Shelley Long’s hidden battle: Depression and life after Cheers

Shelley Long faced her share of challenges after leaving Cheers.

The star has been living a quiet life far from Hollywood’s spotlight for years.

But not long ago, photos of the rarely-seen actress surfaced.

Shelley Long’s departure from Cheers left an undeniable void in the beloved sitcom. Best known for her role as the witty and sophisticated Diane Chambers, Long earned widespread acclaim for her performance.

Over her time on the show, she received five Emmy nominations, winning in 1983 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. In addition, she took home two Golden Globe Awards for her iconic portrayal, cementing her legacy as a standout in television history.

Worked as a meal plan checker

Shelley Long, born on August 23, 1949, in the charming neighborhood of Indian Village in Fort Wayne, Indiana, had a childhood filled with promise and determination. Raised in the Presbyterian faith, she was a standout even in her teenage years. As a high school student, Shelley shone brightly on her speech team, competing in the Indiana High School Forensic Association. Her talent wasn’t just local; in 1967, she took home the National Championship in Original Oratory from the National Forensic League — a sign of her flair for performance.

After graduating high school, Shelley set her sights on drama at Northwestern University. Though she didn’t stay long enough to graduate, her time there wasn’t wasted. She worked as a meal plan checker on campus — perhaps the humblest of her early roles — before leaving academia to chase her dreams of acting and modeling.

After leaving Northwestern University to pursue her dreams, she started small, acting in television commercials and producing industrial and educational films. But Shelley’s charisma soon opened bigger doors.

She didn’t chose comedy, comedy chose her

In the late 1970s, she became the host of a news magazine show on Chicago television, a role that earned her three local Emmy Awards. Yet, despite her success, Long felt something was missing.

“It wasn’t until I got a little oats about missing acting that I decided to take a class at Second City,” she shared with Asbury Park Press.

That decision was transformative. The class led to an invitation to join the legendary comedy troupe, The Second City, whose alumni include Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Barbara Harris, and John Belushi. Long felt right at home.

“I didn’t choose comedy. I felt that comedy chose me, and I feel grateful that it did,” she said.

After honing her comedic chops, Long transitioned to film. She landed roles in Caveman (starring alongside Ringo Starr), Losin’ It (an early Tom Cruise film), and Night Shift (with Michael Keaton). She even made a guest appearance as Nurse Mendenhall in an episode of MASH.

Interestingly, Long turned down the chance to play Mary, the mother in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, because she had already committed to Night Shift.

The truth about her wig in Cheers

In 1982, Shelley Long took on the role that would define her career: Diane Chambers in the sitcom Cheers. Diane, a flighty, pseudo-intellectual barmaid, quickly became a fan favorite. While the show had a slow start, it eventually became one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time.

Long’s portrayal of Diane earned her critical acclaim, including an Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Shelley Long brought some fascinating trivia to her time on Cheers. To protect her hair from the hot studio lights, she opted to wear a wig during filming. Additionally, she wrapped up shooting the third season while eight months pregnant with her daughter, Juliana Long Tyson.

Tensions on set

After five seasons, Long made the surprising decision to leave the show in 1987.

Amid her departure, rumors swirled about a potential return, her relationship with her replacement Kirstie Alley, and tensions with co-star Ted Danson. Long remained tight-lipped at the time, but years later, Ted Danson shed some light on the dynamics.

“There was tension between us but never at a personal level—always at a work level because we had different modes of working,” Danson explained in a Cheers biography documentary.

”I ain’t gonna say anything bad about my partner. I mean, my wife and I have terrible arguments sometimes, and they’re kind of our business. Our relationship, Shelley’s and mine, has included not being happy with each other and being happy with each other,” Danson told People in 1987.

Why did Shelley Long leave Cheers

Long herself reflected on her time as Diane, admitting she had more in common with the character than she might have liked to acknowledge. Still, she often carried the show with her performances, which balanced humor and vulnerability.

In a 2003 interview with Graham Norton, Long shared that her departure from Cheers was motivated by a desire to spend more time with her daughter.

“Working at Cheers was a dream come true,” she said. “It was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. So, yes, I missed it, but I never regretted that decision.”

”I had a two-year-old baby, and I wanted to spend more time with my family…And I did spend more time with my family. It was a good decision.”

She elaborated further in 2007, saying, “I didn’t want to keep doing the same episode over and over again and the same story. I didn’t want it to become old and stale.”

Her bond with co-star Nicholas Colasanto

Despite the challenges, Long spoke fondly of her time on Cheers, particularly her bond with co-star Nicholas Colasanto, who played Coach. “He was one of my closest friends on set,” she shared.

For Long, Cheers wasn’t just a job; it was a defining chapter in her career and life. And though she moved on, her impact on the show — and the hearts of its fans —remains undeniable.

”The ‘Cheers’ writers were the finest in television. But I felt like I was repeating myself; it bothered me a little bit. And I was getting movie offers, which made people think, ‘Oh, she’s so snooty. She thinks she’s going to do movies,” Shelley said.

What happened to Shelley Long after Cheers?

After leaving Cheers, Shelley Long’s first major project was the comedy Hello Again, where she played a housewife miraculously brought back from the dead.

She followed this with Troop Beverly Hills, a lighthearted film about a glamorous Beverly Hills housewife who takes on the challenge of leading a troop of privileged Girl Scouts. Unfortunately, neither film resonated with critics or found much success at the box office.

In the 1990s, Shelley Long remained busy in Hollywood, taking on roles in factual miniseries, romantic comedies, TV dramas, and feature films. One notable project was the 1992 film A Message from Holly, where she starred alongside Lindsay Wagner. She also made a celebrated return to Cheers for its series finale in 1993, reprising her role as Diane Chambers. Her performance earned her another Emmy nomination, and she later revisited the character in a few episodes of the Cheers spinoff series Frasier, starring Kelsey Grammer.

Despite these high points, Long’s career gradually slowed. She took on a recurring role as DeDe Pritchett, the eccentric ex-wife of Jay Pritchett, on ABC’s hit sitcom Modern Family.

She also appeared in TV films like Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door and Holiday Engagement, a heartwarming Christmas movie where she played the mother of the protagonist. The story revolves around a young woman who hires a fake fiancé to impress her family during the holidays, leading to comedic and touching moments.

Struggled with depression

In 2016, Long stepped into a producer role while also acting in the indie feature film Different Flowers. However, in recent years, her acting activity has dwindled, with her last credited appearance being in the 2021 film The Cleaner.

Outside of her career, Shelley Long has faced personal challenges as well. Reports surfaced years ago suggesting that she struggled with depression, reportedly triggered by the end of her 22-year marriage to Bruce Tyson, who decided to leave the relationship. According to the New York Post, which spoke with Bruce Tyson at the time of their divorce, Shelley was rushed to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles after taking an overdose of painkillers.

Shelley Long husband

Shelley Long first met Bruce Tyson, a securities broker, on a blind date in 1979. They married in 1981 and welcomed a daughter, Juliana.

However, the couple separated in 2003 and divorced in 2004. As per the New York Post, Long had to leave her posh home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles when it was sold.

All about Shelley Long’s daughter

Shelley Long’s only child, Juliana, often goes by her nickname ”Juju”.

But she didn’t get the moniker from her mother. According to her bio on the Good Juju Ink website, the nickname came from her younger half-sister, who, as a toddler, found it to be the most natural way to say her name.

Now 39 years old, Juliana is happily married and thriving with a successful business and a range of creative projects to her name. She has even ventured into acting, following in her mother’s footsteps with a few roles that showcase her talent.

After graduating with a degree in Theatre from the University of Southern California, Juliana made her television debut with a role on the CW’s show Privileged, where she played the character Victoria Taylor in one episode.

Dear Insomnia, I hate you. #tweetsfromasleeplesstwit #special pic.twitter.com/zRPuTqV4

— Juliana Long Tyson (@jujuintheraw) January 24, 2013

Juliana and her husband, Ryan, tied the knot on September 28, 2015. According to their wedding website, the pair first crossed paths at the age of 3, growing up as neighbors in Pacific Palisades, California.

According to IMDb, Juliana welcomed a daughter, Josephine Belle Kissick, affectionately called Jo, in 2019. Although Juliana keeps her family life private on social media, her Instagram bio reveals “Josephine & Caspian’s mama,” indicating she has also become a mom to a son. This makes Shelley Long a proud grandmother!

Shelley Long today: Keeping a low profile

Today, Shelley Long has stepped back from the spotlight in recent years, which may be partly due to health challenges. She currently resides in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, keeping a low profile and rarely leaving her home, according to neighbors.

Interestingly, Long was notably absent from the Emmys stage last January when her former Cheers co-stars, including George Wendt, reunited around a recreated set of the show’s iconic bar.

In December, new photos of Long emerged, showing her out for a walk with an unidentified male companion. It seemed like an ordinary stroll, but she sported an interesting look look: a bedazzled gray baseball cap, a gray L.L. Bean zip-up, a black turtleneck, and gray sweatpants.

Shelley Long net worth

Shelley Long, an American actress, has a net worth of $5 million.

While that’s significantly less than some of her former Cheers co-stars, Long still maintains a solid financial footing. To illustrate just how big Cheers was during its heyday—and how prominent the cast became — consider this: during the final seasons, Ted Danson was the highest-paid actor on television, earning a staggering $450,000 per episode.

That amounts to around $12 million per season for Seasons 9, 10, and 11! While Shelley’s per-episode salary was significantly lower than Ted’s, it’s clear NBC had plenty of money to throw around, and Long undoubtedly received her fair share of the pie.

Shelley Long’s journey may have taken unexpected turns, but her legacy as a talented actress and cherished ’80s icon remains timeless. Her impact on television, especially through Cheers, continues to bring joy to fans old and new, reminding us all of the beauty in every stage of life!