Show Notes
Before becoming Cliff Clavin on Cheers, John Ratzenberger spent years traveling the world, building houses, performing improvised comedy across Europe, and chasing adventure wherever it led.
In this encore episode, John shares the remarkable story behind his famous Cheers audition, his friendships with Hollywood legends, his long-running relationship with Pixar, and why he believes young people should learn practical skills before pursuing fame.
It's a funny, thoughtful conversation filled with stories only John Ratzenberger could tell.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:52 A Lifetime of Travel and Adventure 04:26 Landing the Role of Cliff Clavin 06:28 Leaving Carpentry for England 07:21 Building an Improv Career in Europe 10:02 Learning to Act Without Training 12:53 Star Wars and Early Film Roles 14:27 Why Building Things Matters 16:48 First Impressions of Los Angeles 19:19 Being Recognized in Public 20:24 The Early Struggles of Cheers 22:56 Working with Hollywood Legends 24:12 Remembering Frances Sternhagen 28:07 The Famous Cheers Audition Story 35:39 Memories of Kirstie Alley 37:43 Inventing and Building Products 41:58 The Importance of Trade Skills 45:05 Advice for Young Actors 47:11 His Son's First Fish, A Shark 48:39 Family, Career and Success 50:18 Dancing With The Stars Challenge 53:34 Toy Story 5 and What's Next 57:38 His Hollywood Heroes 01:03:12 Faking a Foreign Language at an Audition 01:04:51 Leaving Cheers for the Last Time 01:06:05 Advice for Surviving Hollywood 01:08:42 A Frightening Fan Encounter 01:11:08 Final Thoughts
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