Real-Life Couples of ‘Cheers’: Who’s Married to Who
We all know and love the regulars at Cheers, the bar where everyone knows your name, but did you ever wonder who they went home to at night? Although everyone patiently waited for Sam and Diane to finally get it together and confess their feelings, that was all for the cameras. From Ted Danson to George Wendt, this is who our favorite stars from Cheers are married to in real life!
1. Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen
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Everyone knows him best as the womanizing Sam Malone on Cheers, who had a different girlfriend every day. But while he was a ladies’ man on screen, Ted Danson has been happily married since 1995 to Mary Steenburgen. They first met in 1983 at an audition, but it wasn’t until their 1994 film Pontiac Moon that their friendship and relationship began to blossom.
In 1995, the couple said, “I Do,” and have held onto their sweet marriage since. They’ve starred in a few movies together and consistently share how grateful they are for each other. “I couldn’t imagine not being with her at all times,” Danson said in 2021.
2. Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito
Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
Although Rhea Perlman’s on-screen character was in a messy relationship with her first husband, Nick, the actress has been with her husband for just over 40 years. Perlman married actor Danny DeVito in 1982 after a 10-year-long relationship and have three children together. They separated in 2017 but decided to remain married. While they are not technically together, the pair has no plans for divorce and are still very supportive of each other.
3. George Wendt and Bernadette Birkett
Vinnie Zuffante / Stringer
Norm Peterson might have been dismissive when it came to his wife on Cheers, but George Wendt is the complete opposite. The star has been married to actress Bernadette Birkett since 1978 and they have three children together. They’re still happily married.
Wendt discussed how his marriage is completely different from that of his character’s in his book, Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer. “I actually like my wife; Norm, on the other hand, was a bit more ambivalent about his heard-but-never-seen wife, Vera (who, by the way, was voiced by my real wife, Bernadette Birkett).”
4. Woody Harrelson and Laura Louie
Bob Riha Jr / Contributor
Woody Harrelson is no fool when it comes to love. Although his character was a bit na?ve, Harrelson has been with his now-wife, Laura Louie, since 1990. The couple met when Louie became Harrelson’s personal assistant in 1987, but it took a while for Harrelson to admit his feelings for her.
The way he expressed those feelings was an unconventional one. Harrelson wrote his now-wife a song. The actor shared some of the lyrics to that song: “I'm only 28, but I'm bored with everything I do. / I've got nothing when I'm not next to you. … Are you thinking about me, baby? / 'Cause I'm thinking about you.” The two eventually began dating and welcomed three daughters over the years, but it wasn’t until 2008 that they officially wed.
5. Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh
Taylor Hill / Contributor
Although we can’t picture Frasier Crane with anyone but Lilith, Kelsey Grammer has his own love life outside of Cheers. Grammer met his current wife, Kayte Walsh, while she was working as a flight attendant. Grammer recalled that they had a “magical night in the snow in London around Christmas time” a few days after they first met.
The couple wed in 2011 and have since welcomed three children together. Although Walsh is the actor’s fourth wife, he explained that this feels different and “like it's never happened before.”
Honorable Mention:
John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin) was married to Georgia Stiny from 1984 to 2004 and they had two children together. He is now married to Julie Blichfeldt, whom he wed in 2012.
Shelley Long (Diane Chambers) was married to Ken Solomon in the 1970s, and was married to Bruce Tyson from 1981 until their divorce in 2004. She has one child.
Kirstie Alley (Rebecca Howe) was married to Bob Alley from 1971 to 1977 and Parker Stevenson from 1983 to 1997. She had two children. Alley died on December 5, 2022 at age 71.
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