- Born
- Birth nameJohn Deszo Ratzenberger
- Nickname
- Ratz
- Height5′ 9½″ (1.77 m)
- 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
- SpousesJulie Blichfeldt(November 6, 2012 - present)Georgia Elizabeth Stiny(September 9, 1984 - May 27, 2004) (divorced, 2 children)Caroline(1982 - December 19, 1983) (divorced)
- ChildrenJames John RatzenbergerNina Katherine Ratzenberger
- ParentsDezso Alexander RatzenbergerBertha Veronica Ratzenberger
- Has a role in every film made by Pixar studios
- Distinctive gruff, yet upbeat voice
- 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)_.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- He formed the non-profit Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation, whose mission is to "Give children tools and watch them build America.".
- 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.
- [on 'Cheers' co-star, Kirstie Alley's passing]: It's so sad. So very sad. God bless you and keep you Kirstie Alley.
- [on what of his acting work he signs at conventions]: I think it's about even right across the board. They give me all the photos to sign. Star Wars, Superman. And Hammy the Pig is right up there.
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