From humble beginnings in Bridgeport, Connecticut, John Ratzenberger gained international fame in Cheers. During more than three decades of movie making and theatre, John has enjoyed success as a screenwriter, director, producer and multi Emmy nominated actor. He is also an accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Master improvisational actor John Deszo Ratzenberger was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on April 6, 1947. He was raised in a hard working, blue-collar family neighborhood as one of three children. John attended St. Ann's grade school where he got his first taste of the stage singing "With a Shelalee Under My Arm and a Twinkle in my Eye."

John attended Sacred Heart University, majoring in English literature. During these college years, John joined the drama club and starred in his first lead.

As an understudy placed in the lead at the last moment, he forgot his lines and entirely improvised the second and third act of Tennessee William's "Summer and Smoke," bringing the audience to a standing ovation. He continued with lead roles in subsequent plays.

After college, John performed various one-man shows and directed at the Stowe Playhouse in Vermont. It was here that he developed his low key acting style that combines wit with the assured presence of old Hollywood types. After the playhouse closed, John moved to London where he enjoyed great success as an actor, writer and director in Europe from 1971 to 1981.

While abroad John acted in over thirty films, including Gandhi, A Bridge Too Far, The Empire Strikes Back, Reds, and Ragtime; wrote for British television; and toured Europe with the successful two-man improv troupe called Sal’s Meat Market, often in languages he didn’t understand. Returning home, he invented his Emmy-nominated role as Cliff on the legendary show Cheers and has since voiced a character in every Pixar movie from Toy Story to Cars.

Currently, he produces and hosts John Ratzenberger's Made in America, a show that celebrates the American spirit of innovation and invention. A garage thinker and tinker, John lives life to the gunnels and likes to play bocce ball.