Shelley Long Net Worth: The Cheers Star’s Career, Life, and Family

Shelley Long is a name forever linked with charm, wit, and timeless TV history. Best remembered for her Emmy-winning role as Diane Chambers on the classic sitcom Cheers, Shelley has led a long, interesting career in Hollywood. While she may not be in the spotlight today, her legacy lives on—and so does her financial story. So how much is Shelley Long worth in 2025? The answer: about $3 million.

Let’s take a closer look at how Shelley built her wealth, from her early days in Indiana to her roles in major TV shows and movies.

Early Life and Humble Beginnings

Shelley Long was born on August 23, 1949, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She grew up in a household led by educators. Her father was a teacher and her mother taught at school too. From a young age, Shelley had a love for speech and storytelling. At South Side High School, she competed in speech contests and even won the National Forensic League Championship in Original Oratory in 1967.

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Shelley went on to study drama at Northwestern University. But college didn’t hold her for long. She dropped out to pursue acting and modeling, starting her career in Chicago.

Breaking Into the Entertainment World

During the 1970s, Shelley joined the famous Second City comedy group. She also worked on a local Chicago TV show called Sorting it Out, which she helped write and co-host. At the same time, she acted in TV commercials and small parts in shows like The Love Boat, Trapper John, M.D., and MASH*. These roles helped her gain experience, even if they didn’t yet make her a household name.

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The Big Break: Cheers

In 1982, Shelley Long got the role that would define her career—Diane Chambers on Cheers. The show took place in a Boston bar and followed the lives of its quirky staff and patrons. Shelley played Diane, a sophisticated and intellectual waitress who had a love-hate romance with bar owner Sam Malone, played by Ted Danson.

At first, Cheers didn’t do well in the ratings. But it soon became a huge hit. Shelley’s performance earned her five Emmy nominations, with a win in 1983. She also won two Golden Globe Awards for her role. Shelley left the show in 1987, after five seasons. She later said the decision was based on her desire to explore new material and spend more time with her daughter.

Even after she left Cheers, Shelley returned to the role a few more times, including a special appearance in the series finale in 1993 and a few guest spots on the spinoff Frasier.

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Television Career After Cheers

Shelley continued to act in television for many years after leaving Cheers. In 1990, she starred in Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase, playing a woman with dissociative identity disorder. Her performance won praise for its emotional depth.

In 1992, she played the lead in Fatal Memories, a TV movie based on the true story of Eileen Franklin. In this role, Shelley portrayed a woman working to bring her abusive father to justice.

From 1993 to 1994, she starred alongside Treat Williams in the sitcom Good Advice. And in 1996, she made a memorable guest appearance on Frasier that earned her another Emmy nomination.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Shelley appeared in numerous TV shows and made-for-TV movies. These included Boston Common, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Diagnosis: Murder, Joan of Arcadia, and Boston Legal.

One of her most well-known modern roles was playing DeDe Pritchett, the ex-wife of Jay (Ed O’Neill), on Modern Family. She appeared on and off from 2009 to 2018, adding another beloved show to her résumé.

Film Career Highlights

Shelley made her film debut in 1980 with A Small Circle of Friends. She quickly moved on to comedies, where her talents truly shined. Some of her most famous film roles include:

• Night Shift (1982)
• The Money Pit (1986) with Tom Hanks
• Troop Beverly Hills (1989)
• Irreconcilable Differences (1984), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination
• The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and A Very Brady Sequel (1996)

In the 2000s, she was in Robert Altman’s Dr. T & the Women, alongside Richard Gere and Helen Hunt. She also appeared in smaller films like Trust Me, Pizza Man, and Different Flowers, which she also produced.

Personal Life and Family

Shelley married twice. Her first marriage, to Ken Solomon in the 1970s, ended in divorce. In 1981, she married Bruce Tyson, a securities broker. The couple had one daughter, Juliana. They later divorced in 2004.

Despite her fame, Shelley has kept much of her personal life quiet. She’s known for being private and focused on her family.

Real Estate and Assets

One of Shelley’s lasting investments is a condo in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. She bought the property in 1994 for $335,000. As of 2025, the condo is estimated to be worth around $1.5 million. Shelley still owns the home today, which gives her added stability in her retirement.

Shelley Long’s Net Worth

Shelley Long’s net worth is currently estimated at $3 million. While that may seem modest compared to some Hollywood stars, it reflects a steady career with smart decisions. Most of her wealth comes from her work on Cheers and other long-running television projects. Royalties and appearances likely still bring in income. Add to that her real estate and production credits, and it’s clear Shelley has managed her money well.