In which season did Shelley Long leave Cheers?

Shelley Long left Cheers after season 5. She played Diane Chambers from the sitcom’s 1982 premiere through the fifth-season finale, “I Do, Adieu,” which aired in 1987.

Diane’s departure ended the show’s central Sam-and-Diane relationship. In the finale, Diane leaves Boston to pursue her writing career rather than marry Sam Malone. The storyline allowed the series to continue without pretending that Diane had simply disappeared, while also opening the door for a new female lead.

Long’s exit was connected to her decision to pursue film work and spend more time with her family. Cheers continued with Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, whose personality and relationship with Sam differed substantially from Diane’s. A common mistake is naming season 6 because Long was absent from that season; however, season 5 is the last season in which she was a regular cast member. She later returned briefly as Diane for the Cheers finale and appeared in several episodes of Frasier.