottery and then goes out with wealthy men — two-part episode "Coach in Love"
• Sue Blanchard (Ellen Regan) — Irene's daughter, who is repulsed by Sam's advances — "Coach in Love, Part One"
• Hester Crane (Nancy Marchand), Frasier's mother, who supposedly threatens Diane if Diane continues dating Frasier — "Diane Meets Mom". Rita Wilson portrays this character in Frasier.
• Amanda (Carol Kane), a mental ward patient, whom Diane befriended at the mental hospital and has poor relationships with men — "A Ditch in Time"
• Dr. Bennett Ludlow (James Karen), Frasier's mentor, who impregnates Carla with their son Ludlow Tortelli — "Whodunit?" (1985)
• Becky (Jeana Tomasina), Ginger (Heidi Sorenson), and Andrea (Ola Ray), softball players of Playboy Playmates — "King of the Hill"
• Paula Nelson (Alison LaPlaca), an intelligent, sophisticated magazine reporter, with whom Sam flirts — "Behind Every Great Man"
• Mr. Hecht (Richard Roat), Norm's (former) boss who promotes Norm into firing people from corporation — "The Executive's Executioner"
• Eddie Gordon (Michael Richards), a man who bets that Sam could lose the bar if Sam does not marry celebrity Jacqueline Bisset — "Bar Bet"
• Jacqueline Bisset (Laurie Walters), a woman, who is not to be confused with actual Jacqueline Bisset, and whom Sam bribes into marrying him to save the bar — "Bar Bet"
• Lillian Huxley (Lila Kaye), a middle-aged experienced waitress, who cheers the crowd with singing and poetry — "The Bartender's Tale"
• Carolyn Huxley (Camilla More), Lillian's daughter, to whom Sam becomes attracted — "The Bartender's Tale"
• Drusilla Dimeglio (Camila Ashland), Carla's former high school principal, whom Carla has despised for years — "The Belles of St. Clete's"
• Kathy Settuducato (Kate Zentall), Donna Guzzo (Catherine Paolone), Roxanne Brewster (Marsha Warfield), and Mo McSweeney (Ellen Gerstein), Carla's friends back in high school — "The Belles of St. Clete's"
• Dan Corelli (James V. Christy), one of Coach's friends, whom Coach cannot recognize — "Rescue Me"
• The Waiter (Martin Ferrero) from Italy, whose restaurant owner recently died — "Rescue Me"

Only in season 4

• Sisters Marie (Lois de Banzie) and Catherine (Patricia Huston), nuns of the convent, at where Diane atones her sins, such as promiscuity, after she left Frasier in Europe — "Birth, Death, Love, and Rice" (1985)
• Lisa (Liz Keifer), one of Sam's women, who flirts with Woody — "Woody Goes Belly Up"
• Stuart Sorenson (Frank Dent), one of Diane's fiancé, whom she finds not "physically attractive"^[32] — "Someday My Prince Will Come"
• Professor Moffat (John Ingle), whom Diane interviews with for a "teaching assistant position"^[33] — "The Groom Wore Clearasil"
• Cynthia (Nancy Cartwright), an ex-convict Andy's supposed 'fiancée', who turns out to be part of Diane's dream — "Diane's Nightmare"
• Mr. Sayers (William Lanteau), a buyer who wants the first-edition of an Ernest Hemingway novel The Sun Also Rises from seller Diane Chambers — "I'll Gladly Pay You Tuesday"
• Sotto the Mime (Don Lewis), whom Diane hires to entertain bar customers, while Sam despises — "2 Good 2 Be 4 Real"
• Vinnie Claussen (Michael Alaimo), a funeral director who wants to date Carla by answering her dating ad — "2 Good 2 Be 4 Real"
• Phyllis Henshaw (Miriam Flynn), Norm's neighbor whose husband is having a romantic affair with Norm's wife Vera — "Love Thy Neighbor"
• Santo Carbone (Ernie Sabella), a private detective, who is also Carla's cousin — "Love Thy Neighbor". Sabella appears as Stan in prior episode "Whodunit?"
• Cliff Clavin, Sr. (Dick O'Neill), Cliff's long-lost father — "The Bar Stoolie"
• Claudia (Claudia Cron), an intelligent woman who befriends Diane and dates Sam for a very short time — "The Bar Stoolie"
• Dr. Lowell Greenspon (Kenneth Tigar), one of Diane's professors — "Don Juan Is Hell". Actor Kenneth Tigar appeared in earlier episode "The Boys in the Bar".
• Bert Simpson (Patrick Cronin), a television viewer who pays $300 for Sam's baseball shirt — "Take My Shirt... Please" (1986)
• Mr. (Robert Symonds) and Mrs. Brubaker (Frances Bay), Norm's clients — "Take My Shirt... Please"
• Irving (M.C. Gainey), a psychology student who teams with Diane for the 'suspicious man' charade on Cheers patrons — "Suspicion"
• Lucas (Timothy Scott), Carla's hippie blind date — "Cliffie's Big Score"
• Candi Pearson (Jennifer Tilly), one of Sam's women who is set up as Frasier's date — "Second Time Around"
• Mr. Reinhardt (Daniel Davis), one of Norm's bosses — "The Peterson Principle"
• Bonnie (Pamela Bach), a woman for whom Sam and Woody compete — "Dark Imaginings"
• Jack Turner (Thomas Callaway), a patient who befriends Sam in the hospital — "Dark Imaginings"
• Jack Dalton (Joseph Whipp), one of Diane's lovers back in Europe after she dumped Frasier; also an enthusiast of danger — "Fear Is My Co-Pilot"
• Dennis Kaufman (Tom Harrison), one of Diane's dates, who wears the Renaissance fair costume in public — "Diane Chambers Day"
• Ken Charters (Tony Carriero), a bartender, whom Sam hired and who has a wife (Patricia Veselich) with a son (Edan Gross) and daughter (Judith Barsi) — "Relief Bartender"
• Andrea (Kim Robinson), one of Sam's fiancées — "Relief Bartender"
• Janet Eldridge (Kate Mulgrew), an intelligent politician, one of Sam's fiancées — three-part episode "Strange Bedfellows"
• Jim Fleener (Max Wright), Janet's political opponent, who eventually loses to her — "Strange Bedfellows, Parts One and Two"
• Gary Hart (himself), a United States Senator from Colorado — "Strange Bedfellows, Part Two"

Only in season 5

• Vicki (Brenda Strong), whom he dates after his failed proposals with Diane — "The Cape Cad" (1986)
• Duncan "Fitz" Fitzgerald (Richard Erdman), a wealthy man, who is engaged to Esther Clavin, Cliff's mother, until he dies by a heart attack — "Money Dearest"
• Lance Apollonaire (J. Eddie Peck), a college student whom Diane dates — "Knights of the Scimitar"
• Leonard Twilley (John Brace), a fiancé of Woody's ex-girlfriend Beth Curtis — "The Book of Samuel"
• Judge William E. Grey (Tom Troupe), who handles the assault case of Sam Malone, filed by Diane — "Chambers vs. Malone" (1987)
• Bill (Brent Spiner) and Sherry Grand (Suzanne Collins), a couple from the domestic abuse court case that Diane is involved as a jurist — "Never Love a Goalie, Part Two"
• Anita Morris (Madeline Keith), a married woman whose dog attacked Cliff during his postal duties and then seduces Cliff — "Dog Bites Cliff"
• Dr. Simon Finch-Royce (John Cleese), a marital expert who believes that Sam and Diane are a mismatch — "Simon Says"
• Joyce Pantusso (Cady McClain), Coach's niece — "The Godfather, Part III"
• Warren Thompkins (Tegan West), Norm's colleague who steals his proposal that turns out to be "incomplete and insufficiently researched"^[34] — "Norm's Last Hurrah"
• Bert (Douglas Seale) and Lillian Miller (Billie Bird), married elderly couple who sells their house to Sam and Diane — "A House Is Not a Home"

Only in season 6

Recurring characters

• Evan Drake (Tom Skerritt), one of Rebecca's corporate bosses, whom Rebecca has a crush on but is too shy to admit her feelings toward him — first appearance is "A Kiss Is Still a Kiss". In his last appearance, "Backseat Becky, Up Front", Mr. Drake leaves for Japan. Rebecca hijacks his limousine and tries to confess her feelings for him. However, she sees him with another woman, letting Rebecca down.

One-time characters

• Wayne (Jonathan Stark), a relief bartender who loses his job by losing the bet on successfully making fictional cocktail "Screaming Viking" — "Home Is the Sailor" (1987). Portrayer Jonathan Stark also has written several Cheers episodes.^[35]
• Mama LeBec (Janet Brandt), mother of Eddie — two-part episode "Little Carla, Happy at Last"
• Connie (Sharon Barr), a cigarette-smoking woman with a red dress, who bids on Woody Boyd during bachelor audition — "Bidding on the Boys"
• Mary (Anne Pitoniak), an elderly woman, who befriends Woody while he wears the Mark Twain costume — "Pudd'n Head Boyd"
• Sally (Karen Akers), Cliff's one-time girlfriend, whose homely appearances are changed by a makeover — "My Fair Clavin"
• Tracy (Jayne Modean), a woman, whose Christmas presents are sold to Sam — "Christmas Cheers"
• Fake Santa Clauses (Donavon O'Donnell, Hal Havins, Joseph V. Perry), old friends of Norm — "Christmas Cheers"
• Kris (Harry Frazier), a man who is believed to be (implicitly) the real Santa Claus — "Christmas Cheers"
• Robert Urich (himself), an actor whom Woody met at the set of Spenser: For Hire — "Woody for Hire Meets Norm of the Apes" (1988)
• Daniel Collier (Peter Hansen), a corporate CEO, who hires Rebecca to cater a party
• Linda (Jude Mussetter), a woman with whom Sam attempts to flirt — "And God Created Woodman"
• Laurie (Bobbie Eakes), Evan Drake's daughter — "A Tale of Two Cuties"
• Julia (Dorothy Parke), one of Sam's fiancées — "Yachts of Fools"
• Lorenzo (Tom Astor), Evan Drake's servant — "Yachts of Fools"
• Karen (Karen Witter), one of Frasier's patients who stripteases for his bachelor party — "To All the Girls I've Loved Before"
• Jennifer McCall (Cec Verrell), one of Frasier's patients who is a pyromaniac — "Let Sleeping Drakes Lie"
• Murray Treadwell (Peter Elbling), a Boston critic who usually give the bar Cheers bad reviews — "Airport V"
• #66 (Ron Boussom) and #99 (Thomas Ryan), participants of the contest for the Caribbean cruise — "Our Hourly Bread"
• Dorothy Greenberg (Elizabeth Ruscio), Lilith's childhood friend — "Slumber Party Massacred"
• Wade Boggs (himself), a baseball player — "Bar Wars"
• Martin (Ron Barker), Evan Drake's chauffeur — "Backseat Becky, Upfront"

Only in season 7

• Greg Stone (Brian Bedford), Rebecca's corporate vice president — "How to Recede in Business" (1988). He is fired off-screen in "Executive Sweet".
• Suzanne Porter (Shanna Reed) and Rachel Patterson (Kim Johnston Ulrich), Sam's fiancées — "Swear to God"
• Martin Teal (Alex Nevil), Rebecca's boss, who replaces Greg Stone and whose short stature repulses Rebecca secretly — "Executive Sweet" and "One Happy Chappy in a Snappy Serape"
• Dennis Teal (Gerald Hiken), Martin's father, who is also his servant — "Executive Sweet" and "One Happy Chappy in a Snappy Serape"
• Ramon (Marco Hernandez), Sam's temporary Mexican bartender — "One Happy Chappy in a Snappy Serape"
• Franzi Schrempf (Isa Anderson), a prominent East German ice skater, who appears in Eddie's ice shows, making Carla jealous — "Those Lips, Those Ice"
• Ivan (B.J. Turner), an interior decorator, whom the Cranes fire — "Norm, Is That You?"
• Robert and Kim Cooperman (George Deloy and Jane Sibbett), married upper-class couple, who hires Norm to have their house redecorated — "Norm, Is That You?"
• Bob Speakes (J. Kenneth Campbell), a skydiving instructor — "Jumping Jerks"
• Judy (Sandahl Bergman) and Laurie (Chelsea Noble), a mother and daughter whom Sam dates — "Send in the Crane" (1989)
• Nash (Tyrone Power, Jr.), Kelly's then-boyfriend — "Golden Boyd"
• Mr. Anawalt (Stefan Gierasch), one of Rebecca's corporate executives, who is charged by FBI with insider trading — "Don't Paint Your Chickens"
• FBI Agents Adams (Ralph Meyering, Jr.) and Thompson (Mark Legan), who arrest Mr. Anawalt — "Don't Paint Your Chickens"
• Erin (Lisa Aniff), one of Sam's casual interests, who is athletic — "Don't Paint Your Chickens"
• Admiral William J. Crowe (himself), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — "Hot Rocks"
• Dr. Sheila Rydell (Madolyn Smith), Frasier and Lilith's colleague and one of Sam's dates — "What's Up Doc?"
• Susan Howe (Marcia Cross), Rebecca's estranged sister — "Sisterly Love". Joan Severance was originally intended to portray this role.^[36]
• Dr. Lawrence Crandell (John McMartin), a married psychiatrist, who sexually harasses women — "The Visiting Lecher"
• Valerie Crandell (Joanna Barnes), Lawrence's wife — "The Visiting Lecher"

Only in season 8

• Roxanne Gaines (Melendy Britt), Walter Gaines's ex-wife and Kelly Gaines's mother, an attractive high-society lady and sexy upper-class cougar aware of her effect on men, tries to seduce Woody — "Woody Or Won't He."

Only in season 9

Only in season 10

Only in season 11

Notes

References

• Bjorklund, Dennis A. Cheers TV Show: A Comprehensive Reference (e-Book ed.). Praetorian Publishing. 
• Jones, Gerald. Honey, I'm Home! Sitcoms: Selling the American Dream. New York: Grove Weidenfeld—Grove Press, 1992. Print. ISBN 978-0-8021-1308-5.
• Wendt, George. Drinking with George. New York: Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2009. Print. ISBN 978-1-4391-4958-4.