Did You Know This Beloved ‘Cheers’ Star Was Born and Raised in Rhode Island?

The best sitcom ever to appear on television was NBC's Cheers, about a fictitious Boston neighborhood bar named Cheers, where everybody knows your name.

Did you know that one of Cheers' best-loved performers was born and raised in Rhode Island?

Over its 11-season run, Cheers was owned by former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Sam "May Day" Malone (Ted Danson), while Malone's former coach, Ernie "Coach" Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto), served drinks and laughs from behind the bar.

Coach admitted that he had been hit in the head by a fastball over 100 times during his baseball career. That explains a few things.

Besides Sam and Coach, the series introduced us to some zany Bostonians, including Norm Peterson, Cliff Clavin, Diane Chambers, Carla Tortelli, Frasier Crane, Woody Boyd and Rebecca Howe, to name a few.

However, none of the actors who portrayed them were actually from Boston. Two were from New England, but John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff, was from Bridgeport, Connecticut – which might as well be New York City. The other was the actor who played "Coach."

Which Cheers Star Was Born And Raised In Providence?

From Providence Navy Vet to Hollywood Actor

Nicholas Colasanto was born on January 19, 1925, in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, one of seven children of Italian immigrants Giuseppe "Joseph" Colasanto and Marie "Mary" Colasanto (née Gelfoni).

Colasanto attended Central High School in Providence, but left school in 1943 to join the Navy during World War II. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1945, Colasanto returned to Providence and earned his diploma from Central High.

After Central, Colasanto attended Bryant College, now Bryant University, where he earned a degree in accounting and spent three years working for an oil company before catching the acting bug and starring on stage and screen, including the film Raging Bull.

Which Cheers Star Was Born And Raised In Providence?

Playing 'Coach' Ernie Pantusso on NBC's Cheers

Colasanto appeared on Cheers for three seasons (1982-1985) until his death from a heart attack in Los Angeles on February 12, 1985. He was divorced and had no children.

Funeral in Rhode Island and Lasting New England Legacy

A funeral mass was held for Colasanto at Holy Cross Church on Hartford Avenue in Providence. He was buried at St. Anne's Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island. Because of production schedules, only one Cheers cast member, John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin), attended the funeral.

Colasanto was nominated for two Emmy Awards for his work on Cheers.

The Nicholas Colasanto '49 Lounge is located inside the Fisher Student Center at Bryant University.