Guest stars
Although Cheers operated largely around that main ensemble cast, guest stars did occasionally supplement them. Notable repeat guests included Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec, Dan Hedaya as Nick Tortelli, Jean Kasem as Loretta Tortelli, Roger Rees as Robin Colcord, Tom Skerritt as Evan Drake, and Harry Anderson as Harry ‘The Hat’ Gittes. Other celebrities guest-starred in single episodes as themselves throughout the series. Some sports figures appeared on the show with a connection to Boston or Sam’s former team, the Red Sox, such as Luis Tiant, Wade Boggs, and Kevin McHale (star player of the Boston Celtics). Some television stars also made guest appearances as themselves such as Alex Trebek, Arsenio Hall, Dick Cavett, and Johnny Carson. Some political figures even made appearances on Cheers such as then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral William J. Crowe, former Colorado Senator Gary Hart, then-Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, Senator John Kerry, then-Governor Michael Dukakis, and then-Mayor of Boston Raymond Flynn (the last four of whom all represented Cheers’ home state and city). Musician Harry Connick, Jr. appeared in an episode as Woody’s cousin and plays a song from his Grammy winning album We Are in Love (c. 1991). John Cleese won an Emmy for his guest appearance as “Dr. Simon Finch-Royce” in the fifth season episode, “Simon Says”. Emma Thompson guest starred as Nanny Gee/Nanette Guzman, a famous singing nanny and Frasier’s ex-wife. Christopher Lloyd guest starred as a tortured artist who wanted to paint Diane. John Mahoney once appeared as an inept jingle writer, which included a brief conversation with Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), whose father he would later play on the spin-off Frasier. The Righteous Brothers, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley, also guest starred in different episodes.
Recurring characters
Paul Willson, who played the recurring barfly character of “Paul”, made early appearances in the first season as “Glen”, was credited as “Gregg”, and also appeared in the show as a character named “Tom”. Thomas Babson played “Tom”, a law student often mocked by “Cliff Clavin”, for continually failing to pass the Boston Bar exam. “Al”, played by Al Rosen, appeared in 38 episodes, and was known for his surly quips. Rhea Perlman’s father Philip Perlman played the role of “Phil”.
