John Ratzenberger

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Overview (4)

Born	April 6, 1947 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Birth Name	John Deszo Ratzenberger
Nickname	Ratz
Height	5' 9½" (1.77 m)

Mini Bio (1)

John started the improvisational duo group, "Sal's Meat Market", in Bridgeport, Connecticut with fellow actor and friend Ray Hassett. He was later affiliated with the ensemble group, "The Downtown Cabaret". Coincidentally, he was a friend of Susan Ryan, the mother of Meg Ryan. A mutual friend, also associated with "The Downtown Cabaret", was the daughter-in-law of actress Mabel Albertson, the sister of actor Jack Albertson.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Dr. H. J. Crespo-Ferrer

Family (2)

Spouse	Julie Blichfeldt (6 November 2012 - present) Georgia Elizabeth Stiny (9 September 1984 - 27 May 2004) (divorced) (2 children) Caroline (1982 - 19 December 1983) (divorced)
Parents	Ratzenberger, Dezso Alexander Ratzenberger, Bertha Veronica

Trade Mark (2)

Has a role in every film made by Pixar studios

Distinctive gruff, yet upbeat voice

Trivia (27)

In late 2000, he went to the Supreme Court with Cheers (1982) co-star George Wendt to get control of their characters (Cliff and Norm), which are wanted to be used for commercials for Cheers-like airport bars. Wendt and Ratzenberger say they created their characters and do not want them exploited.

Only Cheers (1982) cast member to have actually lived in Boston -- specifically, the "Combat Zone" red-light district.

The only person to voice a character in all of Pixar Animation's feature films: as Hamm in Toy Story (1995), PT Flea in A Bug's Life (1998), Hamm again in Toy Story 2 (1999), Abominable Snowman in Monsters, Inc. (2001), Fish School in Finding Nemo (2003), Underminer in The Incredibles (2004), Mack in Cars (2006), Mustafa in Ratatouille (2007), John in WALL·E (2008), Construction Foreman Tom in Up (2009), Hamm in Toy Story 3 (2010), Mack in _Cars 2 (2011)_, Gordon in Brave (2012), Yeti in Monsters University (2013), and Fritz in Inside Out (2015), and Earl in The Good Dinosaur (2015)_.

He was buried alive up to his neck in Motel Hell (1980), as was his future Cheers (1982) co-star Ted Danson in Creepshow (1982) two years later.

When last registered, he was a red belt, in karate.

He does not, as believed by some, play the bagpipes but in fact plays snare drum for a pipe band called "Gold Coast Pipe Band" in which he was among the founding members.

Active in the pro-ecological movement, he was owner and operator of Eco-Pak, a conservation-conscious packaging company.

Co-wrote two British TV plays and directed several episodes of Cheers (1982).

In 1971, he founded the improv comedy duo "Sal's Meat Market" with friend Ray Hassett.

Spent his early years in London where he was once an assistant to a tree surgeon.

The trading card for his Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) character, Bren Derlin, says that "At the Mos Eisley Cantina, everybody knows his name." Derlin is never seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina. This is an inside joke about his character Cliff Clavin the mailman, who frequents Cheers, "where everybody knows your name".

Along with George Wendt, Richard Belzer and Paul Fusco, he is one of only four actors to play the same character (Clifford C. 'Cliff' Clavin, Jr.) in six different series: Cheers (1982), St. Elsewhere (1982), The Tortellis (1987), Wings (1990), The Simpsons (1989) and Frasier (1993). He appeared in all six series with George Wendt.

His speaking role in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982), was dubbed by Martin Sheen. Later he went on to become a trademark voice for Pixar Studios.

He is a father of two children. One son, named James John born in 1987 and one daughter, Nina Katherine born in 1989.

He formed the non-profit Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation, whose mission is to "Give children tools and watch them build America.".

Attended and helped construct the stage at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Recalls that an unpopular National Guard became vital emergency personnel of the event - distributing water and food to the hundreds of thousands of attendees.

Center for America senior fellow.

His father was of Austrian and Hungarian descent, and his mother was of Polish ancestry.

Appeared in a commercial for "Quality" hotels. [2010]

As of 2016, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Reds (1981), Gandhi (1982), Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010). Of those, Gandhi (1982) is a winner in the category.

He appeared in four films with Gene Hackman: A Bridge Too Far (1977), Superman (1978), Superman II (1980) and Reds (1981).

P.T. Flea in A Bug's Life (1998) is his favorite role that he's done for Pixar.

His voice in Gandhi was dubbed.

Holds belts in Tang soo do, a korean version of karate and one of the parent arts of taekwondo.

For some unknown reason he did not voice a character in Pixar's 24th Film Luca despite the fact that he voices a character in all Pixar Films. This was confirmed by Luca's director Enrico Casarosa.

Has been called 'Ratz' by the crew of Cheers (1982), as there was a few too many people named 'John' working on it.

He has appeared in four films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Superman (1978), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Toy Story (1995) & WALL·E (2008).

Personal Quotes (2)

Wake up in the morning, put your hand to something useful, and take care of yourself and your family.

Hollywood has to, at some point, admit that what they produce does affect the minds of people.... If you just want to shock 'em... society will pay the price for that at some point.