Diane Chambers
| Diane Chambers | |
|---|---|
| Cheers character | |
Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) waitressing while carrying a heavy load of drinks in "Sam's Women" (episode 2, 1982)
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| First appearance |
Cheers: "Give Me a Ring Sometime" (season 1, episode 1) |
| Last appearance |
Frasier: "The Show Where Diane Comes Back" (in-person) "Don Juan in Hell" (fantasy) |
| Portrayed by | Shelley Long |
| Information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Waitress (1982–1987) Writer (1987–present) |
| Family | Spencer Chambers (father) Helen Chambers (mother) |
| Significant other(s) |
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| Nationality | American |
Diane Chambers is a fictional character in the American television situation comedy show Cheers. Portrayed by Shelley Long, Diane appeared as one of the show's main characters up until its fifth season finale, "I Do, Adieu". She also appeared as a guest character in the series finale, "One for the Road", and in three episodes of the Cheers spin-off Frasier. Throughout her time on the program, Diane has an on-off relationship with the womanizing bartender Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and a one-year relationship with Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer).
According to Shelley Long, Diane looks more intelligent than she really is. She uses books and academics to communicate with others, usually unsuccessfully. After a series of events which bring her scorn and ridicule, Diane realizes that she knows little about the real world and the bar, and must learn about the world without using books.
Wendie Malick auditioned for the role of Diane; she later appeared in Frasier as Ronny Lawrence.Bess Armstrong was offered a role, but she turned it down. Long, Lisa Eichhorn, and Julia Duffy were the producers' top three considerations for the role.NBC executives praised test scenes between Long and Danson, so the creators chose Long. Julia Duffy later appeared as one of Diane's friends in "Any Friend of Diane's", a 1982 episode of Cheers.
Diane is full of gumption and chutzpah, but quite frequently, she doesn't have the vaguest idea [about] what's going on. However, the producers are cooperative, [and] they have agreed Diane will change. One of my fears of television is 'Do I want to play the same character seven, eight, maybe 10 years?' But it wouldn't be that bad because Diane has a lot of room to grow and still be funny. It's because she cares so deeply.
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