Every Major Actor from ‘Cheers’ Who Died

‘Cheers’ ran from 1982 to 1993 and followed the regulars of a Boston bar where everybody knows your name. Across eleven seasons the series introduced a core ensemble and a deep bench of recurring characters who helped define the show’s world, from wisecracking barflies to bosses upstairs at Melville’s.

This roundup focuses on principal and recurring figures whose roles shaped ‘Cheers’ in meaningful ways and who have since passed away. Each entry notes the character they played, the stretch of seasons they appeared in, and key storylines that connected them to the bar’s day to day life.

Nicholas Colasanto

Nicholas Colasanto played Ernie Coach Pantusso, the former Red Sox coach who tended bar alongside Sam from 1982 to early 1985. He died on February 12, 1985 at age 61 during production of season three, and the series acknowledged his death at the start of season four.

Coach appeared throughout the first three seasons as a steady presence behind the bar, often mentoring Sam and the regulars. After Colasanto’s death the series introduced Woody Boyd to fill the second bartender role, and the Geronimo photo he kept in his dressing room remained on the set through the finale as a quiet tribute.

Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley portrayed Rebecca Howe, who took over managing the bar in season six and remained through the 1993 series finale. She died on December 5, 2022 at age 71.

Rebecca’s arc tracked her corporate ambitions and complicated relationships that affected the bar staff, including her involvement with Robin Colcord and frequent clashes with John Allen Hill upstairs at Melville’s. She anchored the management side of the bar across late period seasons, guiding staff storylines while ‘Cheers’ shifted into its final years.

Roger Rees

Roger Rees recurred as Robin Colcord, the British corporate raider who dated Rebecca and tangled with the bar from the late 1980s into the early 1990s. He died on July 10, 2015 at age 71.

Robin’s storyline introduced hostile takeovers and legal trouble that spilled directly into the bar’s daily operations. His romance with Rebecca and an insider trading plotline drove multi episode arcs that pulled in Sam, Carla, and the rest of the staff.

Jay Thomas

Jay Thomas played Eddie LeBec, the Boston Bruins goalie who married Carla during seasons six through eight. He died on August 24, 2017 at age 69.

Eddie’s presence linked the bar to Boston sports and to Carla’s home life as the series followed their wedding and the chaos that followed. After an off screen separation the show wrote the character out with a much discussed accident, which reset Carla’s storylines for the remainder of the run.

Harry Anderson

Harry Anderson appeared as Harry the Hat Gittes, a smooth talking con artist who turned up at the bar from the early seasons through special returns in later years. He died on April 16, 2018 at age 65.

Harry’s episodes centered on elaborate scams that roped in Sam, Woody, and the regulars, with the bar itself often doubling as his stage. He became one of the series’ most recognizable recurring figures and popped back in during anniversary and farewell moments while also headlining ‘Night Court’ during the same era.

Frances Sternhagen

Frances Sternhagen recurred as Esther Clavin, Cliff’s formidable mother, appearing intermittently across the later seasons. She died on November 27, 2023 at age 93.

Her episodes explored Cliff’s living situation and family background, grounding his postal worker bravado in scenes at home and at the bar. The mother and son dynamic became a dependable thread for holiday gatherings and milestone events as the series moved toward its conclusion.

Keene Curtis

Keene Curtis portrayed John Allen Hill, the owner of Melville’s Seafood who sparred with Sam and Rebecca throughout seasons nine to eleven. He died on October 13, 2002 at age 79.

Hill’s ownership of the space above the bar led to constant disputes over rent, access, and even the shared restrooms, which kept legal and managerial tensions in play. His on off connection with Carla added another complication that regularly spilled from Melville’s dining room into the ‘Cheers’ side of the building.

Philip Perlman

Philip Perlman appeared as Phil, a long running bar regular who became part of the background fabric of the series throughout the middle and late seasons. He died on April 29, 2015 at age 95.

Often seated among Norm and Cliff, Phil contributed to the rhythm of the bar with quick reactions and occasional lines that marked time across episodes. Off camera he was Rhea Perlman’s father, and on camera he logged dozens of appearances that quietly reinforced the sense that the same faces could always be found at ‘Cheers’.

Al Rosen

Al Rosen was credited as Al, a barfly who appeared regularly through the show’s early years. He died on August 2, 1990 at age 80.

He specialized in brief but timely interjections that punctuated conversations at the front of the bar. His presence helped establish the look and sound of the crowd scenes that made the ‘Cheers’ set feel like a real neighborhood hangout.

George Wendt

George Wendt portrayed Norm Peterson, the laid-back accountant and ultimate bar regular who anchored the show from its 1982 premiere through the 1993 finale. He died on May 20, 2025 at age 76.

Norm’s iconic entrances, greeted by the chorus of “Norm!” and a witty one-liner, became a signature of the series. His storylines often revolved around his unseen wife Vera, perpetual job hunts, and unbreakable bond with Cliff, embodying the everyday camaraderie that made ‘Cheers’ a beloved hangout for viewers.

Share your memories of these performers and the episodes that stood out to you in the comments.