Biography

John Ratzenberger

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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

The only person to voice a character in all of Pixar Animation's feature films from Toy Story, their first in 1995, through Onward in 2020: 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), 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.
He formed the non-profit Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation, whose mission is to "Give children tools and watch them build America.".
Only Cheers (1982) cast member to have actually lived in Boston -- specifically, the "Combat Zone" red-light district.

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.
[on the passing of 'Cheers' co-star George Wendt] A true craftsman - humble, hilarious, and full of heart. What you saw on screen was exactly who he was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved. I'll miss our conversations and the quiet moments of friendship that meant the most.

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