Nicholas Colasanto, Beloved ‘Cheers’ Actor, Passes Away at 61

Nicholas Colasanto, best known for his portrayal of Coach Ernie Pantusso on the hit TV show “Cheers,” tragically passed away from a heart attack at his home in Studio City, California on February 12, 1985. He was 61 years old.

Colasanto had been battling heart disease since the mid-1970s, a condition that was exacerbated by his past struggles with alcoholism. Despite getting sober in 1976, his health continued to decline over the years.

During the filming of the third season of “Cheers,” Colasanto’s co-stars noticed his significant weight loss, but he chose to keep the severity of his illness private. It wasn’t until he was hospitalized for fluid buildup in his lungs just after Christmas in 1984 that the extent of his condition became apparent.

Following Colasanto’s untimely death, his character, Coach, was written off the show as having passed away. To fill the void left by his absence, Woody Boyd, portrayed by Woody Harrelson, was introduced as his replacement.

In a touching tribute to Colasanto, the producers of “Cheers” displayed a photo of Geronimo, a good luck charm that Colasanto kept in his dressing room, on the set of the show’s bar. This subtle homage was later acknowledged in the series finale, when Sam Malone (played by Ted Danson) straightened the picture before bidding farewell to the bar for the last time.

Colasanto’s portrayal of Coach endeared him to audiences around the world, and his legacy lives on through the lasting impact he made on the iconic show “Cheers.”