Cheers maintained an ensemble cast, keeping roughly the same set of characters for the entire run. Numerous secondary characters and love interests for these characters appeared intermittently to complement storylines that generally revolved around this core group.
- Sam Malone - Ted Danson 1982-1993
- Diane Chambers - Shelley Long 1982-1987 (1993; guest)
- Rebecca Howe - Kirstie Alley 1987-1993
- Carla Tortelli - Rhea Perlman 1982-1993
- “Woody” Boyd - Woody Harrelson 1985-1993
- Norm Peterson - George Wendt 1982-1993
- Cliff Clavin - John Ratzenberger 1982-1993
- Frasier Crane - Kelsey Grammer 1984-1993
- Ernie “Coach” Pantusso - Nicholas Colasanto 1982-1985
- Lilith Sternin - Bebe Neuwirth 1986-1993
The character of Sam Malone was originally intended to be a retired football player and was originally supposed to be played by Fred Dryer, but after casting Ted Danson it was decided that a former baseball player would be more believable, given Danson’s slimmer physique. The character of Cliff Clavin was created for John Ratzenberger after he auditioned for the role of “Norm”. While chatting with producers afterwards, he asked if they were going to include a “bar know-it-all”, the part which he eventually played. Kirstie Alley joined the cast when Shelley Long left, and Woody Harrelson joined when Nicholas Colasanto died. Danson, George Wendt, and Rhea Perlman were the only actors to appear in every episode of the series.
