John Ratzenberger View Director CV Download Full CV (PDF) From humble beginnings in Bridgeport, Connecticut, John Ratzenberger gained international fame in Cheers. During more than three decades of movie making and theatre, John has enjoyed success as a screenwriter, director, producer and multi Emmy nominated actor. He is also an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist and environmentalist.     After college, John performed various one-man shows and directed at the Stowe Playhouse in Vermont. It was here that he developed his low key acting style that combines wit with the assured presence of old Hollywood types. After the playhouse closed, John moved to London where he enjoyed great success as an actor, writer and director in Europe from 1971 to 1981. John formed the improvisational theatre duo, Sal’s Meat Market, in which he co-wrote, directed, and starred. In 1982, he took a writing assignment for CBS in Los Angeles. On the day he was scheduled to return to London, he auditioned for a role on the upcoming Cheers. The character of the postman did not exist when John auditioned for Cheers. When he finished auditioning for another part, he asked the writers if they had a bar “know-it-all” character. Since they did not, John described such a character, “I explained to them that every neighborhood bar has a resident know-it-all and then demonstrated my version of him.” An American icon was born in just five minutes of improv. John’s improvisational skills created the lovable postman and trivia king, Cliff Clavin. The Cheers team jumped on John's concept immediately, rewriting the pilot to include the quintessential mailman. On the set, John was well known to re-write his own lines and is credited with the creation of “Cliff Clavin” on Cheers. On the silver screen, John's first motion picture role was in the Golden Globe nominated The Ritz (1976), directed by Richard Lester and starring Rita Moreno and Jack Weston. During this time in England, John appeared in over 22 major motion pictures making him not just a movie star, but also an actor to be reckoned with. His credits also include Gandhi (1982) and Star Wars’ Empire Strikes Back (1980). Additionally, he starred in the Granada TV series, Small World. John has guest-starred in a variety of television series including 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (2003) and That 70’s Show (2001). FILMS INCLUDE; Determination of Death - 2001 Ghandi - 1982 Star Wars’ Empire Strikes Back - 1980 Superman 2 - 1980 Superman - 1978 One Night Stand - 1997 Tick Tock - 1999 That Darn Cat - 1997 She’s Having a Baby - 1988 Protocol - 1984 The Falcon and the Snowman - 1985 Ragtime - 1981 Reds - 1981 Outland - 1981 Yanks - 1979 A Bridge Too Far - 1977 The Ritz – 1976 TELEVISION INCLUDES; 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter - 2003 Frasier - 2002 That 70’s Show - 2001 Touched By an Angel - 2000 Sabrina the Teenage Witch - 1997 Caroline in the City - 1996 Sister, Sister - 1995 The Simpson’s - 1994 Murphy Brown - 1994 Blossom - 1993 The Love Boat - 1985 Magnum P.I. - 1984 Hill Street Blues - 1982 John has acted in numerous TV movies. AWARDS 2002 Doctorate of Humane Letters for his Contribution to the American Arts 1996 Father of the Year Award by the Father's Day Council of America Outstanding Roll Model Award from the American Diabetes Association 1985-1986 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor Cheers earned a record 28 Emmys