Shelley Long was on Cheers for the show’s first five seasons, from 1982 until she left in 1987. She returned for the series finale in 1993.

Quick Scoop

  • She played Diane Chambers from 1982 to 1987.
  • That means she was a main cast member for five seasons.
  • She briefly came back for the final episode in 1993.

Here’s the simple version: she was on the show long enough to become one of its defining stars, then left before the later seasons took off.