Actor John Ratzenberger was born on April 6, 1947 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A graduate of Sacred Heart University, he began his career in the mid-1970s, appearing in several movies such as Superman, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Gandhi. He also appeared as a guest on television shows such as Hill Street Blues, Secret Army and Private Schulz.
However, Ratzenberger is best known for his role as mail carrier Cliff Calvin in the classic sitcom Cheers. He originally auditioned for the role of Norm Peterson, which eventually went to George Wendt. He was rejected, but quickly asked the show’s producers whether they have written a bar know-it-all. The idea clicked, and he found himself taking on the role. The character is known for his outrageous stories of irrelevant trivia, half-truths and other random information. The character, along with Norm, became somewhat iconic in the program.
Ratzenberger was part of Cheers in its entire run, and also played his role in the last Cheers reunion program on its spin-off Frasier, as well as on The Simpsons. He was critical of Frasier, however, because he believed it lacked the working-class appeal that its predecessor had; thus, he didn’t appear in the show’s other episodes, like his fellow cast members.
After Cheers, he continued taking on guest roles on television, but his most significant work during the period is not seen by the eye. Ratzenberger has been part of the cast of every Pixar film, beginning from 1995’s Toy Story. One of the animation studio’s directors, Andrew Stanton, even claimed that Pixar has a rule stating that Ratzenberger must appear in all of their films; he has voiced prominent roles in A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc. and Cars. He has since voiced characters for WALL-E in 2008 and Up in 2009.
Ratzenberger was also a participant in the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars, acting as the replacement for Vincent Pastore. Paired up with professional Edyta Sliwinska, he entered with the least experience, but was nevertheless the sixth eliminated from the show.
2013: Monsters University - The Abominable Snowman (voice)
2011: Fixing Pete (TV movie) - Clayton
2011: Cars 2 - Mack (voice)
2011: Hawaiian Vacation (short) - Hamm (voice)
20101: Toy Story 3: The Video Game (Video Game) - Hamm (voice)
2010: Toy Story 3 - Hamm (voice)
2010: What If... - Mike the Angel
2009: Cars Race-O-Rama (Video Game) - Mack (voice)
2009: Up (Video Game) - Construction Foreman Tom (voice)
2009: Up - Construction Foreman Tom (voice)
2008: Our First Christmas (TV movie) - Joe
2008: WALL·E - John (voice)
2008: The Village Barbershop - Art Leroldi
2007: Your Friend the Rat (video short) - P.T. Flea
2007: Ratatouille - Mustafa (voice)
2006: Mystery Woman: Redemption (TV movie) - Jim Carter
2006: Cars (Video Game) - Mack (voice)
2006: Pixar's 20th Anniversary Special (TV movie) - Host/Officer Ratz
2006: Cars - Mack (voice)/Hamm Truck (voice)/Abominable Snow Plow (voice)/…
2006: Something New - Brian's Father
2005: The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer (Video Game) - Underminer (voice)
2005: All In - Actor
2004: The Incredibles (Video Game) - Underminer (voice)
2004: The Incredibles - Underminer (voice)
2003: 8 Simple Rules (TV series) - Fred Doyle
2003: Extreme Skate Adventure (Video Game) - Hamm (voice)
2003: Finding Nemo - Fish School (voice)
2002: The Pennsylvania Miners' Story (TV movie) - Thomas 'Tucker' Foy
2002: Monsters, Inc. (Video Game) - The Abominable Snowman (voice)
2002: Frasier (TV series) - Cliff Clavin
2002: Determination of Death - Charlie Halloran
2001: The Drew Carey Show (TV series) - John Ratzenberger/Various
2001: Monsters, Inc. - The Abominable Snowman (voice)
2001: Spirited Away - Assistant Manager (voice: English version)
2001: That '70s Show (TV series) - Glen
2001: Toy Story Racer (Video Game) - Hamm (voice)
2000: Pigs Next Door (TV series) (voice)
2000: Tick Tock - Clay Fairfield, P. I.
2000: Touched by an Angel (TV series) - Merl
1999: Toy Story 2 - Hamm the Piggy Bank (voice)
1999: Toy Story 2 (Video Game) - Hamm (voice)
1998: A Bug's Life - P.T. Flea (voice)
1998: Remember WENN (TV series) - Mr. Abernathy
1998: A Fare to Remember
1997: The Detectives (TV series) - Edsel
1997: Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series) - Bob/Santa Claus
1997: One Night Stand - hil
1997: Bad Day on the Block - Al Calavito
1997: That Darn Cat - Dusty
1997: Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV series) - Hinky
1997: Dog's Best Friend (TV movie)
1996: Toy Story Activity Center (Video Game) - Hamm (voice)
1996: Caroline in the City (TV series) - Mr. Berman
1996: Toy Story Treats (TV series) - Hamm
1995: Sister, Sister (TV series) - Gus Kiamilikimaka
1995: Toy Story - Hamm (voice)
1995: Murphy Brown (TV series) - Felix
1994: The Simpsons (TV series) - Cliff Clavin
1990-1994: Captain Planet and the Planeteers (TV series) - Rigger/Rex Rigger I
1994: Locals (TV movie) - Jerry Hawthorne
1993: Moon Over Miami (TV series) - Norman Rust
1993: Bill Nye, the Science Guy (TV series)
1982-1993: Cheers (TV series) - Cliff Clavin
1992: Nurses (TV series) - Mr. Hafner
1990: Wings (TV series) - Clifford Clavin
1990: Camp Cucamonga (TV movie) - Marvin Schector
1990: Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series) - Cliff Clavin
1988: Going to the Chapel
1988: Mickey's 60th Birthday (TV movie) - Cliff Clavin
1988: Small World (TV mini-series) - Morris Zapp
1987: House II: The Second Story - Bill
1987: Timestalkers (TV movie) - General Joe Brodsky
1987: The Tortellis (TV series) - Cliff Clavin
1986: Combat High (TV movie) - Mr. Barnett
1985: The Love Boat (TV series) - Marty Elder
1985: St. Elsewhere (TV series) - Cliff Clavin
1985: The Falcon and the Snowman - Detective
1984: Protocol - Security Guard on TV
1984: Magnum, P.I. (TV series) - Walt Brewster
1983: Wizards and Warriors (TV series) - Archie
1983: Super Bowl XVII Pre-Game Show (TV movie) - Cliff Clavin
1982: Gandhi - American Lieutenant
1982: Firefox - Chief Peck
1982: Battletruck - Rusty
1982: Hill Street Blues (TV series) - O'Connor (Phony Cop)
1981: Reds - Communist Leader
1981: Ragtime - Policeman
1981: Goliath Awaits (TV movie) - Bill Sweeney
1981: Private Schulz (TV series) - American Newsreel Commentator
1981: Outland - Tarlow
1981: The Good Soldier (TV movie) - Jimmy
1980: Superman II - Controller #1
1980: Motel Hell - Drummer
1980: Scene (TV series)
1980: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Rebel Force Major Derlin
1980: ITV Playhouse (TV series) - Tom Phillips
1979: The Bitch - Hal Leonard
1979: Secret Army (TV series) - Staff Sergeant Dexter
1979: Yanks - Corporal Cook
1979: Arabian Adventure - Achmed
1979: Hanover Street - Sgt. John Lucas
1978: Superman - 1st Controller
1978: Warlords of the Deep - Fenn
1978: A Life at Stake (TV series) - Vance Brand
1977: Valentino - Newshound
1977: A Bridge Too Far - U.S. Lieutenant
1977: Twilight's Last Gleaming - Sgt. Kopecki
1976: The Ritz - Patron