Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →John Lithgow was offered the role of Frasier Crane on Cheers and turned it down. He later said he sometimes wonders about that road not taken—but also that he has few regrets, and that his six years on 3rd Rock from the Sun were a “glorious experience.”
Why John Lithgow turned down Frasier
Lithgow described the decision as a career-timing choice. In an interview with Radio Times, as reported by The Independent on December 7, 2024, he said that he was in his early Hollywood years and had received two Oscar nominations in two years. He and his agent agreed not to pursue episodic television.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Frasier: The Complete Series | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Frasier: Seasons 1-6 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Frasier (2023): Season One [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fxvL4RptL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Frasier (2023): Season One [DVD] | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Frasier: The Complete Series | $56.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Frasier (2023): Season Two [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41lZkTedhcL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Frasier (2023): Season Two [DVD] | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
“There was this chance to play a supporting role on Cheers and my agent and I agreed, ‘Let’s not think about episodic TV.’”
The official Masterworks Broadway biography also records that Lithgow was offered the part and declined it. His explanation was about the kind of work he and his agent wanted to pursue then—not a prediction about what the role would become.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
Does John Lithgow regret turning it down?
Not in the simple sense suggested by “regrets” in some headlines. Asked whether he ever thinks about the decision, Lithgow replied, “Sometimes.” He added, “I can’t help but wonder about the road not travelled,” but then qualified that reflection: “But I have so few regrets.” He singled out his six years on 3rd Rock from the Sun as a “glorious experience.”
That is a mixed, measured answer: he is curious about an alternative path, while valuing the career he actually had. It does not establish that he wishes he had accepted the part or regrets his broader choices.
Rank #2
Who played Frasier on Cheers?
Kelsey Grammer played Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers; the Television Academy’s Cheers awards archive lists Grammer in the role. Frasier later became the central character of his own NBC series. The Television Academy’s series history dates the original Frasier from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004: eleven seasons in all.
Lithgow once offered a wry thought about the alternate history. In a separate 2016 interview with The A.V. Club, he said, “Of course, if I’d been Frasier, it never would’ve been a hit series.” That was his self-deprecating speculation, not evidence of what would actually have happened if he had taken the role.
Rank #3
Lithgow’s later sitcom experience
The decision not to pursue episodic television at that point did not mean Lithgow never worked in sitcoms. He later starred in 3rd Rock from the Sun, the experience he praised in the interview. The Television Academy’s biography identifies him as a thirteen-time Emmy nominee and six-time winner, including three Emmy wins for 3rd Rock from the Sun.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Deleted Scenes; Gag Reel
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
