John Ratzenberger: From Cliff Clavin to Hamm — 30 Years Inside Toy Story

In this nostalgic and fun-filled episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, actor and legendary voice performer John Ratzenberger joins Gentry to talk about his return to the world of Pixar in Toy Story 5. The new film brings the beloved toys back for a fresh adventure where classic, old-fashioned playthings face off against modern technology. Disney describes the story as “Toy meets Tech,” with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang navigating a world where screens and gadgets are changing the way kids play.

Fans can watch the official trailer here: Toy Story 5 Official Trailer
Fans can get tickets and showtimes here: Toy Story 5 Tickets

John and Gentry dive into his long history with Pixar, where Ratzenberger became a fan favorite through memorable roles across the studio’s films. He talks about the craft of voice acting, how he approaches animated characters, and what makes bringing a toy, bug, monster, car, or character to life so different from live-action performance.

The two also have fun talking about their favorite childhood toys and how Toy Story 5 taps into a question every generation can relate to: what happens when the toys we grew up loving have to compete with the newest technology?

Of course, no conversation with John Ratzenberger would be complete without talking about Cheers. John reflects on playing the unforgettable Cliff Clavin, what it was like being part of one of television’s most beloved sitcoms, and how that character still lives on with fans today.

Fans can revisit Cliff Clavin moments from Cheers here: Cliff Clavin Doing Stand-up 

From Pixar memories and voice acting secrets to Cheers, childhood nostalgia, and the future of play, this episode is packed with stories from one of entertainment’s most recognizable voices.