Beloved Cheers and Space Jam actor Michael Alaimo dies aged 86
His daughter, Gabriella Alaimo Thomas, confirmed his death, noting he passed away peacefully on May 2 in Burbank, California. No cause of death was disclosed.
Alaimo built a long, varied résumé in Hollywood, marked by memorable turns in film, television, and theater.
Though never a household name, he became a familiar face to generations of viewers, thanks to a steady stream of supporting roles.
One of his most widely seen performances came in the 1996 cult hit Space Jam, where he appeared opposite Michael Jordan as the team doctor.
Earlier in his career, Alaimo had roles in socially resonant films like The China Syndrome (1979), a nuclear meltdown thriller that mirrored real-world anxieties.
He also worked on a variety of genre films in the late 1960s and early 70s, including Graffiti (1969) and Come Play with Me (1968), often appearing in low-budget, adult-oriented features that later developed cult followings.
On television, Alaimo made appearances on numerous iconic shows throughout the 1980s.
He guest-starred on Cheers in a 1985 episode titled 2 Good 2 Be 4 Real, playing the role of Vinnie Claussen. The appearance came during the show's acclaimed fourth season. More Trending
Other TV credits included Dynasty, Night Court, Hill Street Blues, ALF, Mr. Belvedere, and The Paper Chase.
He also played Mr. Radford on Scrubs in 2004, along with parts on The Drew Carey Show in 1997 and The Wonder Years in 1992.
Alaimo also appeared in films including the 1989 Tony Danza comedy She's Out of Control and 1983's Mr. Mom, which starred Michael Keaton and the late Teri Garr.
The actor is survived by his wife Louise; daughters Gabriella and Giovanna; son-in-law David; and granddaughters Isabella and Malia.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
For more stories like this, check our entertainment page.
Follow Metro.co.uk Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
MORE: Dropout Kings singer Adam Ramey dies aged 32 after 'painful battle with addiction'
MORE: Ted Danson 'devastated' after Cheers co-star George Wendt dies aged 76
MORE: Doctor Who and Coronation Street star Michael McStay dies aged 92 as family pay tribute
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
11 hours ago
- Metro
Man wrongly accused of felling Sycamore Gap tree 'wears Rod Stewart wig' to hide
A man who was arrested over the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree says he's taken unusual measures to avoid public abuse. Walter Renwick, a lumberjack, was arrested the day after the popular tree was felled in September 2023. The 70ft tree – which featured in 1991 Kevin Costner movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – sat in a gap in Hadrian's Wall and was one of the most beloved trees in the UK. But it was chopped down in the middle of the night. Two friends, called 'moronic' by a judge, have been found guilty of criminal damage over the felling. Mr Renwick, 69, was released without charge by December 2023. He spoke out at the time, saying he was not 'stupid' enough to cut down the tree – but it public outcry against the tree felling means Mr Renwick is still associated with the Sycamore Gap. Speaking to the BBC yesterday, he described his home in Northumberland being searched as 'heartbreaking' and said he would be pointed out in the street. Mr Renwick of the police searches: 'There were police everywhere, drones flying around the valley, divers in the lake, they were 100% certain I'd done it. 'Every time I went shopping in Haltwhistle or Hexham, people were nudging each other and saying 'that's him that cut the tree down', stuff like that. 'I know it was daft but I put a Rod Stewart wig on so people didn't spot me.' Months before the Sycamore Gap tree was felled, Mr Renwick had been evicted from Plankey Mill Farm near Bardon Mill, just a few miles from Hadrian's Wall. The tenancy held by his grandfather and father had not passed to him – and this led to online sleuths suggesting the eviction was his motivation for chopping down the tree. 'I'd just lost everything I had, my cows, my sheep, my parents' stuff. I'd lost my home and then this,' Mr Renwick said. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, were both found guilty by an unanimous jury of criminal damage at Newcastle crown court in May. More Trending Discussing the true culprits, Mr Renwick said: 'I just keep asking myself why they did it. 'Was it just attention seeking? I don't know what it was but, for me at least, it's over. 'Actually, you know, the tree, that was one thing. But losing my farm. That was the thing that hurt most of all.' Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Dad given quad bike trip over 'smelly' room suing Tui for £500,000 after crashing MORE: Paedophile who raped a six-year-old girl to be surgically castrated MORE: Mum spared jail after hiding bodies of two stillborn babies at home for years
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
James Martin reveals extra precautions to protect himself after London attack
James Martin has revealed the extreme lengths he has taken to protect himself after thieves smashed up his car in broad daylight. The ITV chef recently declared that 'London is broken' after the windscreen of his car was smashed in. In a post on Instagram, the 52-year-old shared a photo of his car with the caption: 'So in a week two of my friends cars got stolen. 'One other mate got mugged and now I had this happen all in broad daylight all in central London. London is broken big time.' Now, however, Martin has taken a step further by sharing a picture of his dogs, a Belgian Malinois, in a 'working dog' harness. Alongside the image, he captioned the post by simply saying: 'London.' After sharing what had happened on his miserable morning, fans rallied round the star, sharing kind words on the post. Joanne Lokwiya wrote, 'So sorry this has happened to you. The whole of the UK is the same, the laws need to change and we need more police on the streets'. 'This is so sad, what once was an incredible capital city is now a centre for crime, ' added Sarah O'Sullivan. Catherine Evans, meanwhile, said, 'This is so sad, what once was an incredible capital city is now a centre for crime'. This comes after the TV personality revealed his secret health battle that is making his ITV role 'really difficult'. The 52-year-old said he finds it easier to cook and chat with the guests on his shows than do any formal hosting because he has 'severe' dyslexia. As a result, the language processing disorder makes it hard for him to read an autocue. Appearing on Kaye Adams' BBC Radio Scotland show, he praised her work and said: 'I'm watching you do your thing while I'm listening to music play and you're like a conductor. More Trending 'I can't do what you do and I certainly can't when I've been on Loose Women with you as well.' He complimented: 'I certainly admire anyone who's able to do that.' As well as presenting his cooking show, the 52-year-old has presented James Martin's Great British Adventure, Islands to Highlands and James Martin's French Adventure. View More » He has also published more than 20 best-selling cook books. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Is Preston vs Liverpool on TV today? Kick-off time and team news MORE: When are Coronation Street and Emmerdale back on TV? MORE: Ryan Reynolds' lost TV series that made him a star hits streaming
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott bring a touch of Hollywood to Wimbledon final
This year's Wimbledon championship has seen some dazzling tennis and even better weather. The men's singles competition is set to conclude today with Jannik Sinner aiming to deny Carlos Alcaraz a third straight title. If today's final is anything similar to their last encounter at the French Open, fans should be in for spellbinding afternoon. But moving beyond the tennis, which stars will be on centre court today? So far at Wimbledon, we have seen the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, David Beckham and Brad Pitt soak up the action on centre court. To find out who has been invited to the coveted Royal Box today, read below to find out more. On Sunday July 13, the day of the men's finals, a mixture of Hollywood A-listers and royalty will witness today's thrilling final. Both the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be in attendance. More Trending Joining them is fellow royal King Felipe VI of Spain, along with Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Three former Wimbledon champions in Chris Evert, Stefan Edburg and Andre Agassi will also be on centre court. Alongside them, former track cyclist and six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy will be there. View More » Rounding out the list of star-studded celebrities are actors Nicole Kidman, Keira Knightley, Matthew McConaughey and Normal People star Paul Mescal. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Why are there no line judges at Wimbledon 2025 and how does electronic line calling work? MORE: Wimbledon 2025 prize money: How much will Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner get as winner? MORE: Why was Jannik Sinner banned from tennis? Italian's doping suspension explained
