Shelley Long was conspicuously absent from the 2024 reunion of the cast of the NBC comedy series, Cheers. Long is not the only Cheers alum who didn’t show up with Woody Harrelson and Bebe Neuwirth not signing up for the event from the beginning. However, Long accepted the invitation to the reunion but backed out without an excuse, raising a few eyebrows.
Though she began acting long before Cheers, Shelley Long’s role as Diane Chambers in the series launched her to stardom. She also reprised the role in the spinoff series, Frasier. Before Cheers, Long appeared in guest roles on a few TV projects, including M*A*S*H. She is also known for appearing in films such as Night Shift (1982), Irreconcilable Differences (1984), The Money Pit (1986), Hello Again (1987), Troop Beverly Hills (1989), and The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). Let’s explore Shelley Long’s life before and after her award-winning role on Cheers.
Early Life and Education
Of American nationality, Shelley Long was born in Indian Village, Fort Wayne, Indiana, on August 23, 1943. She was raised as the only child of her parents, Leland Long and Ivadine Long (née Williams) who were both teachers. Her father, Leland, worked in the rubber industry before taking up a teaching job. Long’s parents raised her in the Presbyterian faith.
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While attending South Side High School in Fort Wayne, Shelley Long joined the speech club. She competed in the Indiana High School Forensic Association and won the National Forensic League’s National Championship in Original Oratory in 1967. After high school, she briefly studied drama at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, but chose to leave before graduation to pursue a career in modeling and acting.
Shelley Long Began Her Acting Career In Local Commercials
After working at Northwestern University as a meal plan checker, Long began her journey to fame by appearing in local commercials for Chicago-based furniture store Homemakers and Unilever’s Camay soap. She also performed with The Second City comedy troupe in Chicago. In 1975, Long became a co-host of the television program Sorting It Out on WMAQ-TV. She also contributed as a writer and producer on the show, winning three Regional Emmys for her efforts.
In 1979, Shelley Long made guest appearances on shows such as Family, and Trapper John, M.D. and appeared in the television film, The Cracker Factory as Cara. 1980 ushered in her first feature film role in A Circle of Friends which was a critical success. Long also appeared in one episode of M*A*S*H the same year. After appearing as Tala in Caveman and Belinda Keaton in Night Shift, Long landed a career-defining television role that shot her to prominence.
Shelley Long Caught Her Big Break On The NBC Sitcom Cheers
From 1982 to 1987, Shelley Long appeared on the American long-running sitcom, Cheers as Diane Chambers. The American actress warmed her way into many hearts with her performance as Sam Malone’s (Ted Danson) on-and-off girlfriend. Subsequently, she won one Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1983 for her performance as Diane among four other nominations. Long also won two Golden Globe Awards for the same role.
Out of Cheers’ 275 episodes, Shelley Long appeared on 122 before leaving the show in 1987. During her time on the show, Long continued to appear in films like Irreconcilable Differences which earned her a nomination for Best Leading Actress at the Golden Globe Awards. She also appeared in The Money Pit and Outrageous Fortune. On August 12, 1986, Long secured a deal with The Walt Disney Studios to produce three films for Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Films.
What Has Shelley Long Been Up To Post Cheers?
After leaving the cast of Cheers, Long appeared in the 1987 film Hello Again. More film roles followed in Troop Beverly Hills, Don’t Tell Her It’s Me, Frozen Assets (1992), The Brady Brunch Movie, and A Very S Brady Special. Her return to TT in 1990 saw Long play the title role in the television film, Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase.
In 1993, Shelley Long made a guest appearance on Cheers for the series finale which attracted an Emmy nomination. Long reprised her role as Diane Chambers in three episodes of the spin-off series Frasier, for which she received an additional guest star Emmy nomination. Her television career has continued to garner more credits on shows such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Kelly Kelly, Joan of Arcadia, Boston Legal, Modern Family, Family Guy, Switched at Birth, and Instant Mom.
Is Shelley Long Still Alive?
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Shelley Long is still alive and active in her acting career. The Cheers star’s most recent projects include the 2021 film The Cleaner and a voice role in Milo Murphy’s Law from 2017 to 2018. Nevertheless, Long has not been as active as she used to be. Check out new updates on the Cheers and Fraiser series.
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