Actor uses stick to fight disease

Tim Graham

Tuesday, May 20, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

IT took some prodding, but he finally remembered. A few years ago he passed out on the pool table in the back room. One of the barmaids took advantage.

When he came to and stumbled back to the bar, cue stick in hand, his face was a hilariously hideous mishmash of lipstick, blush, mascara and eye shadow. Carla had embarrassed Cliff Clavin again.

"I have a long association with pool tables," said John Ratzenberger, the actor who gained fame as Clavin, the know-it-all mailman from the hit NBC sitcom "Cheers," a Thursday-night staple from 1982-93.

Ratzenberger plans to continue his green-felt relationship and will use it in Las Vegas to raise money for a cause he's too familiar with.

He was at the Riviera Monday to promote the upcoming John Ratzenberger Celebrity 8-ball Classic, which will take place on Sunday, June 1 at 6 p.m. in the hotel's Top of the Riv showroom. The event, featuring more than 100 sports and entertainment personalities, will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Ratzenberger's 9-year-old son, Jim, is diabetic.

"Diabetes is something you don't have a choice about," Ratzenberger said. "We didn't join this cause; this cause joined us."

For a $10 donation, fans can witness the snookering of Ratzenberger's old "Cheers" castmates: Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Kirstie Alley and Rhea Pearlman, as well as film stars Charlie Sheen, Paul and Mira Sorvino and Quentin Tarentino.

Players from the sports world include former UNLV and NBA hoops star Reggie Theus, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Del Harris, former Laker cult hero Kurt Rambis, assorted Los Angeles Clippers and football Hall of Famer John Mackey.

Ratzenberger is toying with the idea of turning the Classic into a touring event.

"I would like to do this in other major cities. Everybody plays pool and it's an event where weather isn't a factor," said the veteran of nearly 30 motion pictures, including blockbusters such as "Gandhi," "A Bridge Too Far," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Superman" and "Toy Story."

"I want to raise as much money as I can to find a cure for diabetes. This is all I will do until this disease is cured."

The competition nearly started Monday. With the Southern Nevada 9-ball tournament taking place a few tables away, Ratzenberger took a few shots for publicity photos. Not two minutes after breaking the rack, several toughs sought to put the actor in his place.

Ratzenberger was unable to accept their challenges. Recent foot surgery left him painfully hobbled.

Normally, though, Ratzenberger wouldn't hesitate. With a pool table in his Seattle office, he plays daily and gets heavy-duty action. He currently is playing a best-of-100-games series against Largo Entertainment chief Barr Potter.

"The games get so intense, the building could burn down and the firemen would have to drag us out," Ratzenberger said. "I've never experienced anything like it. The room just disappears. Your whole focus is on that table."