Nicholas Colasanto's Cause of Death? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mike22580 · 10-13-2004, 08:07 PM

Watching the 1984-1985 season of Cheers I notice that Nicholas Colasanto starts losing weight and looking more frail. Then in his final appearance which was the mail goes to jail well the final appearance before he died... he really looked like he was on death's door step... i was wondering what the actor died of or the cause of death?

Chambers · 10-13-2004, 08:14 PM

He died from heart disease. In the last season, his brain was getting less oxygen, so he had a lot of trouble remembering lines.

Brian Damage · 10-13-2004, 10:04 PM

He sure did look sick in his final season. You could see he was getting real sick.

AKA · 10-14-2004, 01:46 AM

Yeah, he definitely got frail and gaunt. Here he is in the series pilot:

And here he is in his final episode:

Brian Damage · 10-14-2004, 10:31 AM

great pics AKA

Petrie Malone · 10-15-2004, 09:23 PM

Wow! I never realized he lost that much weight!

barwars · 10-15-2004, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Petrie Malone
Wow! I never realized he lost that much weight!

That first pic is from the pilot, he didn't look that big in any other episode.... although his weight loss was very notable by Season 3.

Mike22580 · 10-17-2004, 12:33 AM

If you watch the last episode the mail goes to jail i think that was his last filmed appearane before he died with the acception of one
episode which aired out of production order and an out take at the end of season 3... if you watch the mail goes to jail you will see a sick frail Coach who can barely stand behind the bar. It's a shame to see such a great comedic actor decline.

Norm's Stool · 10-23-2004, 05:39 PM

I heard somewhere that Nicholas Colasanto died two days after shooting the episode Cheerio, Cheers, in which he actually said goodbye to Diane because she was leaving for Italy with Frasier (and from which the photo above is taken, by the way

). Was this the one episode which aired out of production order you referred to previously? The look on Shelley Long's face looks almost as if she knew he was dying shortly after that.

Rest in peace, Coach.

Norm's Stool · 10-23-2004, 05:55 PM

I heard somewhere that Nicholas Colasanto died two days after shooting the episode Cheerio, Cheers, in which he actually said goodbye to Diane because she was leaving for Italy with Frasier (and from which the photo above is taken, by the way

). Was this the one episode which aired out of production order you referred to previously? The look on Shelley Long's face looks almost as if she knew he was dying shortly after that.

Rest in peace, Coach.

Coach · 10-25-2004, 01:45 AM

I remember watching Entertainment Tonight's Cheers: Behind the Bar a few years ago and they talked about Nick's death. I remember them saying that he had been sick and as a result missed several episodes, as we all know. They said that he had stopped by the set one day and that he was feeling better and would be back on the set. Then they said that he died a couple days later.

I'm pretty sure that Cheerio, Cheers was filmed out of order, and that would explain why Coach is not seen for several episodes and then suddenly appears in this one.

As for where the outtake in the season's final episode came from originally or when it was filmed, I have no idea, although it looks like it was from much earlier on, before he started getting sick. It was nice that they still included him in season 3's finale, and to be able to see him one last time.

Norm's Stool · 10-25-2004, 12:37 PM

That makes sense, then. I heard he actually stopped by the set at some point before he died (in E! True Hollywood Story: Cheers) but I must have misunderstood it, I thought they meant that Nicholas Colasanto actually shot Cheerio, Cheers that time.

Anyway, his death was undoubtly the saddest thing that ever happened on the show, and though I like Woody very much, he would never replace the Coach's sweetness. As Ted Danson often puts it, he was the heart and soul of Cheers.

Mike22580 · 10-25-2004, 02:36 PM

Yes i agree that the episode Cheerio, Cheers, was filmed out of order because you can tell in Teachers Pet and The Mail goes to jail that they were the last filmed episodes of the comedic actor because you can see his face is very white and thin, and in the mail goes to jail he does not even move from behind the bar. I think the outtake at the end of the season was actually filmed sometime at the beginning of the 84-85 season. More or less in 1984. It was nice and suprising to see him and the end of the season... almost giving us a false hope to see him in the up and coming season... i do agree that it was not the same on the set without Coach and one can only wonder if Nicholas had lived through the whole series what it would have been like if he had lived? and Shelley had never left... would have made for some great episodes.

Norm's Stool · 10-26-2004, 12:21 PM

"The Belles of St.Clete's" was definitely shot after Nicholas Colasanto died. In that episode you can see the picture of Geronimo that the actor kept in his dressing room hanging on the back wall of the bar. I think one of the scenes of that episode (a conversation between Sam and Carla) took place in that precise spot -right next to the piano, where the picture is clearly visible- with the only purpose of acknowledging the late Nicholas Colasanto.

Chambers · 10-26-2004, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norm's Stool
"The Belles of St.Clete's" was definitely shot after Nicholas Colasanto died. In that episode you can see the picture of Geronimo that the actor kept in his dressing room hanging on the back wall of the bar. I think one of the scenes of that episode (a conversation between Sam and Carla) took place in that precise spot -right next to the piano, where the picture is clearly visible- with the only purpose of acknowledging the late Nicholas Colasanto.

When they aired the episodes out of order on Nick@Nite, I really didn't notice these details. I didn't realize that Shelley was pregnant or that Coach wasn't in some of the episodes. Everything makes a lot more sense now that I have the DVDs.

10-13-2004, 08:07 PM	#1
Mike22580 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Northeastern United States Posts: 85	Nicholas Colasanto's Cause of Death? Watching the 1984-1985 season of Cheers I notice that Nicholas Colasanto starts losing weight and looking more frail. Then in his final appearance which was the mail goes to jail well the final appearance before he died... he really looked like he was on death's door step... i was wondering what the actor died of or the cause of death?

10-13-2004, 08:14 PM	#2
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	He died from heart disease. In the last season, his brain was getting less oxygen, so he had a lot of trouble remembering lines.
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

10-13-2004, 10:04 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	He sure did look sick in his final season. You could see he was getting real sick.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-15-2004, 09:23 PM	#6
Petrie Malone Former Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 20, 2003 Location: PIB Posts: 510	Wow! I never realized he lost that much weight!
	__________________ Proud member (not a lurker) of PIB message boards!

10-23-2004, 05:39 PM	#9
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	I heard somewhere that Nicholas Colasanto died two days after shooting the episode Cheerio, Cheers, in which he actually said goodbye to Diane because she was leaving for Italy with Frasier (and from which the photo above is taken, by the way ). Was this the one episode which aired out of production order you referred to previously? The look on Shelley Long's face looks almost as if she knew he was dying shortly after that. Rest in peace, Coach.
	__________________ "These pretzels are making me thirsty"

10-14-2004, 01:46 AM	#4
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Yeah, he definitely got frail and gaunt. Here he is in the series pilot: And here he is in his final episode:

10-14-2004, 10:31 AM	#5
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	great pics AKA

10-17-2004, 12:33 AM	#8
Mike22580 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Northeastern United States Posts: 85	If you watch the last episode the mail goes to jail i think that was his last filmed appearane before he died with the acception of one episode which aired out of production order and an out take at the end of season 3... if you watch the mail goes to jail you will see a sick frail Coach who can barely stand behind the bar. It's a shame to see such a great comedic actor decline.

10-23-2004, 05:55 PM	#10
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	I heard somewhere that Nicholas Colasanto died two days after shooting the episode Cheerio, Cheers, in which he actually said goodbye to Diane because she was leaving for Italy with Frasier (and from which the photo above is taken, by the way ). Was this the one episode which aired out of production order you referred to previously? The look on Shelley Long's face looks almost as if she knew he was dying shortly after that. Rest in peace, Coach.

10-25-2004, 01:45 AM	#11
Coach Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 21, 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 45	I remember watching Entertainment Tonight's Cheers: Behind the Bar a few years ago and they talked about Nick's death. I remember them saying that he had been sick and as a result missed several episodes, as we all know. They said that he had stopped by the set one day and that he was feeling better and would be back on the set. Then they said that he died a couple days later. I'm pretty sure that Cheerio, Cheers was filmed out of order, and that would explain why Coach is not seen for several episodes and then suddenly appears in this one. As for where the outtake in the season's final episode came from originally or when it was filmed, I have no idea, although it looks like it was from much earlier on, before he started getting sick. It was nice that they still included him in season 3's finale, and to be able to see him one last time.

10-25-2004, 12:37 PM	#12
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	That makes sense, then. I heard he actually stopped by the set at some point before he died (in E! True Hollywood Story: Cheers) but I must have misunderstood it, I thought they meant that Nicholas Colasanto actually shot Cheerio, Cheers that time. Anyway, his death was undoubtly the saddest thing that ever happened on the show, and though I like Woody very much, he would never replace the Coach's sweetness. As Ted Danson often puts it, he was the heart and soul of Cheers.

10-25-2004, 02:36 PM	#13
Mike22580 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Northeastern United States Posts: 85	Yes i agree that the episode Cheerio, Cheers, was filmed out of order because you can tell in Teachers Pet and The Mail goes to jail that they were the last filmed episodes of the comedic actor because you can see his face is very white and thin, and in the mail goes to jail he does not even move from behind the bar. I think the outtake at the end of the season was actually filmed sometime at the beginning of the 84-85 season. More or less in 1984. It was nice and suprising to see him and the end of the season... almost giving us a false hope to see him in the up and coming season... i do agree that it was not the same on the set without Coach and one can only wonder if Nicholas had lived through the whole series what it would have been like if he had lived? and Shelley had never left... would have made for some great episodes.

10-26-2004, 12:21 PM	#14
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	"The Belles of St.Clete's" was definitely shot after Nicholas Colasanto died. In that episode you can see the picture of Geronimo that the actor kept in his dressing room hanging on the back wall of the bar. I think one of the scenes of that episode (a conversation between Sam and Carla) took place in that precise spot -right next to the piano, where the picture is clearly visible- with the only purpose of acknowledging the late Nicholas Colasanto.