Gary Portnoy Gary Portnoy Gary Portnoy (born June 8, 1956) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known for co-writing and performing the main theme song of the NBC sitcom "Cheers", "Where Everybody Knows Your Name". In the early 1980s, Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo set out to write a theme for "Cheers". After their first two attempts were rejected, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" was selected. Prior to that, Portnoy's songs had been recorded by various artists, including Dolly Parton's "Say Goodnight" (co-written by Susan Sheridan) and Air Supply's "I'll Never Get Enough of You" (co-written by Jeanne
Daniel A. Portnoy Foundation, and numerous honorary keynote lectures. In 2013, Portnoy's contributions were recognized by his election to the National Academy of Sciences. In 2017, Portnoy became an Elected Fellow in the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Portnoy has three children, Eleanor Sophie Portnoy (born 1996), Herschel Michael Portnoy (born 1999), and Anna Rose Portnoy (born 2001). His wife, Anna, is a conservation biologist. His father, Bernard Portnoy, M.D. (1929-2015) was a Professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at USC; his mother, Roslyn Portnoy (born 1931) lives in Dana Point, CA and sister, Deborah Brown (born 1953) lives in Sherman Oaks, CA.