The character, Frasier Crane, was created in the third season of Cheers (1984 -- 1985) by series creators Glen and Les Charles as Diane Chambers 's (Shelley Long) "romantic and intellectual ideal '' following her breakup with Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Not only Sam Malone 's rival and opposite, Frasier Crane was also part of the love triangle, "a different form to the Sam - Diane relationship, '' said Glen Charles. The show 's writers initially conceived the character as "the role Ralph Bellamy used to play in Cary Grant movies -- the guy the lady falls in love with, but is not real. You just know he does n't have the sexual dynamism Grant does. '' John Lithgow was originally chosen by Cheers producers for the role, but turned it down. Grammer believed that he had failed the audition because no one laughed, but was chosen because of the quality of his performance with Danson. Frasier was supposed to only appear on a few episodes before Diane left him, but Grammer 's performance was praised by series executives, leading to an extended role in the series. His character was not universally popular, however, for coming between Sam and Diane; a fan approached Grammer asking "Are you that pin dick that plays Frasier? '', and the show received fan mail denouncing Grammer.
who was the role of frazier crane written for
John Lithgow