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Nicholas Colasanto
Nicholas Colasanto (January 19, 1924 – February 12, 1985) was an American actor and television director. He is best known for his role as Ernie Pantusso in the American television sitcom Cheers (1982–1985).
Colasanto was born on January 19, 1924, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Giuseppe "Joseph" Colasanto (1889 – 1944) and Maria "Mary" Colasanto (née Gelfoni; 1889 – 1955), both first-generation Italian Americans. Colasanto attended Bryant University (now located in Smithfield, Rhode Island) and was a decorated veteran of World War II, during which he served as a coxswain in the United States Navy.
By 1951, he was a bookkeeper. Around 1954, he intended to work as an accountant for a company in Saudi Arabia. Inspired by Henry Fonda's performance in the Broadway play Mister Roberts, Colasanto applied to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts but was rejected, so he joined a small theater company instead in Phoenix, Arizona.
Colasanto is best known for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso, a character in the television sitcom Cheers. His early acting career included a theatrical play A Hatful of Rain (1956), starring Ben Gazzarra, and another role that earned him an Obie Award nomination in 1962. He also directed episodes of many television series, including Hawaii Five-O, Starsky & Hutch, The Streets of San Francisco, Bonanza, Columbo, and CHiPs. He also appeared in feature films, including The Counterfeit Killer (1968), Fat City (1972), and Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot (1976).
Colasanto was in demand as an actor and director, but in the mid-1970s he was diagnosed with heart disease, which was exacerbated by his alcoholism. After twenty years of alcoholism, he became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous from March 31, 1976, and became sober in the same year. In the late 1970s, he began having difficulty securing directing jobs as his health was declining. His last major film role was as mob boss Tommy Como in Raging Bull (1980).
Colasanto was preparing to retire when the role of Coach Ernie Pantusso was offered to him on Cheers. Coach would become his best known role. By the third season of Cheers, Colasanto's health had seriously deteriorated. His fellow cast members noticed his weight loss, but Colasanto kept the severity of his illness secret. Shortly after the Christmas holiday in 1984, he was admitted to a local hospital for water in his lungs. Co-star Ted Danson later said Colasanto had difficulty remembering his lines during production of the season.
When Colasanto was released from the hospital in the week of January 28 – February 3, 1985, after a two-week stay, his doctor recommended he should not return to work. Although he appeared in the cold opening of the third-season finale episode "Rescue Me" (1985), Colasanto's last full episode was "Cheerio Cheers" (1985), which was filmed in late November 1984.
Colasanto died of a heart attack at his home on February 12, 1985, at the age of 61. A memorial service was held in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, and attended by the full staff and cast of Cheers. In addition, over 300 mourners, including castmate John Ratzenberger, attended the February 16 funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church in Providence. Colasanto is buried in Saint Ann Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island.
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Nicholas Colasanto
Nicholas Colasanto (January 19, 1924 – February 12, 1985) was an American actor and television director. He is best known for his role as Ernie Pantusso in the American television sitcom Cheers (1982–1985).
Colasanto was born on January 19, 1924, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Giuseppe "Joseph" Colasanto (1889 – 1944) and Maria "Mary" Colasanto (née Gelfoni; 1889 – 1955), both first-generation Italian Americans. Colasanto attended Bryant University (now located in Smithfield, Rhode Island) and was a decorated veteran of World War II, during which he served as a coxswain in the United States Navy.
By 1951, he was a bookkeeper. Around 1954, he intended to work as an accountant for a company in Saudi Arabia. Inspired by Henry Fonda's performance in the Broadway play Mister Roberts, Colasanto applied to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts but was rejected, so he joined a small theater company instead in Phoenix, Arizona.
Colasanto is best known for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso, a character in the television sitcom Cheers. His early acting career included a theatrical play A Hatful of Rain (1956), starring Ben Gazzarra, and another role that earned him an Obie Award nomination in 1962. He also directed episodes of many television series, including Hawaii Five-O, Starsky & Hutch, The Streets of San Francisco, Bonanza, Columbo, and CHiPs. He also appeared in feature films, including The Counterfeit Killer (1968), Fat City (1972), and Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot (1976).
Colasanto was in demand as an actor and director, but in the mid-1970s he was diagnosed with heart disease, which was exacerbated by his alcoholism. After twenty years of alcoholism, he became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous from March 31, 1976, and became sober in the same year. In the late 1970s, he began having difficulty securing directing jobs as his health was declining. His last major film role was as mob boss Tommy Como in Raging Bull (1980).
Colasanto was preparing to retire when the role of Coach Ernie Pantusso was offered to him on Cheers. Coach would become his best known role. By the third season of Cheers, Colasanto's health had seriously deteriorated. His fellow cast members noticed his weight loss, but Colasanto kept the severity of his illness secret. Shortly after the Christmas holiday in 1984, he was admitted to a local hospital for water in his lungs. Co-star Ted Danson later said Colasanto had difficulty remembering his lines during production of the season.
When Colasanto was released from the hospital in the week of January 28 – February 3, 1985, after a two-week stay, his doctor recommended he should not return to work. Although he appeared in the cold opening of the third-season finale episode "Rescue Me" (1985), Colasanto's last full episode was "Cheerio Cheers" (1985), which was filmed in late November 1984.
Colasanto died of a heart attack at his home on February 12, 1985, at the age of 61. A memorial service was held in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, and attended by the full staff and cast of Cheers. In addition, over 300 mourners, including castmate John Ratzenberger, attended the February 16 funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church in Providence. Colasanto is buried in Saint Ann Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island.