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Skydance, Apple Push Back ‘Luck’ to August, Set Additional Voice Cast

Jan 26 2022

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Nov 5 2009

PACKAGING GETS LEANER, `GREENER`AT TECHNOLOGY EXPO

Nov 9 1992

Early life

John Dezso Ratzenberger was born on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947,² in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Bertha Veronica (née Grochowski), and Dezso Alexander Ratzenberger, a WWII veteran who had been a combat engineer in the Philippines.³⁴ John's father, Dezso, was of Austrian and Hungarian descent, and John's mother was of Polish ancestry.⁵ Ratzenberger attended St. Ann's School, Fairfield Prep, and Bassick High School in Bridgeport and then Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.⁶ In 1969, Ratzenberger worked at the Woodstock Festival as a heavy equipment operator and as part of the crew building the stage.⁷ John moved to London in 1971, where he began his acting, writing, and directing career.⁸

Career

Ratzenberger began his career in the performing arts while living in London, England.⁹ Through the 1970s, he performed with Ray Hassett as the comedic theatrical duo Sal's Meat Market, which toured throughout Europe for eight years.¹⁰ Sal's Meat Market heavily influenced Peter Richardson and Nigel Planer as a duo in The Outer Limits and in The Comic Strip.¹¹ His first role in a major feature film was as a patron in The Ritz (1976). Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ratzenberger appeared in various roles in feature films throughout Europe including: A Bridge Too Far, filmed in Holland, as Lieutenant James Megellas; Superman, as a missile controller; Superman II, as the NASA control man; Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back as Major Derlin; Outland as a doomed mine worker named Tarlow; and Gandhi, filmed in India, playing an American lieutenant.

Cheers

Ratzenberger played mail carrier Cliff Clavin on the sitcom Cheers. As an improv artist, he asked the producers if they had written a bar know-it-all character; the producers decided it was a great idea, and the character of Cliff Clavin was born.¹² Ratzenberger also came up with the idea for Cliff's trademark white socks, which he wore as a tribute to French comedian Jacques Tati.¹³ Cliff became known for his outlandish stories, trivia, and his trademarked (and oft repeated), "It's a little known fact..." Cliff and Norm, the primary customer characters of the iconic bar, Cheers, played buddies who met at Cheers to talk about the day or nothing in particular. Ratzenberger was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1985 and again in 1986.¹⁴¹⁵ Ratzenberger provided the voice for an animated version of Cliff on The Simpsons sixth-season episode "Fear of Flying". He also played the role in the short-lived spin-off The Tortellis and in an episode of Wings, which was made by the same creators.

Voice work

Ratzenberger has contributed voice work for several animated projects, most notably Pixar productions.

Ratzenberger has voiced characters in 23 Pixar films.¹⁶ His roles include:

• Hamm the piggy bank in the Toy Story series (1995, 1999, 2010, 2019)
• P.T. Flea, the Circus Ring Leader in A Bug's Life (1998)
• Yeti the Abominable Snowman in the Monsters, Inc. series (2001, 2013)
• The school of Moonfish in Finding Nemo (2003)
• The Underminer in The Incredibles series (2004, 2018)
• Mack the truck in the Cars series (2006, 2011, 2017)
• Mustafa the waiter in Ratatouille (2007)
• John the Axiom passenger in WALL-E (2008)
• Tom the construction worker in Up (2009)
• Gordon the Dunbroch palace guard in Brave (2012)
• Fritz the mind worker in the Inside Out series (2015, 2024)
• Earl the Velociraptor in The Good Dinosaur (2015)
• Bill the crab in Finding Dory (2016)
• Juan Ortodoncia the deceased dental patient in Coco (2017)
• Fennwick the cyclops construction worker in Onward (2020)

According to Ratzenberger, Pixar's tradition of including him as a good luck charm in every film beginning with the studio's first film, Toy Story, was due to him being good friends with former Pixar filmmaker John Lasseter,¹⁷ who directed or executive-produced each of the first 20 Pixar films. Ratzenberger's tenure at Pixar was parodied during the end credits of Cars, where his character, Mack, watches car-themed versions of Pixar films (Toy Car Story, Monster Trucks, Inc., and A Bug's Life, the latter of which references the Volkswagen Beetle). Mack notes that all the characters that John Ratzenberger has played had excellent voice actors until he realizes that they are performed by the same actor, at which point he remarks, "They're just using the same actor over and over," and asks, "What kind of a cut-rate production is this?!" Ratzenberger stated his favorite Pixar role was Hamm from the Toy Story series,¹⁸ and he has given honorable mention to P.T. Flea from A Bug's Life.¹⁹

Following Lasseter's exit from Pixar, Ratzenberger revealed he was not a fan of the regime that replaced Lasseter or the studio's subsequent films, claiming "[...] they suck", and was critical of the political messaging that he felt was being placed in the films.²⁰²¹ Pixar's 23rd feature film, Soul (2020), was the first Pixar film that did not involve Ratzenberger himself, though it featured a character animated in his likeness as a cameo according to the film's co-director Kemp Powers;²² the cameo was also confirmed by director Pete Docter on the film's audio commentary track. After having voiced a character in every Pixar film from Toy Story (1995) through Onward (2020), Ratzenberger would not have another role in any Pixar film with the exception of their 28th feature film, Inside Out 2 (2024).²³²⁴

Ratzenberger has continued to work with Lasseter, who produces all feature films and executive-produces all series at Skydance Animation.²⁵²⁶²⁷ His roles include:

• Rootie the bad luck root in Luck (2022),²⁸ the studio's first feature film
• Caruncle the alien in the first season of WondLa (2024),²⁹ the studio's first series
• Milo the monster handler in Spellbound (2024),³⁰ the studio's second feature film

Aside from the Pixar and Skydance productions, Ratzenberger voiced Harland the jet tug in Disneytoon Studios' Planes (2013)³¹ and Brodi the plane in its sequel, Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014),³²³³ which are spin-offs of Pixar's Cars series and executive-produced by Lasseter.³⁴ Additionally, Ratzenberger provided the voice for Aniyaku the assistant manager in the English dub version of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away (2002),³⁵ which Lasseter also executive-produced.

Ratzenberger also reprised his role as Yeti (now named Adorable) and voiced a new character named Bernard in the Disney Television Animation series Monsters at Work, which is set after the main events of Pixar's Monsters, Inc.³⁶

Personal life

Ratzenberger lived in London for 10 years.³⁷ Since 1994, he has lived in Vashon, Washington.³⁸ Ratzenberger married Georgia Stiny in 1984; during their 20-year marriage they had two children together before divorcing in 2004.³⁹ He then married Julie Blichfeldt in November 2012.⁴⁰

Ratzenberger developed a packaging-alternatives product made from biodegradable and non-toxic recycled paper as a safe alternative to foam peanuts and plastic bubble wrap. This product, SizzlePak, was manufactured by his company Eco-Pak Industries, which Ratzenberger co-founded in 1989.⁴¹ In 1992, he sold Eco-Pack to Ranpak Corp.⁴²

Political views

Ratzenberger is a Republican. During the 2008 presidential race, Ratzenberger campaigned for John McCain, appearing with former Cheers co-star Kelsey Grammer at several Republican party events.⁴³⁴⁴ Ratzenberger was outspoken in opposition of the 2010 health care reform bill, referring to it as socialism.⁴⁵ On January 17, 2010, he appeared and endorsed Scott Brown for the United States Senate at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts. Ratzenberger campaigned for Republican Josh Mandel of Ohio for state treasurer in 2010 and served as master of ceremonies for Mandel's inauguration into the position in 2011.⁴⁶ He considered running for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut in 2012.⁴⁷

Ratzenberger endorsed Mitt Romney in 2012.⁴⁸ He appeared on Your World with Neil Cavuto to support Donald Trump's candidacy during the 2016 presidential race, shortly after Trump was declared the presumptive Republican nominee.⁴⁹ He praised his performance as president in 2017, saying he had done "a wonderful job as far as manufacturing is concerned".⁵⁰

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ratzenberger expressed his support for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in 2020 via Cameo and suggested people who wished to help them donate and buy presents for Christmas early.⁵¹⁵²

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Musical

Production credits

Awards and nominations

External links

• Official website
• John Ratzenberger at IMDb
• John Ratzenberger at the TCM Movie Database

References

1. About John Archived April 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine from Ratzenberger's official website http://www.ratzenberger.com/about-john.php ↩

2. "Easter Sunday Dates 1700 - 2299". tlarsen2.tripod.com. https://tlarsen2.tripod.com/thomaslarsen/easterdates.html ↩

3. John Ratzenberger Biography (1947–) from filmreference.com http://www.filmreference.com/film/91/John-Ratzenberger.html ↩

4. "Last Night's Dancing with the Stars: What You Didn't See". People. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070328173150/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1545936_20015453,00.html ↩

5. "The Ratzenberger Attic". Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081012165535/http://www.ratzenberger.net/genealogy/databases/descendants_of_daniel_ratzenberger/d1.htm#i551 ↩

6. About John Archived April 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine from Ratzenberger's official website http://www.ratzenberger.com/about-john.php ↩

7. The Mark Levin Show (wma) (Radio). May 8, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2008.[permanent dead link] mms://abcrad.wmod.llnwd.net/a49/external/0102cABAAHQAAAAcDle6yKhvE1c0LnEJnNwFajD8QD92LOnSD/levin/levin_insider/levin05082008.wma ↩

8. About John Archived April 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine from Ratzenberger's official website http://www.ratzenberger.com/about-john.php ↩

9. About John Archived April 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine from Ratzenberger's official website http://www.ratzenberger.com/about-john.php ↩

10. "Sal's Meat Market". Unfinishedhistories.com. Retrieved December 20, 2016. http://www.unfinishedhistories.com/history/companies/sals-meat-market/ ↩

11. Wilmut, Roger (1989). Didn't You Kill My Mother in Law?- the story of alternative comedy in Britain from the Comedy Store to Saturday Night Live. UK: Methuen. p. 58. ISBN 0-413-17390-9. 0-413-17390-9 ↩

12. Toasting Cheers, Dennis A. Bjorklund, p.7 ↩

13. The Joe Cook Program (Radio). July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012. http://joecookprogram.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/john-ratzenberger-interview/ ↩

14. "Nominees/Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved January 30, 2018. http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1985/outstanding-supporting-actor-in-a-comedy-series ↩

15. "Nominees/Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved January 30, 2018. http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1986/outstanding-supporting-actor-in-a-comedy-series ↩

16. "Pixar's secret weapon: John Ratzenberger, Slate.com http://www.slate.com/id/2257378/ ↩

17. Milo, Mr (May 18, 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: JOHN RATZENBERGER REVEALS WHY HE STOPPED DOING PIXAR CAMEOS". Pirates & Princesses. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.piratesandprincesses.net/exclusive-john-ratzenberger-reveals-why-he-stopped-doing-pixar-cameos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exclusive-john-ratzenberger-reveals-why-he-stopped-doing-pixar-cameos ↩

18. "John Ratzenberger sharing his favorite character he has voiced and doing an impression". YouTube Shorts. August 1, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yOqXCiR5FIw ↩

19. "What's John Ratzenberger's Favorite Pixar Voice?". Good Morning America. December 22, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/video/john-ratzenbergers-favorite-pixar-voice-27763099 ↩

20. Milo, Mr (May 18, 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: JOHN RATZENBERGER REVEALS WHY HE STOPPED DOING PIXAR CAMEOS". Pirates & Princesses. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.piratesandprincesses.net/exclusive-john-ratzenberger-reveals-why-he-stopped-doing-pixar-cameos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exclusive-john-ratzenberger-reveals-why-he-stopped-doing-pixar-cameos ↩

21. Borg, Max (March 5, 2025). "When Pixar Lost Its Lucky Charm". Crooked Marquee. Retrieved March 6, 2025. https://crookedmarquee.com/when-pixar-lost-its-lucky-charm/ ↩

22. Julie & T.J. (January 1, 2020). "The John Ratzenberger Easter Egg in Pixar's 'Soul' has Been Found!". Pixar Post. Retrieved January 5, 2020. https://www.pixarpost.com/2021/01/john-ratzenberger-soul-easter-egg.html ↩

23. Milo, Mr (May 18, 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: JOHN RATZENBERGER REVEALS WHY HE STOPPED DOING PIXAR CAMEOS". Pirates & Princesses. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.piratesandprincesses.net/exclusive-john-ratzenberger-reveals-why-he-stopped-doing-pixar-cameos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exclusive-john-ratzenberger-reveals-why-he-stopped-doing-pixar-cameos ↩

24. Palmer, Roger (March 7, 2024). "First Look At Pixar's "Inside Out 2" New Emotions". What's On Disney Plus?. Retrieved March 7, 2024. https://whatsondisneyplus.com/first-look-at-pixars-inside-out-2-new-emotions/ ↩

25. Borg, Max (March 5, 2025). "When Pixar Lost Its Lucky Charm". Crooked Marquee. Retrieved March 6, 2025. https://crookedmarquee.com/when-pixar-lost-its-lucky-charm/ ↩

26. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 17, 2021). "Apple & Skydance Animation Set Multi-Year Feature Film & TV Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://deadline.com/2021/02/apple-skydance-animation-set-multi-year-feature-tv-deal-1234695506/ ↩

27. "Ted Danson & Woody Harrelson Reunite With John Ratzenberger | Where Everybody Knows Your Name". YouTube. January 8, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stOqPxk8ZFw&t=48m0s ↩

28. Giardina, Carolyn (January 26, 2022). "Skydance, Apple Push Back 'Luck' to August, Set Additional Voice Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 3, 2022. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/skydance-apple-luck-aug-5-1235081549/ ↩

29. "Teri Hatcher, Jeanine Mason: WondLa Cast & Creatives Talk Stunning Animation, Sci-Fi World, & More". YouTube. June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjlmCQ6-BDc&t=4m5s ↩

30. Reif, Alex (November 21, 2024). "From "Shrek" to "Spellbound:" Vicky Jensen Discusses Her Return to Animated Fairytales". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024. https://www.laughingplace.com/w/entertainment/spellbound-vicky-jensen-interview/ ↩

31. Hill, Jim (August 6, 2013). "World premiere of Disney "Planes" turns Hollywood Boulevard into a celebrity-filled landing strip". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved January 24, 2014. http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2013/08/06/disney-quot-planes-quot-world-premiere.aspx ↩

32. "Planes Fire & Rescue (2014)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150514084301/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/53c99d98514fb ↩

33. "Look! Up in the sky! It's an exclusive peek at 'Planes'!". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/03/25/planes-dane-cook/1998599/ ↩

34. "Disney's "Planes" Hi-res Stills, Fun Facts and Activity Sheets". Stitch Kingdom. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130630145040/http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-planes-stills-fun-facts-activity-sheets-62551/ ↩

35. Hill, Jim (April 16, 2003). "The Making of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" — Part 3". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved March 3, 2024. https://jimhillmedia.com/the-making-of-hayao-miyazakis-spirited-away-part-3/ ↩

36. Goldberg, Lesley (April 9, 2019). "'Monsters, Inc.' Voice Cast to Return for Disney+ Series (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/monsters-voice-cast-return-disney-series-1200367/ ↩

37. "Revealed: Cheers star John Ratzenberger's secret love.. The bagpipes". February 22, 2010. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/revealed-cheers-star-john-ratzenbergers-1051299 ↩

38. Payne, Patti (August 26, 2016). "Patti Payne's Cool Pads: $4M Vashon Island waterfront compound 'Cheers' actor John Ratzenberger built hits market". Puget Sound Business Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2016/08/26/patti-paynes-cool-pads-4m-vashon-island-waterfront.html ↩

39. John Ratzenberger Biography (1947–) from filmreference.com http://www.filmreference.com/film/91/John-Ratzenberger.html ↩

40. "John Ratzenberger weds Julie Blichfeldt". UPI. November 30, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2014. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2012/11/30/John-Ratzenberger-weds-Julie-Blichfeldt/UPI-23841354326181/ ↩

41. Bukro, Casey (November 10, 1992). "Packaging Gets Leaner, 'Greener'At Technology Expo". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2020. "I jumped on the environmental bandwagon in 1967", says Ratzenberger, who in 1989 co-founded Eco-Pak Industries in Kent, Wash. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-11-10-9204120054-story.html ↩

42. Bukro, Casey (November 10, 1992). "Packaging Gets Leaner, 'Greener'At Technology Expo". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2020. "I jumped on the environmental bandwagon in 1967", says Ratzenberger, who in 1989 co-founded Eco-Pak Industries in Kent, Wash. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-11-10-9204120054-story.html ↩

43. Ratzenberger and Grammer greeted McCain supporters, called voters on behalf of the Republican ticket, participated in voter-registration activities at the local campaign headquarters, and held a McCain victory rally in Henderson, Nevada. "Political emissaries descend on valley: Richardson, Grammer rally voters at events". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 11, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2008. /wiki/Henderson,_Nevada ↩

44. "Stars stump in Las Vegas Valley". NBC-affiliated KVBC website. October 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081220060840/http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9161824&nav=15MUUi4B ↩

45. "Tea Party activists hit the Hill, arrested outside Pelosi's office". CNN Political Ticker. November 5, 2009. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091107063752/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/05/tea-party-activists-hit-the-hill-arrested-outside-pelosis-office/ ↩

46. "'Cheer's' John Ratzenberger helps treasurer take oath". The Alliance Review. January 10, 2011. https://www.the-review.com/story/news/2011/01/11/cheer-s-john-ratzenberger/19252850007/ ↩

47. Rachel E. Stassen-Berger (November 5, 2009). "Pawlenty draws wallets fat ... and famous". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20130725073147/http://www.startribune.com/politics/69137852.html?page=1&c=y ↩

48. Obama, Romney turn to star power for help in NV – San Jose Mercury News https://archive.today/20130128150443/http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21877306/obama-romney-turn-star-power-help-nv ↩

49. "'The Only Candidate for Me': Pixar Icon Throws Support Behind Donald Trump". Fox News Insider. May 11, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016. http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/05/11/pixar-voice-actor-john-ratzenberger-supports-donald-trump ↩

50. "Trump critics will apologize in four years: 'Cheers' actor John Ratzenberger". Fox Business. August 15, 2017. https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trump-critics-will-apologize-in-four-years-cheers-actor-john-ratzenberger ↩

51. Yasharoff, Hannah. "'The Postman' star Kevin Costner calls for US Postal Service support amid mail-in voting concerns". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/08/17/usps-postal-service-taylor-swift-tom-hanks-mark-hamill/5598559002/ ↩

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55. "Mom - Episode 7.01 - Audrey Hepburn and a Jalepeño Pepper - Promos + Press Release". SpoilerTV. Retrieved October 3, 2019. https://www.spoilertv.com/2019/08/mom-episode-701-audrey-hepburn-and.html ↩

56. Dawn, Randee (September 17, 2019). "A mini-'Cheers' reunion is coming to TV! See the pics". Today. Retrieved September 18, 2019. https://www.today.com/popculture/mini-cheers-reunion-coming-goldbergs-t162763 ↩

57. "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 1985". Emmys.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024. https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1985/outstanding-supporting-actor-in-a-comedy-series ↩

58. "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 1986". Emmys.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024. https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1986/outstanding-supporting-actor-in-a-comedy-series ↩