As part of the extended Cheers plot arc in 1989 in which The Lillian Corporation bought the Cheers bar from Sam, Rebecca was placed in charge of the business and spent most of her days trying to impress her corporate overseers. Discover more about the cast of Cheers, starring Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, and Woody Harrelson. I will miss her," Danson told Deadline. She was hardworking, occasionally selfish, very neurotic, and eventually got romantically involved with Sam, but it didn't last. Like the majority of her castmates, Cheers catapulted her into stardom, although she had a small role on popular comedy Taxi prior. On the big screen, Grammer has been in some of the biggest movie franchises ever, including "X-Men," "Transformers," and "The Expendables." Al (sometimes referred to as "Big Al") was one such customer. Ratzenbergers distinctive voice helped to land him roles in every Pixar animated film to date, including Hamm the pig in the Toy Story series and Mack the truck in the Cars franchise. In his fifties and already suffering from heart issues when he began playing Coach, Nicholas Colasanto was hospitalized in 1984 for water in his lungs. She was Ms. Robin Elizabeth Bishop in the 1987 film Summer School, and played Gladys Leeman in Drop Dead Gorgeous, which came out in 1999. He also had repeated appearances on "Saturday Night Live" in the '90s and early 2000s. She earned another Emmy nod for her starring role as the title character Veronica in "Veronica's Closet. DailyMail.comlast spotted him inSeptemberin a rare public outing just ahead of the 40-year anniversary of the sitcom that made him famous. On the TV front, Harrelson reprised his role as Woody in an episode of "Frasier," a performance which got him another Emmy nomination. Diane left "Cheers" after season five, but returned in the final episode of season 11. Colosanto also worked as an actor in various films, but he's best known for playing Coach on "Cheers.". He is also an athlete, playing in two Unicef Soccer Aid matches in the UK in 2010 and 2012 for the Rest of the World team. In addition to acting, he worked as a stuntman for The Three Stooges. Sam is also a ladies' man. Alley's children, True and Lillie Parker, announced the actress had died. He came into the role after directing episodes of shows including Starsky and Hutch, CHiPs, Columbo and the original Hawaii Five-O. Kirstie Alley, the actress who played Rebecca Howe on "Cheers," has died. As big of a hit as "ALF" was, it sounds like things weren't entirely cheerful behind the scenes. Kelsey Grammer, 67, entered Cheers as psychiatrist Frasier Crane in season three. The New York Daily News reported that Thomas was surrounded by his wife, Sally, and their children when he died of throat cancer on August 25, 2017. He has been nominated for an Oscar three times for The People vs Larry Flynt, The Messenger and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He initially came to Boston from the Midwest to meet his pen pal, who happened to be Cheers' bartender Ernie "Coach" Pantusso. Tragically, one of television's warmest '80s starsdiedin 2018 at age 65, having suffered a cardiac event exacerbated by a bout of influenza. The good guys eventually won, however, getting the rooms back (for a large sum) while keeping John Allen Hill at a hostile arm's length for 15 episodes, during which time the character also engaged in an unlikely affair with Carla. The illness was only recently discovered, her family said. As his husband, Rick Elice, told the New York Post, Rees was diagnosed with brain cancer in October 2014. Playing kind but slow-witted Woody Boyd, Woody Harrelson took on the assistant bartender role following the death of actor Nicholas Colasanto who played Coach during the first three seasons of. After a much-publicized struggle with her weight, she appeared in the unscripted comedy series Fat Actress (2005) and the same year published a book, How to Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life, which chronicled her personal experiences with weight loss. Perlman was married to her "Matilda" co-star Danny DeVito, Grammer would reprise his role as Frasier, Paramount Plus Essential Monthly Plan (ad-supported). Five-time Emmy-winner Kelsey Grammer will forever be associated with the erudite, if hapless, psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, whom he portrayed for two decades on "Cheers" (1984-1993) and the spinoff sitcom Frasier (1993-2004). "He asked me to open for Kenny in Las Vegas, which I did," Anderson shared. Ted Danson got his big break on "Cheers," starring as bartender Sam Malone from 1982-1993. It's occasionally mentioned throughout the series, but in Season 9 of Cheers, Melville's factored into plotlines in a big way when stuffy, condescending snob John Allen Hill acquired the restaurant, starting a feud with Sam Malone and the Cheers crew. He is still acting and recently starred in sports film High Expectations, which came out this year. I know we will see each other again, Travolta posted to Instagram. Both men showed interest in Kirstie Alley's Rebecca Howe, and Colcord was meant to divert her attention in his direction. Join Facts Verse as Shelley Long's true feelings about the Cheers cast finally confirmed. He is a pescatarian and is a dedicated advocate of ocean conservation. Sam Malone issued a standing order for him to be thrown out if he ever showed his face around Cheers, but he was also something of a friend the bar owner once bailed him out of jail, a favor Harry repaid by helping Coach regain the $8,000 he lost to a cheat. After Sam sold Cheers to a large corporation in the beginning of season six, Howe was appointed as the bar manager by its new owners. He went on to land lead movie roles in Indecent Proposal (1993), Natural Born Killers (1994) and was nominated for a lead actor Academy Award for The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996). Currie's appearances on "Cheers" were mere blips in his long career in film and on television. After her role in "Cheers," Long, 73, continued her television work, starring in the series "Kelly Kelly." "We really felt like welcome to our show.". Alley was also a spokesperson for Jenny Craig and was vocal about her struggles with her weight. Between 1989 and 1993, Rees appeared on 17 episodes of "Cheers," which show him wining, dining, and ultimately, using Rebecca for her corporate access. Menu Movies Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight TV Shows Rhea Perlman, 74, appeared in every episode of the show as impatient waitress Carla Tortelli who was well-known for her violent temper and disdain of almost everyone in the bar aside from Sam. Lets reopen the bar tab and tally what the cast has been up to over a quarter-century. Kirstie Alley and John Travolta at the premiere of "The Fanatic" in 2019. Shelley Lee Long was born at 7:15 am on Tuesday, August 23, 1949 in Indian Village, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, the only child of Ivadine (Williams), a schoolteacher, and Leland Long, a teacher who had previously worked in the rubber industry. He was 71. The character was eventually reintroduced into "The Simpsons" universe as Lunchlady Dora. He spent a lot of time in the recording booth, providing his rather distinct voice to numerous characters such as Balthazar on "The Smurfs.". In the Season 5 episode "Cheers: The Motion Picture," Norm became obsessed with The Hungry Heifer, a Boston restaurant that served terrible food of questionable origin, but it was cheap and presented in very large portions. While he had few lines throughout his time on "Cheers," Rosen managed to visit his favorite celluloid watering hole for 110 episodes. After wrapping up her time on "Cheers," Post had several appearances in other established shows. He was also a beloved recurring guest on The Late Show WithDavid Letterman for years, throwing footballs and re-telling what Dave called "the best story I've ever heard" every Christmas. She made me laugh 30 years ago when she shot that scene, and she made me laugh today just as hard. Alley joined the cast of "Cheers" as Rebecca Howe in Season 6,filling the role left vacant when Shelly Long departed the series. He is probably best known for playing the lead in "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby," a performancethat not only earned him a Tony and an Olivier Award, but jumpstarted his career. The show remains one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time. Gunther was even. On December 30, 1995, Grau died at the age of 71 from respiratory failure. Following the news of actress' passing on Monday, DailyMail.com can reveal where the rest of the beloved cast of Cheers are now. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Harry Anderson (Harry 'The Hat' Gittes) NBC/YouTube Harry Anderson is best known for playing Judge Harry T. Stone on "Night Court." The popular NBC. Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a short battle with cancer, four months after the 40th anniversary of her TV show Cheers Alley played Rebecca Howe on the iconic 1982 sitcom,. IE 11 is not supported. He voiced Hamm in the first-ever Pixar movie, "Toy Story," and had a voice role in every single one, until 2020's "Soul," though his likeness was seen. Most famously, he starred in the first season of "True Detective," which also garnered him an Emmy nod. Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson, and Kelsey Grammer all gave unforgettable performances on the long-running series. ", Perlman has also been in many short-lived television shows including "Kate Brasher," "Pearl," "Hung" and "Robot and Monster." In 2022, she had a role in the coming-of-age musical film "13," which is based on the 2008 Broadway musical of the same name. Cheers cast list, including photos of the actors when available. Brown often worked as a voice artist too, heard on cartoons including Paddington Bear, Gravedale High, and the infamousFish Police. "Cheers," the sitcom about a group of quirky, everyday people who work and meet regularly at the titular Boston watering hole ran 11 seasons on NBC and took final drink orders May 20, 1993, after 275 episodes. In addition to his close-to-his-daughter regular gig on Cheers, he frequently took small roles in projects starring or directed by his son-in-law, Danny DeVito, such as Throw Momma from the Train, Hoffa, Other People's Money, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. They divorced in 2011 and Grammer went on to marry British flight attendant Kayte Walsh the same year. Wendt has been married to Bernadette Birkett who played the voice of the mysterious Vera on Cheers since 1978 and they have one daughter and two sons. He would often say one or two sentences, always for comedic effect, with his first and most memorable being "Sinatra!" Before transitioning into acting, Jay Thomas was a popular DJ in New York. After the show wrapped, Wright explained toPeoplethat he "washugely eager to have it over with" and that acting opposite a puppet "was hard work and very grim." For three seasons, Colasanto played sweet, simple . The low-key sitcom took place in and around Cheers, a Boston bar "where everybody knows your name," run by ex-Red Sox pitcher Sam "Mayday" Malone (Ted Danson), along with bartender Ernie "Coach" Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto, later WoodyHarrelson's Woody Boyd), irascible waitress Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman), romantic interest Diane (Shelly Long, later yielding to Kirstie Alley's Rebecca) and chatty barflies Frasier (KelseyGrammer), Cliff (John Ratzenberger), and Norm (George Wendt). He visited the Boston bar 142 times, making him one of the background characters with the most appearances. There were customers at Cheers beyond just Norm Peterson, Cliff Clavin, and bespectacled Paul. He died in 2009 at age 81. Ted Danson, 74, starred as Sam Malone on the hit show and was one of only three characters to appear in all 275 episodes. Actress Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71, according to a statement from her family. 'You people have lost your minds. Al Rosen spent considerable time in front of and behind cameras throughout his long career. His character Sam was a former baseball player for the Boston Red Sox whose battle with alcoholism led him to quit his sports career and open a bar where he was adored by his patrons and was skilled at seducing beautiful women. Curtis died in 2002 at age 79 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Throughout his career Wendt, 73, has acted in various television shows ("The Naked Truth," "Madigan Men," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"), and even starred in his own self-titled series "The George Wendt Show." "And I was seen there, asked to do 'Saturday Night Live,' which I did nine or 10 times over the years.". . News of his passing spurred an outpouring of love and support from his friends and co-stars, including Marsha Warfield, Markie Post, and many others. Georgia Brown's professional life began when she started singing in nightclubs at a young age. The man who played executive Mr. Sheridan: veteran character actor Michael Currie. He'd appeared in dozens of TV shows before his short run on Cheers, and usually in a similar capacity, lending his talents to an episode or two as an authority figure. According to People, when Billy failed to surface, Stephen dove in to try to find him but "suffered a . Danson won two Golden Globes and two Emmys for his role as Sam. Control artists, control individual thought .. OSCAR ORWELL' she tweeted. More recently Danson starred in the 2021 sitcom "Mr. Mayor" and the 2017 sci-fi sitcom "The Orville," which was created by "Family Guy" show creator Seth MacFarlane. As I got off the plane, I heard that Kirstie had died, Danson said in a statement. He died on August 5, 1990, at the age of 80. Alley had a successful career before and after Cheers, making her film debut in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and starring alongside John Travolta and the voice of Bruce Willis in the Look Who's Talking series. Shelley, who has been divorced twice and is a mother of one, has lived in a $1.3 million condo in the upscale West Los Angeles enclave of Pacific Palisades, California, since divorcing her second husband Bruce Tyson in 2004. She was introduced as bar waitress Carla's primary spiritual advisor, whom she'd been seeing since she was a teenager for life advice. That handles a lot. Hailing from Chicago, prior to acting Wendt was expelled from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana over poor grades before moving into showbusiness, where his first job was sweeping a theatre floor. He continued to work for as long as he could while undergoing treatment. For most of the 1980s and the first few years of the '90s, "Cheers" wasn't simply a place "where everybody knows your name." You can various bits of trivia about these Cheers stars, such as where the actor was born and what their year of birth is. In the decades since the show first graced the small screen, the roster has endured a lot of loss. Then in February 1985, Colasanto died at age 61. Sam was also popular with the ladies, and had a love-hate relationship with cocktail waitress Diane Chambers, played by Shelley Long. George Wendt, as barfly Norm Peterson, was the sageif wisecracking best friend to Cliff Clavin and will be greeted with shouts of Norm! anytime he enters a drinking establishment. George Wendt, 74, played friendly barfly Norm Peterson on the show. Kirstie Alley's first significant role came in 1982 asSaavik in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Playing kind but slow-witted Woody Boyd, Woody Harrelson took on the assistant bartender role following the death of actor Nicholas Colasanto who played Coach during the first three seasons of "Cheers." She played Goldie on "Fish Police" and Helena Rozhenko on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Of course, it took a little time for the series to achieve that distinction, but through most of "Cheers'" run, it dominated the competition. After the end of Cheers, he launched a TV show of his own. ", She was even in the "Star Trek" universe, appearing in the 1982 film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. CNN Jay Thomas, a comic and character actor whose credits include roles on "Cheers" and "Murphy Brown," has died after a battle with cancer, according to his publicist Tom Estey. The show's main cast includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, and many more. A father of seven children, he divorced first wife Doreen Alderman in 1990 following eight years of marriage, was then wed to dancer Leigh-Anne Csuhany from 1992-1993, before marrying dancer Camille Donatacci in 1997. Neuwirth wasn't officially a main cast member until Season . She's guest starred in hit comedies including The Mindy Project, Mom and Hot in Cleveland. Grammer earned two Emmy nominations for his role as Frasier on "Cheers.". Carla was a waitress like Diane, however she was a lot more brazen than her. Sam was a witty ex-professional baseball player who bought the bar earlier in his life. The episode premiered on May 7, 1987. Alley's. Last year, she told Fox host Tucker Carlson that she was frequently attacked for her beliefs. She also made headlines later in life, claiming last year that she had become 'blackballed' by Hollywood after vocally supporting Donald Trump and the Republican party. Shelley Long. Diane often clashed with Sam because of their different backgrounds and general vibes. Shelley Long; Photos: (Left) Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images (Right) Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic. Alley was a member of the Church of Scientology, which she often defended in interviews. Perlman won four Emmys for her role as Carla. Ratzenberger married Georgia Stiny in 1984 and the couple have two children together. Perlman and DeVito have been married since 1982 and have three children, with eldest daughter Lucy following her parents into acting. Despite the volatile nature of her and Sam's relationship, they attempted to make it work romantically frequently throughout the show. She was nominated for another Emmy for her performance in "Frasier. Wherever he is, here's hoping he's still cracking somebody up with the Lone Ranger story. Sad, sad news. Long won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her role as Diane. They share three children together. Almost as famous as Norm was his Chicago Superfan character Bob Swerski on Saturday Night Live (1991-2003). (1998) and as the voice of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons (1990-2017). "Cheers" established pretty much every member of the ensemble as a power player of sitcom television, and many continued appearing in hits long after Sam Malone said his final "Last call." As Diane Chambers, Shelley Long was the perfect counter-balance to Dansons Malone. Sadly, but not surprisingly, quite a few of Cheers cast members have passed away in the three decades since the show ended. '[C]an you imagine telling Picasso what had to be in his paintings,' Alley wrote on Twitter. The family asked for privacy Monday. Tim Allen, who co-starred with Alley in the 1997 film For Richer or Poorer, tweeted that Alley was a sweet soul.. Harrelson is a vegan and well known for environmentalism and charity work. Deeply superstitious but fiercely loyal to friends and family, Carla was a fan favorite character over the course of the series. In 2021, it was announced that Grammer would reprise his role as Frasier in a revival series, though it hasn't premiered yet. According to TMZ, he later died from the disease following a long period of remission on June 26, 2019, at the age of 75. Here are the "Cheers" stars who have died. Pointing out that Cheers' pool room and bathrooms technically belonged to Melville's, he demanded rent, and when Sam refused to pay, he sealed them off. He was made fun of a lot because he lived with his mom and had no love life to speak of. He famously starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry on the NBC sitcom for ten years across 150 episodes. Alleycame onto the Cheers scene to replace Shelley Long in the start of season six, playing tough business woman Rebecca Howe. Suffice to say, his career ran the gamut of genres. Stream all seasons of "Cheers" with a Parmount+ subscription: When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. ET): An earlier version of this article misidentified a Star Trek film. For many of the cast members, Cheers was just the beginning of their careers. Frasier won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, which was then a record for the most Emmys for a scripted series, including five straight wins for Outstanding Comedy Series. Currie worked only occasionally in the 1990s, and retired from acting entirely after the new millennium. star of the television series "Spencer For Hire," visits with "Cheers" cast members, left to . The Hollywood-based star keeps an extremely low profile these days and has little to no social media presence. 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. In 1971, he won a Tony Award for his work in the Broadway musical The Rothschilds, just before he'd go on to guest on episodes of everything fromM*A*S*H toBaretta, Cannon, Wonder Woman, Quincy M.E., and Three's Company. Cheers ended production nearly 30 years ago, and while some of its actors remain big stars (such as Danson and Harrelson), others have sadly left us after last call. The two-time Emmy winner's consistent decades-long work also included a 2022 turn on "The Masked Singer" as the Baby Mammoth. Other than Cheers, his biggest claim to fame was a brush with some other comedy legends: he was a stuntman for The Three Stooges. In the episode, Sam gets the idea that Heather is hitting on him, which creates a bit of a problem for Diane, who initially shrugs his claim off before becoming jealous after Carla eggs her on. I send my love to her children. AsCheerswas winding down in 1993 and 80.4 million people tuned in, some eight years after his death, SamMalone reminded audiences that the crew at their favorite bar had not forgotten their Coach, walking over to a picture of Geronimo that Colasanto loved and straightening it. The actor remained popular for years, having shown up eight times on "Saturday Night Live" within a four-year span. However, Ratzenberger's most iconic legacy remains his association with Pixar. ", In 2010, she had her own reality show, "Kirstie Alley's Big Life.". Prior to that he was seennearly a year ago in October 2021, though he did appear at a Comic Con event in Philadelphia back in June 2019. Alley, a native of Wichita, Kansas, married actor Parker Stevenson in 1983, and they adopted children William True and Lilly Price. He left the show in a rather strange and abrupt way via the episode "Death Takes a Holiday on Ice." I admire her. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Born in Connecticut, Ratzenberger made his way into performing while working as a house framer in London. A few years after "ALF" ended, Wright was diagnosed with lymphoma. 'I'm in love. He had a role in the Disney+ series "Monsters at Work" in 2021. After her fianc Sumner Sloan abandons her in the Cheers bar in the pilot episode, Diane works as a bar waitress. He worked as a production supervisor in the '70s and was back in front of the camera the following decade. He got into acting late in life, in his sixties, then was cast in a bit part on Hill Street Blues. Al's last quasi-cameo came in the 1989 episode "Two Girls for Every Boyd," although in 1990, "Norm and Cliff's Excellent Adventure" was dedicated to the memory of the actor who had portrayed him, Al Rosen, who died in August 1990 at age 80. Towards the end of the third season, the Los Angeles Times reported that Colasanto became ill and died of a heart attack. Throughout his years on "Cheers," Danson also took on film roles, starring in "Three Men and a Baby,". She wrote two books, The Art of Men, published in 2012, and How To Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life, published in 2005. Norm was the most loyal Cheers customer, and had a running tab at the bar for years. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Cliff was a postal worker who lived with his mother and found it hard to talk to women. ", In 2005, she played a fictionalized version of herself in the Showtime series "Fat Actress. Diane Chambers is a fictional character in the American television situation comedy show Cheers, portrayed by Shelley Long and created by Glen and Les Charles. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Jay Thomas, the Emmy-winning actor known for his work on the classic sitcoms Cheers and Murphy Brown, has died of cancer at age 69. That's Max Wright, guesting on Cheers after his gig on the acclaimed, but low-rated NBC comedy Buffalo Bill as exasperated TV station manager Karl Schub, but before his four years on ALF as Willie Tanner, exasperated foil to a sassy, cat-chasing alien. His first acting credit saw him appear on "Hill Street Blues" in 1982, and he continued to act in movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He developed heart disease in the mid-1970s and was set to retire before being offered the role in Cheers. His longtime publicist Tom Estey confirmed the news to EW. Instead, he steered boats for the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was primarily an extra, but after Al Rosen's death, he took over delivering zingers to the other characters. The show racked up 117 Emmy Award nominations with 28 wins and launched the careers of many beloved actors. Alley joined the cast of "Cheers" in 1987 as bar manager Rebecca Howe and left in 1993. Besides Hamm, his other famous Pixar roles include the Abominable Snowman in "Monster's Inc., " the Underminer in "Incredibles" and "Incredibles 2," and Mack in the "Cars" franchise. The series was also home to numerous celebrities who appeared briefly or as recurring characters throughout the years. "I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. Alley's family said that she 'was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead.'. The couple divorced in 2004. That same year, she made her "Cheers" debut as Corinne, a relief server at the bar. Woody Harrelson asWoody Boyd; (L) Harrelson, 61, pictured asWoody Boyd in a Cheers cast portrait; (R)Harrelson seen on May 22, 2022 in Cannes, France. Anderson's Harry "The Hat" Gittes, a swindler with a knack for sleight of hand, appeared in six episodes from 1982 until '87. I send my love to her children. In other words, she was a psychic and Carla utilized her assistance when she thought her ex-husband's ghost was haunting her and preventing her from going on dates she later showed up again to tell Carla she was retiring and thought the Cheers waitress should become her replacement as a medium. His character knew useless and questionable facts and happily spoke to anyone who came within a few yards of them. She ultimately landed 76 onscreen credits, and while shecertainly had a presence on the big screen, television is where Alley gained international fame. Rosen was in his seventies when he joined the auxiliary cast of Cheers, having worked in the entertainment industry since the 1940s as an extra and bit player, then as a production supervisor for soaps and game shows. Currie also showed up in multiple Clint Eastwood films, including "Any Which Way You Can" and the fourth "Dirty Harry" film. For 11 years "Cheers" was the most popular show on TV. The portrayal won her two Emmy Awards ahead of big-screen roles in Bugsy (1991), Jumanji (1995), Tadpole (2000) and Fame (2009). All Rights Reserved. Roger Rees portrayed the slimy Robin Colcord over 17 Cheers episodes, his biggest TV role in a career full of memorable performances, mostly in film (he memorably portrayed the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights)and stage work.