Loretta Tortelli - Esther Clavin

Esther Clavin

Cliff's overprotective mother. It is first mentioned in Season 3 that Cliff lives with his mother, for which the other barflies often mocked him. In the episode "Coach in Love Part 2" (Season 3), Cliff's mother is first heard in a voice-over at Cliff's house. When she asked if she could stop by and meet the gang, Cliff whispered under his breath "When hell freezes over". Regardless, Esther showed up at the bar in Season 5, when Cliff tries to set her up with a wealthy Cheers patron. She appeared numerous times afterward, through to the final season.

In the episode "Last Angry Mailman" (Season 6), it was revealed that Cliff, contrary to his usual know-it-all personality at the bar, is actually quiet at home, and his mother is actually "the real yapper in the family". Cliff, after listening to his mother drone on and on, shares his mother's knowledge with the gang at the bar. This gives the gang the source of all Cliff's "knowledge" and the font from which it came. This gives them valuable insight into Cliff's infamous know-it-all personality.

After meeting Cliff's mother, Frasier Crane remarks that he's beginning to see that Cliff is actually almost heroically well-adjusted.

Esther Clavin was played by Frances Sternhagen.