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Coach Ernie Pantusso
Ernie Pantusso (or Pantuso), commonly known as "Coach", is a fictional character on the American television show Cheers, portrayed by Nicholas Colasanto from 1982 to 1985. Coach is Sam Malone's former baseball coach, who becomes a bartender at Cheers under Sam's ownership. He is not "worldly wise" but has some shred of wit. He had a daughter, Lisa, who appeared in the episode "Coach's Daughter", by his late wife, Angela.
While he last appeared in the cold opening of "Rescue Me", Colasanto's last filmed appearance as Coach was in the episode "Cheerio, Cheers". When Colasanto died in 1985, Coach was written out as deceased without cause of death stated. Woody Harrelson joined the cast as Woody Boyd, a pen pal of Coach's who would end up replacing him as a bartender at Cheers for the remainder of the series.
Former umpire Ron Luciano auditioned for Coach Ernie Pantusso (or Pantuso), but he failed to get the part because producers "wanted an experienced actor". Robert Prosky, who later appeared in the eleventh-season episode "Daddy's Little Middle-Aged Girl" (1992) as the father of character Rebecca Howe, was originally offered the role of Coach, but he turned down the role. John Madden was also offered the role, but also turned it down. Therefore, the role went to Colasanto.
According to Colasanto, Coach was nearly "child-like" and more of a surrogate "son" than a surrogate "father" to Sam Malone (Ted Danson), while Sam was more of a "father" to Coach for dependency on Sam's "moral support". Moreover, Coach was beloved by everyone and a good "lovable man". According to director and producer James Burrows, the character of Coach was much different from the actor Nick: Coach was slow, while Nick was sharp.
Coach is a component of many people. [...] [He] is not a worldly man [and] not well-read. He comes from the dugouts. He may be intelligent, but he's not worldly wise. He's so positive; that's what makes him funny. He'll say the most absurd thing, but, if someone corrects him, he immediately capitulates because he doesn't want to offend anyone.
— Nicholas Colasanto, The Associated Press, August 1984
Ernie "Coach" Pantusso was a somewhat dim, forgetful bartender with a gravel voice, a caring personality, and a warm heart. Colasanto himself said of the character: "The Coach doesn't have any worldly ambitions — he's very happy to make his paycheck, and drink with the boys,". Moreover, he listened to people and their problems very well.
Ernie was nicknamed "Coach" because he was a baseball coach with the Boston Red Sox and other teams, like the minor league baseball team Pawtucket Red Sox (discovered in "The Tortelli Tort", episode 3 [1982]). When Sam succumbed to alcoholism, leading to the end of his baseball career, Sam bought the bar Cheers and hired Coach as a bartender. He is still nicknamed "Coach" by everyone, although he has been retired from coaching for years.
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Coach Ernie Pantusso
Ernie Pantusso (or Pantuso), commonly known as "Coach", is a fictional character on the American television show Cheers, portrayed by Nicholas Colasanto from 1982 to 1985. Coach is Sam Malone's former baseball coach, who becomes a bartender at Cheers under Sam's ownership. He is not "worldly wise" but has some shred of wit. He had a daughter, Lisa, who appeared in the episode "Coach's Daughter", by his late wife, Angela.
While he last appeared in the cold opening of "Rescue Me", Colasanto's last filmed appearance as Coach was in the episode "Cheerio, Cheers". When Colasanto died in 1985, Coach was written out as deceased without cause of death stated. Woody Harrelson joined the cast as Woody Boyd, a pen pal of Coach's who would end up replacing him as a bartender at Cheers for the remainder of the series.
Former umpire Ron Luciano auditioned for Coach Ernie Pantusso (or Pantuso), but he failed to get the part because producers "wanted an experienced actor". Robert Prosky, who later appeared in the eleventh-season episode "Daddy's Little Middle-Aged Girl" (1992) as the father of character Rebecca Howe, was originally offered the role of Coach, but he turned down the role. John Madden was also offered the role, but also turned it down. Therefore, the role went to Colasanto.
According to Colasanto, Coach was nearly "child-like" and more of a surrogate "son" than a surrogate "father" to Sam Malone (Ted Danson), while Sam was more of a "father" to Coach for dependency on Sam's "moral support". Moreover, Coach was beloved by everyone and a good "lovable man". According to director and producer James Burrows, the character of Coach was much different from the actor Nick: Coach was slow, while Nick was sharp.
Coach is a component of many people. [...] [He] is not a worldly man [and] not well-read. He comes from the dugouts. He may be intelligent, but he's not worldly wise. He's so positive; that's what makes him funny. He'll say the most absurd thing, but, if someone corrects him, he immediately capitulates because he doesn't want to offend anyone.
— Nicholas Colasanto, The Associated Press, August 1984
Ernie "Coach" Pantusso was a somewhat dim, forgetful bartender with a gravel voice, a caring personality, and a warm heart. Colasanto himself said of the character: "The Coach doesn't have any worldly ambitions — he's very happy to make his paycheck, and drink with the boys,". Moreover, he listened to people and their problems very well.
Ernie was nicknamed "Coach" because he was a baseball coach with the Boston Red Sox and other teams, like the minor league baseball team Pawtucket Red Sox (discovered in "The Tortelli Tort", episode 3 [1982]). When Sam succumbed to alcoholism, leading to the end of his baseball career, Sam bought the bar Cheers and hired Coach as a bartender. He is still nicknamed "Coach" by everyone, although he has been retired from coaching for years.