Before American actor Woody Harrelson was known for his film career, he had already gained popularity as Woody Boyd (a dim-witted bartender) on the 1980s classic sitcom Cheers.
When Harrelson was 23, he wasn’t entirely convinced about joining television at that time. It’s because he didn’t like its quality in comparison to the films, but he still auditioned for the TV role.
Then Harrelson faced another hardship because, during Cheers, the young actor couldn’t get another job. So, he thought it was just the end of his career.
Woody Harrelson Was Worried About His Acting Career’s Fate Post-Famous Sitcom Role
Woody Harrelson shared that his audition for Cheers effectively convinced the casting director of his suitability for the role. Despite initially not expecting to be part of the show (or even on TV), it became a defining era in his life.
But moving from TV to film wasn’t smooth for Harrelson. The actor faced challenges in establishing himself as a movie star. The 62-years-old once told MovieHole:
“Well for six years during Cheers I couldn’t get another job. So I was getting to the mindset of, ‘Wow, so this is it. I thought the career was just starting and apparently it’s just over.’ Fortunately then, I got a role in Doc Hollywood and then White Men Can’t Jump. Those I was doing during my hiatus from Cheers, and then I did Indecent Proposal during my last hiatus. And then Indecent Proposal came out literally the day after we wrapped Cheers. And then I started work on Natural Born Killers.”
Because of the sitcom, his movie career also thrived later. Harrelson stayed with the hit show for all 11 seasons throughout.
Woody Harrelson Took a Long Break From Acting After Cheers
Woody Harrelson realized the pitfalls of fame post-Cheers. No doubt, he found success from the sitcom and following film roles, but that wasn’t enough for him. He sought more meaning in his film career. But as he got more, he felt more unfulfilled. Harrelson once told the LA Times:
“In Hollywood, whatever you have, it is never enough. I was on Cheers,doing as well as some people can ever hope. Yet I wanted more–wanted to do movies. Then maybe I want to direct movies, succeed in music, as a playwright. It’s all about this self-destructive desire, self-destructive in the sense it never allows you to be comfortable hanging out having a conversation.”
After this, for his mental health, Harrelson took a long break from acting. The Kingpin star reflected on his decision to take a break from acting after the end of Cheers and a series of demanding projects — including a self-directed play and films like Natural Born Killers and Cowboy Way.
He decided to step back and then moved to Costa Rica. The Hollywood actor took the year 1994 off with uncertain plans for the future.
