Wissenswertes

The only person to voice a character in all of Pixar Animation's feature films: as Hamm in Toy Story (1995), PT Flea in Das große Krabbeln (1998), Hamm again in Toy Story 2 (1999), Abominable Snowman in Die Monster AG (2001), Fish School in Findet Nemo (2003), Underminer in Die Unglaublichen (2004), Mack in Cars (2006), Mustafa in Ratatouille (2007), John in WALL·E - Der Letzte räumt die Erde auf (2008), Construction Foreman Tom in Oben (2009), Hamm in Toy Story 3 (2010), Mack in Cars 2 (2011), Gordon in Merida - Legende der Highlands (2012), Yeti in Die Monster Uni (2013), Fritz in Alles steht Kopf (2015), and Earl in Arlo & Spot (2015).

In late 2000, he went to the Supreme Court with Cheers (1982) co-star George Wendt to get control of their characters (Cliff and Norm), which are wanted to be used for commercials for Cheers-like airport bars. Wendt and Ratzenberger say they created their characters and do not want them exploited.

Attended and helped construct the stage at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Recalls that an unpopular National Guard became vital emergency personnel of the event - distributing water and food to the hundreds of thousands of attendees.

He formed the non-profit Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation, whose mission is to "Give children tools and watch them build America.".

Only Cheers (1982) cast member to have actually lived in Boston -- specifically, the "Combat Zone" red-light district.

Along with George Wendt, Richard Belzer and Paul Fusco, he is one of only four actors to play the same character (Clifford C. 'Cliff' Clavin, Jr.) in six different series: Cheers (1982), Chefarzt Dr. Westphall (1982), The Tortellis (1987), Überflieger (1990), Die Simpsons (1989) and Frasier (1993). He appeared in all six series with George Wendt.

The trading card for his Star Wars: Episode V - Das Imperium schlägt zurück (1980) character, Bren Derlin, says that "At the Mos Eisley Cantina, everybody knows his name." Derlin is never seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina. This is an inside joke about his character Cliff Clavin the mailman, who frequents Cheers, "where everybody knows your name".

P.T. Flea in A Bug's Life (1998) is his favorite role that he's done for Pixar.

Spent his early years in London where he was once an assistant to a tree surgeon.

Co-wrote two British TV plays and directed several episodes of Cheers (1982).

When last registered, he was a red belt, in karate.

His speaking role in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982), was dubbed by Martin Sheen. Later he went on to become a trademark voice for Pixar Studios.

Has been called 'Ratz' by the crew of Cheers (1982), as there was a few too many people named 'John' working on it.

Active in the pro-ecological movement, he was owner and operator of Eco-Pak, a conservation-conscious packaging company.

He is a father of two children. One son, named James John born in 1987 and one daughter, Nina Katherine born in 1989.

As of 2016, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Ein Mann kämpft für Gerechtigkeit (1981), Gandhi (1982), Oben (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010). Of those, Gandhi (1982) is a winner in the category.

He does not, as believed by some, play the bagpipes but in fact plays snare drum for a pipe band called "Gold Coast Pipe Band" in which he was among the founding members.

He has appeared in four films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Superman - Der Film (1978), Star Wars: Episode V - Das Imperium schlägt zurück (1980), Toy Story (1995) and WALL·E - Der Letzte räumt die Erde auf (2008).

For some unknown reason he did not voice a character in Pixar's 24th Film Luca despite the fact that he voices a character in all Pixar Films. This was confirmed by Luca's director Enrico Casarosa.

His father was of Austrian and Hungarian descent, and his mother was of Polish ancestry.

In 1971, he founded the improv comedy duo "Sal's Meat Market" with Ray Hassett.

Holds belts in Tang soo do, a korean version of karate and one of the parent arts of taekwondo.

He was buried alive up to his neck in Hotel zur Hölle (1980), as was his future Cheers (1982) co-star Ted Danson in Die unheimlich verrückte Geisterstunde (1982) two years later.

He appeared in four films with Gene Hackman: Die Brücke von Arnheim (1977), Superman - Der Film (1978), Superman II: Allein gegen alle (1980) and Ein Mann kämpft für Gerechtigkeit (1981).

Center for America senior fellow.

Appeared in a commercial for "Quality" hotels. (2010)

He has the distinction of having appeared in the most Osacar-winning films of any actor---15.