John started Sal's Meat Market in Bridgeport, Connecticut, while a student at Sacred Heart University, located in Fairfield/Bridgeport, Connecticut. 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.
Ratzenberger is going to the Supreme Court with Cheers co-star George Wendt to get control of their characters (Cliff and Norm). Their characters 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. [Late 2000] Only Cheers cast member to have actually lived in Boston -specifically the "Combat Zone" red-light district. The only person to voice a character in all of Pixar Animation's feature films: as Hamm in Toy Story; PT Flea in A Bug's Life; Hamm again in Toy Story 2; the Abonimable Snowman in Monsters, Inc.; Fish School in Finding Nemo; and Underminer in The Incredibles. He will also provide a voice in the John Lasseter written and directed piece, Cars. Was buried alive up to his neck in Motel Hell, same as his Cheers co-star Ted Danson was in Creepshow. Holds a Red Belt in karate He does not, as believed, play the bagpipes but in fact plays snare drum for a pipe band called "Gold Coast Pipe Band" in which he was a founding member. Active in the pro-ecological movement, he was owner and operator of Eco-Pak, a conservation-conscious packaging company. Co-wrote two British TV plays and directed several episodes of Cheers. Helped form and organize an improvisational comedy troupe called "Sal's Meat Market" in 1971. Spent his early years in London where he was once an assistant to a tree surgeon. The trading card for his Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back character, Brin Derlin, says that "At the Mos Eisley Cantina, everybody knows his name." Derlin is never seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina. This is an inside joke about his character Cliff Clavin the mailman, who frequents Cheers, "where everybody knows your name." Has played his famous Cheers character, Clifford "Cliff" Clavin on six different television series: Cheers, Frasier, Wings, The Tortellis, The Simpsons and St. Elsewhere. Along with George Wendt, Richard Belzer and Paul Fusco, he is one of only four actors to play the same character (Clifford C. 'Cliff' Clavin, Jr.): Cheers, St. Elsewhere, The Tortellis, Wings, The Simpsons and Frasier. He has appeared in episodes of all six series with George Wendt. His speaking role in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, was dubbed by Martin Sheen. Later Ratzenberger of course went on to become a trademark voice for Pixar Studios. Has two children named James John b. 1987 and Nina Katherine b. 1989. Mr. Ratzenberger has recently written a book with Joel Engel titled "We've Got it Made in America.". Mr. Ratzenberger has written a book with Joel Engel titled "We've Got it Made in America: A Common Man's Guide to an Uncommon Country.". Mr. Ratzenberger recently started the Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation, whose mission is to "Give children tools and watch them build America.". Engaged to Lindsay McGrail.