Ratzenberger, John 1947-

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Ratzenberger, John 1947-

PERSONAL

Full name, John Deszo Ratzenberger; born April 6, 1947, in Bridgeport (some sources says Black Rock), CT; son of Deszo Alexander and Bertha (maiden name, Grohowski) Ratzenberger; married Elizabeth Georgia Stiny, September 9, 1984 (divorced, 2004); children: James John, Nina Katherine. Education: Sacred Heart University, B.A., English. Avocational Interests: Sailing, hiking, karate (red belt), studying world history.

Addresses:

Manager—Schachter Entertainment, 1157 South Beverly Dr., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90035.

Career:

Actor, comedian, and writer. Sal's Meat Market (improvisational theatre duo), cowriter, director, and actor, 1971-75; touring actor, European cities, 1971-81; Eco-Pack Industries, president and founder; Fiddler's Bay Productions, founder. Appeared in many television commercials, including Coors Beer, Boston Pizza Restaurants, Discovery Channel, Pitney-Bowes Personal Post Office, Van Camp's baked beans, Nissan autos, and Progressive auto insurance. Appeared in radio commercials for RenoAir airlines. Appeared in print ads for Mentholatum Company's WellPatch pain relief pads. Also worked as a carpenter, assistant to a tree surgeon, and a blacksmith.

Member:

Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, British Actors' Equity Association, American Farmland Trust, Greenpeace, Wilderness Society, World Wildlife Foundation, National Resource Defense Council, Sierra Club (San Francisco).

Awards, Honors:

Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, 1985, 1986, Legend Award (with others), TV Land Awards, 2006, all for Cheers; Father of the Year Award, Father's Day Council of America, 1996; Outstanding Role Model Award, American Diabetes Association; Doctor of Human Letters, Sacred Heart University, 2002; British Government Grant Award, for Sal's Meat Market.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

(Film debut) Patron, The Ritz, Warner Bros., 1976.

U.S. lieutenant, A Bridge Too Far, United Artists, 1977.

(Uncredited) Sergeant Kopecki, Twilight's Last Gleaming (also known as Nuclear Countdown, Todeskommando feuerblitz ultimatum, and Das Ultimatum), Allied Artists, 1977.

Newshound, Valentino, 1977.

Fenn, Warlords of Atlantis (also known as Seven Cities to Atlantis and Warlords of the Deep), Columbia, 1978.

First controller, Superman (also known as Superman: The Movie), Warner Bros., 1978.

Corporal Cook, Yanks (also known as Yanks—Gestern waren wir noch fremde), Universal, 1979.

Hal Leonard, The Bitch, 1979.

Sergeant John Lucas, Hanover Street, Columbia, 1979.

Achmed, Arabian Adventure, Orion/Warner Bros., 1979.

Controller, Superman II, Warner Bros., 1980.

Drummer, Motel Hell, United Artists, 1980.

Major Derlin, The Empire Strikes Back (also known as Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back and The Empire Strikes Back), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980.

Fireman, Ragtime (also known as Love and Glory), Paramount, 1981.

Tarlow, Outland (also known as Io), Warner Bros., 1981.

(Uncredited) Reds, Paramount, 1981.

Chief Peck, Firefox, Warner Bros., 1982.

Rusty, Warlords of the 21st Century (also known as Battletruck), New World, 1982.

American Lieutenant, Gandhi (also known as Richard Attenborough's Film: Gandhi), Columbia, 1982.

(Uncredited) Security guard on television, Protocol, Warner Bros., 1984.

(Uncredited) Detective, The Falcon and the Snowman, Orion, 1985.

Bill Towner, House II: The Second Story, New World, 1987.

(Uncredited) Himself, She's Having a Baby, Paramount, 1988.

Going to the Chapel (also known as Wedding Day and Wedding Day Blues), 1988.

Voice of Hamm, Toy Story (animated), Buena Vista, 1995.

Phil, One Night Stand (also known as One Night), New Line Cinema, 1997.

Al Calavito, Bad Day on the Block (also known as Under Pressure and The Fireman), Louie Productions, 1997.

Dusty, That Darn Cat, Buena Vista, 1997.

Voice of P. T. Flea, A Bug's Life (animated; also known as Bugs), Buena Vista, 1997.

(Uncredited) Himself, The Story Behind "Toy Story" (documentary short), 1997.

A Fare to Remember, Bent Tree Productions, 1998.

Voice of Hamm, Toy Story II (animated), Buena Vista, 1999.

Clay, Tick Tock (also known as A Friendship to Die For and Clockwork), Avalanche, 2000.

Voice of Yeti (Abominable Snowman), Monsters, Inc. (animated), Buena Vista, 2001.

Charlie Halloran, Determination of Death, World International Network, 2001.

(English version) Voice of assistant manager, Sen to chihiro no kamikakushi (also known as Miyazaki's "Spirited Away," Sen, Sen and the Mysterious Disappearance Chihiro, Spirited Away, and The Spiriting Away of Sen and Chihiro), Buena Vista, 2001.

Voice of Fish School, Finding Nemo (animated), Buena Vista, 2003.

Himself, The Art of "Spirited Away" (documentary short), Buena Vista Home Video, 2003.

Voice of Underminer, The Incredibles (animated), Buena Vista, 2004.

Himself, Geeks (documentary), 2004.

Actor, All In, 2005.

(Uncredited) Brian's father, Something New, Focus Features, 2006.

Voice of Mack, Hamm Truck, Abominable Snow Plow, and P. T. Flea Collar, Cars (animated), Buena Vista, 2006.

Controller number one, Superman II (also known as Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut), Warner Bros., 2006.

(Uncredited) P. T. Flea, Your Friend the Rat (animated short), 2007.

Voice of Mustafa, Ratatouille (animated), Buena Vista, 2007.

Himself, Kickin' It Old School, Yari Film Group, 2007.

Art Leroldi, The Village Barbershop, 2008.

Voice of John, WALL-E (animated), Buena Vista, 2008.

Television Appearances; Series:

Clifford C. "Cliff" Clavin, Jr., Cheers, NBC, 1982-93.

Voice of Rigger, Captain Planet and the Planeteers (animated; also known as The New Adventures of Captain Planet), syndicated and TBS, 1990-93.

Host, American Hobbies and Pastimes with John Ratzenberger, HGTV, 1994.

Fred Doyle, 8 Simple Rules … for Dating My Teenaged Daughter (also known as 8 Simple Rules), ABC, 2003.

Host, Made in America (also known as John Ratzenberger's "Made in America"), 2004-2005.

Dancing with the Stars, ABC, 2007.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Bill Sweeney, Goliath Awaits, syndicated, 1981.

Morris Zapp, Small World, 1988.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Mr. Barnett, Combat High (also known as Combat Academy), NBC, 1986.

General Joseph Brodsky, Timestalkers, CBS, 1987.

Uncle Walt, Wedding Day Blues (also known as Going to the Chapel and Wedding Day), NBC, 1988.

Marvin Schector, Camp Cucamonga (also known as How I Spent My Summer), NBC, 1990.

Tom Phillips, Friends in Space, ITV, 1990.

Voice of Goat, Dog's Best Friend, Family Channel, 1997.

Thomas "Tucker" Foy, The Pennsylvania Miners' Story, ABC, 2002.

Jim Carter, Mystery Woman: Redemption, Hallmark Channel, 2006.

Joe, Our First Christmas, Hallmark Channel, 2008.

Also appeared in Songs of a Sourdough.

Television Appearances; Specials:

(Uncredited) Major Derlin, SPFX: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1984.

NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986.

Mickey's 60th Birthday Special (also known as The Magical World of Disney and Mickey's 60th Birthday Anniversary Shorts Programme), NBC, 1988.

Disney's "Magic in the Magic Kingdom" (also known as Magic in the Magic Kingdom), NBC, 1988.

Stand-up Comics Take a Stand, 1988.

Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1990.

"Cheers": Special 200th Episode Celebration, NBC, 1990.

Last Call! A "Cheers" Celebration, NBC, 1993.

Voice of Grenville Dodge, The Wild West, syndicated, 1993.

The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1993.

Jerry Hawthorne, Locals, Fox, 1994.

The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1996.

Host, WOW! The Most Awesome Acts on Earth II, Fox, 1996.

The Frasier Story, Channel 4, 1999.

"Cheers": The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

(also known as NBC 75th Anniversary Celebration), NBC, 2002.

"TV Guide" 50 Best Shows of All Time: A 50th Anniversary Celebration, 2002.

Third Annual DVD Exclusive Awards, FX Channel, 2003.

The 100 Greatest Cartoons, 2005.

4th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards, 2006.

The 4th Annual TV Land Awards (also known as TV Land Awards 2006), TV Land, 2006.

Host and Officer Ratz, Pixar's 20th Anniversary Special, 2006.

AFI's 10 Top 10 (also known as AFI's 100 Years … AFI's 10 Top 10), 2008.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Canadian sergeant, "The Execution," Secret Army, 1979.

Jimmy, "The Good Soldier," Masterpiece Theatre, PBS, 1981.

Voice of American newsreel commentator, Private Schultz, 1981.

O'Connor (phony cop), "Some Like It Hot-Wired," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1982.

Archie, "Dungeon of Death," Wizards and Warriors, CBS, 1983.

Walt Brewster, "The Legacy of Garwood Huddle," Magnum P.I., CBS, 1984.

Cliff, "Cheers," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1985.

"A Day in Port," The Love Boat, ABC, 1985.

Super Password, 1986.

Cliff Clavin, "Frankie Comes to Dinner," The Tortellis, 1987.

Improv Tonight, syndicated, 1988.

Cliff, "The Story of Joe," Wings, NBC, 1990.

Blossom, NBC, 1992.

Mr. Hafner, "Illicit Transfers," Nurses, 1992.

"Dinosaurs," Bill Nye, the Science Guy (also known as Disney Presents "Bill Nye the Science Guy"), 1993.

Norman Rust, "Farewell, My Lovelies," Moon over Miami, ABC, 1993.

She TV, ABC, 1994.

Voice of Cliff Clavin, "Fear of Flying," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1994.

Felix, "A Rat's Tale," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1994.

Voice of the Pied Piper, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), HBO, 1995.

Showbiz Today, CNN, 1995.

Gus Kilamilikimaka, "Thanksgiving in Hawaii: Parts 1 & 2," Sister, Sister, ABC, 1995.

Mr. Berman, "Caroline and Richard's Mom," Caroline in the City (also known as Caroline), NBC, 1996.

Bob, "Sabrina Claus," Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (also known as Sabrina), ABC, 1997.

Voice of Hinky, "The Pied Piper," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, 1997.

Edsel, "Go West Old Man," The Detectives, 1997.

Mr. Abernathy, "And If I Die before I Sleep," Remember WENN, AMC, 1998.

Merl, "Monica's Bad Day," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2000.

Voice, Pigs Next Door (also known as Muca Beal Dorais), 2000.

Glen, "Holy Craps," That '70s Show, Fox, 2001.

Himself, "Drew Live II," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 2001.

Cliff, "Cheerful Goodbyes," Frasier, NBC, 2002.

"Holiday Moments," TV Land's Top Ten, TV Land, 2005.

"Top 10 TV Weddings," TV Land's Top Ten, TV Land, 2006.

"Celebrity," Rodney, ABC, 2006.

Entertainment Tonight (also known as E.T.), syndicated, 2007.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC, 2007.

The View, ABC, 2007.

"Oddballs & Original Characters," TV Land Confidential (also known as TV Land Confidential: The Untold Stories), TV Land, 2007.

"Finales," TV Land Confidential (also known as TV Land Confidential: The Untold Stories), TV Land, 2007.

Celebrity Talent scout, Last Comic Standing: The Search for the Funniest Person in America, NBC, 2007.

"American TV Icon," The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, 2008.

Television Executive Producer; Specials:

The World's Most Incredible Animal Rescues, Fox, 1997.

The World's Most Incredible Animal Rescues 2, Fox, 1997.

The World's Most Incredible Animal Rescues 3, Fox, 2000.

Television Work; Pilots:

Executive producer and creator, Locals, Fox, 1994.

Television Director; Episodic:

Cheers, NBC, 1988-93.

"Georgie," Sydney, 1990.

"Mama Knows Best," Evening Shade, 1994.

Madman of the People, NBC, 1994.

"The Candidate," Sister, Sister, ABC, 1996.

Pearl, CBS, 1996.

Stage Appearances:

Made stage debut in Summer and Smoke, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT; appeared in Luv, Stowe Playhouse, VT; also appeared in West Side Story, Waiting for Godot, Curse of the Starving Class, and The Connection.