Cheers was one of the most-watched and important sitcoms put to screen in the United States throughout its run from 1982 to 1993. The series was as formulaic as sitcoms could get, but its brilliant writing and loveable ensemble allowed it to endure successfully for years on TV, and get a spinoff in the form of Frasier.
The Boston bar "where everybody knows your name" had some of the most memorable characters backed by brilliant performances from talented stars...and one of TV's best theme songs. Here's a ranking of the 10 best main characters from the show during its run.
Carla Tortelli
Rhea Pearlman's hyper and street-smart character was always locked and loaded with a zinger for anyone who dared to cross her, intentionally or not. Carla Tortelli was witty, impulsive, and blunt with just about everyone on the show. However, she did suffer from a lack of development; her character never progressed much over the show's run.
Likewise, almost every plotline involving Carla grew pretty repetitive, and nearly always revolved around her sleazy ex-husband Nick (played hilariously by Dan Hedaya) or her latest love interests. If it wasn't for Pearlman's consistent manic energy, the character would not have been nearly as engaging as she remained.
Cliff Clavin
John Ratzenberger's portrayal of one of TV's most annoying characters also allowed for Cliff Clavin to become one of the most charming know-it-alls in a show that was full of them...despite knowing nothing, which was what distinguished him from the rest.
Cliff's constant talking and boastfulness were surface covers for his deep immaturity, insecurities, and incessant need to be accepted by his peers. While it was just as easy to want to floor Cliff in a few scenes, it was just as easy to want to give him a hug in others.
Rebecca Howe
Kirstie Alley's initial appearances on Cheers as a replacement for Diane introduced her as the straight-laced businesswoman who was in over her head in a bar full of overwhelming characters. However, as the show went on, Rebecca evolved into one of the most over-the-top characters in the entire show, but to Alley's credit, it was pretty hilarious to see.
Rebecca's constant whining, high pitched squeals of despair/excitement, and gold-digging schemes made Rebecca into a goofy brat, but her passionate drive to find love and be successful made her sympathetic and likable as well.
Woody Boyd
Woody Harrelson got his breakout roles through Cheers as the replacement role for "Coach" on the show. But while Coach was a wise old man suffering from bad memory, Woody was a simple-minded country boy with a heart of gold...and occasionally, some brilliant wisdom of his own would shine through.
Filling in Coach's shoes was a nearly impossible task, but Harrelson was so charismatic and downright adorable in the role that Woody Boyd would become an irreplaceable piece of the cast himself. His youthful energy was a great contrast to Coach's old generation approach, and it was a good choice to not replace the character with another old man.
Lilith Sternin
Bebe Neuwirth's character was only meant to appear on the show as a one-off character, but Lillith was so funny that the creators of the show decided to make her a recurring character, and later, Frasier Crane's wife. Lilith's icy and intense appearance and monotone voice made her one of the most terrifying characters on the show, but her romance with Frasier warmed her up to be endearing.
However, Cheers was never kind to poor Frasier, and the show would have the happy couple divorce in the latter half of the seasons. But from there, Lilith remained so popular that she would guest star on Frasier every now and then.
Norm Peterson
It's a shame that George Wendt wasn't a bigger star, but his character of Norm Peterson is the barfly to end all barflies. There will never be a more iconic barfly character in any other show, and comparisons to Norm are downright impossible. The burned-out and lazy Norm who seemingly was content but never happy with his life, was the everyman type who always had a witty remark up his sleeve.
Norm's basic character type allowed him to slip into whatever role the episode needed him to be: Pathetic, villainous, unwitting pawn, loving husband, disdainful husband, selfish, selfless, etc. There's no easy way to describe Norm Peterson, as he was a living joke that could adapt to any situation.
Diane Chambers
Shelley Long's controversial decision to leave Cheers was a tragic one, not just because Diane Chambers was an integral part of the show, but because she was one of the most engaging characters and had dynamic relationships with everyone in the show. When she first entered, Diane was an aspiring gifted college student and talented writer who was abandoned in the Cheers bar by her fiancé and hired by Sam as a waitress to help her get by without support.
As time went on, Diane would end up having an on-again, off-again relationship with Sam in one of TV's biggest "will they/won't they" sagas. Besides that aspect, she also had fascinating interactions with Frasier (who entered the show due to her storyline), Carla (frenemy), and Woody (the only person who treated her with respect). Diane would go from the unappreciated genius with a bit of an ego to the insane know-it-all who was determined to be acknowledged by her ever unappreciated peers, and it was gut-busting.
"Coach" Ernie Pantusso
Nicholas Colasanto was easily the most believable character on Cheers. He played his part so well that Coach felt like a genuine person who had wandered on set in a state of confusion and the cameras kept filming his antics. A decorated World War II veteran and small-time actor, Colasanto would have a strong finishing third act in life, but tragically, his health could not keep up with him, and he died in 1985.
Coach's character was nothing but kind and wholesome, and every one of Coach's appearances was a positive note. He was a unifying force in a cast full of people picking on each other and had a good relationship with every other character. His role as a father figure to Sam, a recovering alcoholic, was made all the more believable due to Colasanto's real-life struggles with alcoholism. When Coach shares his wisdom with Sam, it comes across as genuine and caring because it really was Colasanto re-affirming his own beliefs through the character.
Frasier Crane
Frasier Crane is the most iconic character to come from the Cheers universe, with the ever-elegant Kelsey Grammer playing the character on both Cheers and Frasier for a grand total of 20 years, one of the longest stretches of time an actor has portrayed a character.
However, his character on Cheers, while fantastic, wasn't quite as polished as the version seen on Frasier. While no other character deserved a spin-off as much as Frasier Crane, the character would find stronger footing in his second iteration than on Cheers.
Sam Malone
It would be somewhat of a travesty to not have Ted Danson's lead role as the best character from Cheers. Sam Malone was the consistent glue that kept the show together, the old school alpha male who was capable of getting with the times, but always remained true to himself. The ultimate form of an unhealthy machismo, but a person who always looked to better himself because he acknowledged his flaws.
The promiscuous and narcissistic Sam from Season 1 would evolve over time to be a slightly more humble, kinder, and more gentleman-like. The story of Cheers was ultimately the story of Sam and the great people he encountered in his life who helped him become a better person, something he likely could not have accomplished without their help.