John Ratzenberger Net Worth - Pulptastic

Publish date: 2024-05-19

What is John Ratzenberger’s net worth and salary

John Ratzenberger, best known for his role as Cliff on “Cheers,” has a net worth of $50 million. He is also an entrepreneur and has lent his voice to every Pixar film to date.

Early Life

John Ratzenberger was born on April 6, 1947, in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Bertha and Dezso Ratzenberger. His mother worked for Remington Arms while his father was a Texaco truck driver. He is of Austrian, Hungarian, and Polish descent. Ratzenberger attended St. Ann’s School in Bridgeport and then Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Woodstock and Move to London

In 1969, Ratzenberger worked as a tractor operator at the Woodstock festival. The next year, he moved to London and stayed there for a decade.

Early Acting Career

John Ratzenberger began his acting career while working as a house framer in London. He performed in a comedic theatrical duo called Sal’s Meat Market with Ray Hassett in the 1970s. He started with small background roles in films before working his way up to larger parts. His first film role was in 1976’s “The Ritz,” playing a patron. He also appeared in various minor roles in major feature films including “Firefox,” “A Bridge Too Far,” “Superman,” “Superman II,” “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” “Motel Hell,” “Outland,” and “Gandhi,” where his voice was dubbed over by Martin Sheen as he played an American lieutenant.

John Ratzenberger’s Breakthrough Role on “Cheers”

John Ratzenberger’s big break came when he landed the role of mail carrier Cliff Clavin on the sitcom “Cheers.” He had auditioned for the part of Norm Peterson but got a sense after the audition that they would not be offering the part to him.

Sensing an opportunity, Ratzenberger came up with the idea of introducing a “bar know-it-all” character, which the producers thought was a great idea. He also came up with the idea for Cliff’s signature white socks.

His character became known for telling outlandish stories full of plausible half-truths, boring trivia, and misinformation. Ratzenberger also provided the voice for an animated Cliff in an episode of “The Simpsons” season six.

Ratzenberger was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1985 and again in 1986. Paramount Television licensed the look of the “Cheers” bar for Marriott Services use in airports across the U.S. and New Zealand and they also created animatronic barflies to resemble Cliff.

John Ratzenberger’s Earnings on “Cheers”

During his time on “Cheers,” John Ratzenberger earned $200 thousand per episode, which translated to $5 million per season. Adjusted for inflation, that’s equivalent to earning around $10 million per year in today’s money.

Notable Voice Appearances in Pixar Films

John Ratzenberger has lent his voice to all of Pixar’s feature films, including:

John Ratzenberger: One of the Highest Grossing Actors in History

John Ratzenberger’s worldwide box office revenue has topped $6 billion, making him one of the highest grossing actors in history. His appearance in every Pixar movie ever, as well as a small role in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, has contributed to his success. However, he still falls short of the number one highest-grossing actor, Samuel L. Jackson, who has a box office total of $7 billion.

Reality Show Appearances

John Ratzenberger has made appearances on several reality shows, including:

– “Last Comic Standing”
– “Dancing with the Stars”
– “American Chopper”
– “Hell’s Kitchen”

John Ratzenberger’s Business Ventures

John Ratzenberger co-founded Eco-Pak Industries in 1998, which developed eco-friendly packaging alternatives made from recycled paper. He later sold the company to Ranpak Corp in 1992. Ratzenberger also founded the Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation to raise awareness of skilled trades among young people. He became a representative for Center for America in 2010, where he works to increase awareness of the skilled worker shortage. In 2016, Ratzenberger launched thegiftbox.com, an e-commerce site offering monthly subscription boxes. He co-founded American Made Advertising in April 2020, which provides free advertising and marketing help to companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Political Involvement and Personal Life

John Ratzenberger is an active supporter of Republican candidates, including John McCain, and was even considering running for Senate in the 2012 Connecticut primaries. He was married to Georgia Stiny for 19 years before their divorce in 2004, and together they have two children, James John and Nina Katherine.

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