Nicholas Colasanto

Nicholas Colasanto

Colasanto on the set of Cheers
Born January 19, 1924
Providence, Rhode Island,
United States
Died February 12, 1985 (aged 61)
Studio City, California,
United States
Occupation Actor / Director

Nicholas Colasanto (January 19, 1924 – February 12, 1985) was an American actor and television director, known for his role, Coach Ernie Pantusso, in the American sitcom Cheers.

Early life

Colasanto attended Bryant University (now located in Smithfield, Rhode Island[1]) and was a decorated veteran of World War II, when he served as a coxswain in the United States Navy.[2] Around 1954 he was supposed to be an accountant for a company in Saudi Arabia, but he instead attended American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[3]

Career

Colasanto was best known for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso on the sitcom Cheers. He directed two Columbo episodes, "Étude in Black" (1972) and "Swan Song" (1974).[4] He directed two episodes of the short-lived 1974 ABC police drama Nakia: "No Place to Hide" and "A Matter of Choice".[5] He also appeared in feature films, including Fat City and Family Plot.[4]

An in-demand director, he had been diagnosed in the mid-1970s with heart disease, which was exacerbated by his alcoholism.[6] He began having trouble securing directing jobs by the end of the 1970s due to his declining health. His last major film role was that of mob boss Tommy Como in Raging Bull.[7]

Colasanto was prepared to retire when the role of Coach Ernie Pantusso was offered to him on Cheers. Coach would become Colasanto's best known role.[6]

Suffering from heart disease, his health worsened by the third season of Cheers. Castmates noticed his weight loss, though the actor chose to keep the severity of his illness a secret.[8] Shortly after the Christmas holiday in 1984, he was admitted to a local hospital due to water in his lungs.[8] Co-star Ted Danson later commented that the veteran actor had difficulty remembering his lines during production of the season.[8]

After Colasanto's release from the hospital, his doctor recommended he not return to work. Although he appeared in the cold opening of the third season finale episode, "Rescue Me" (1985),[9] his last full episode was "Cheerio Cheers" (1985), filmed in late November 1984.[10]

Colasanto's character was written out of the show as also having died. The fourth season premiere episode, "Birth, Death, Love and Rice" (1985), dealt with Coach's death as well as introducing Colasanto's successor, Woody Harrelson, as Woody Boyd.[11]

Personal life

After 20 years of alcoholism, he became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and became sober in 1976.[12]

Illness and death

Picture of Geronimo, which was hung in Colasanto's dressing room

Colasanto died of a heart attack at his home on February 12, 1985, at the age of 61.[4][13]

On February 16, 1985, more than 300 people attended his funeral, including his longtime friends, actor George Garro and John Ratzenberger.[14] He is buried in Saint Ann's Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island.[15]

Colasanto hung a picture of Geronimo in his dressing room. After his death, it was placed on the wall in the bar (part of the Cheers production set) in memory of him. Near the end of the final episode of Cheers, bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson) walks over to the picture and straightens it.[16]

On April 19, 1985, Colasanto was awarded posthumously the Best Supporting Actor by Viewers for Quality Television, a (now defunct) non-profit organization that determined what was considered high-quality on television.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Snauffer 2008, p. 51.
  2. ↑ Brant, Marley. Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms 1974-1984. New York City: Billboard Books. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-8230-8933-8. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Colasanto Strayed from Directing to Take Role as Cheers Bartender". Schenectady Gazette (Schenectady, New York). August 4, 1984. p. 25, TV Plus section.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Jones, Jack (February 13, 1985). "N. Colasanto; Played Coach Role in Cheers.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  5. ↑ Bjorklund, p. 39.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Snauffer 2008, p. 52
  7. ↑ "Nick Colasanto Dead at 61; Played Bartender in 'Cheers'". The New York Times. February 14, 1985. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Snauffer 2008, p. 55
  9. ↑ Snauffer 2008, p. 56.
  10. ↑ Gendel, Morgan (April 2, 1985). "Death, jail, resignation take their toll on TV shows". Anchorage Daily News. p. E2. Retrieved July 25, 2012. Google News Archive Morgan Gendel worked for Los Angeles Times at the time of publication.
  11. ↑ "Birth, Death, Love, and Rice." 1985. Cheers: Season 4: The Complete Fourth Season. Paramount, 2009. DVD.
  12. ↑ Holsopple, Barbara (February 14, 1985). "Cheers pays tribute to "Coach".". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  13. ↑ Keets, Heather (February 11, 1994). "Coach's Last Call". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  14. ↑ "300 Mourn 'Coach' Colasanto". The Miami Herald. The Associated Press. February 17, 1985. page 4, section B (Local), Obituary column.
  15. ↑ Snauffer 2008, p. 57.
  16. ↑ Liner, Elaine (May 21–22, 1993). "TV's favorite bar turns off the tap". Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Texas). p. A1. Record no at NewsBank: 113001A60C3FB35B (registration required) .
  17. ↑ Buck, Jerry (April 19, 1985). "The Results Are In for Quality Television's First Poll". The Orlando Sentinel (Three star ed.) (Sentinel Communications Company). The Associated Press. p. E9. at NewsBank Record no: 0290180135.

Further reading

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