Sunday, 01 June 2025

Beloved ‘Cheers’ Actor Passes Away At Age 76

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On Tuesday, actor George Wendt passed away at the age of 76.

He was best-known for his role as Norm Peterson — or, simply Norm — on the TV show Cheers.

George Wendt was also the son of a WWII Captain.

The U.S. Naval Institute shared:

NBC released a statement on his death and the impact his character had:

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Watching him walk through that door and head to his barstool, America couldn’t wait to say hi to Norm every Thursday night. George Wendt was an essential part of the genius of ‘Cheers’ and he will be missed by the millions who loved him. Norm was all of us. A regular guy who finished his hardworking day wanting to be surrounded by friends and a frosty beverage. We’re proud to raise a glass and toast a true comedy legend.

George Wendt’s death was easy and peaceful.

His family says he passed away in his sleep.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at home, his family confirmed early Tuesday morning.

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a rep for Wendt said in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”

Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side, Wendt got his start in the 1970s with Second City, the famed improvisational comedy troupe that was based in his hometown.

Later, he popped up on Saturday Night Live as Bob Swerski, one of the “superfans” who gathered at Coach Mike Ditka’s restaurant in the Windy City to watch “Da Bears.”

Wendt appeared in movies including Dreamscape (1984), House (1985), Fletch (1985), Gung Ho (1986), Plains Clothes (1987), Never Say Die (1988), Guilty by Suspicion (1991), Forever Young (1992) and Spice World (1997).

He also played the grumpy father of a son (Macaulay Culkin) who likes his music loud in Michael Jackson’s 1991 “Black or White” music video, directed by Jon Landis.

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Survivors include his nephew Jason Sudeikis, the only son of one of his six sisters.

Wendt’s guy-next-door persona and easy delivery won him appreciation from fans and castmates as he played the lovable lug Norm, an accountant by trade, on every installment of Cheers during its 1982-93 run. (Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman were the only other actors not to miss an episode.)

He received Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for six consecutive years (1984-89, from the second season to the seventh, but lost out to Pat Harrington Jr. of One Day at a Time in 1984, to John Larroquette of Night Court from 1985-88 and to castmate Woody Harrelson in 1989.

The portly, curly-haired Wendt was self-deprecating about his well-honed delivery, contending that the toughest part of his job was drinking the “beer,” a warm, flat, non-alcoholic concoction that was layered with a pinch of salt in every mug to create a TV head.

“There I was slamming those down for a whole day. It not only tastes disgusting, I was afraid of keeling over from high blood pressure,” he told The Washington Post in 1985. “Then I got the knack. I didn’t have to put all those brews away. It only mattered when the camera was pointing my way. It took a couple of years, but now I watch the camera. That’s how I make my money. That’s acting.”

One of nine kids, George Robert Wendt Jr. was born on Oct. 17, 1948. His father owned a real estate agency that his dad had founded, and his mother, Loretta, was a housewife and longtime volunteer and fund-raiser for Little Company of Mary Hospital.

Wendt’s co-star Rhea Perlman released a statement after learning of his death:

Rhea Perlman pays tribute to her “Cheers” co-star George Wendt, who died Tuesday at 76.

“George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him. As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn’t hurt. What a guy! I’ll miss him more than words can say.”

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Other stars also shared their statements on his passing, per People:

His costar Ted Danson tells PEOPLE in a statement he’s “devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us.”

“I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children,” Danson says. “It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.”..

John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff Clavin on Cheers, tells PEOPLE that he’s “heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend George Wendt.”

“For eleven years on Cheers, we shared a stage, a lot of laughs, and a front-row seat to one of television’s most beloved friendships,” he says. “George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance — the kind that made it look easy. That was his gift.”

“He was a true craftsman — humble, hilarious, and full of heart,” he continues. “What you saw on screen was exactly who he was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved. I’ll miss our conversations and the quiet moments of friendship that meant the most.”

Ratzenberger concludes his statement saying his “thoughts are with his wife Bernadette, their children, and everyone who loved him.”

Jeff Ross was among the first to pay tribute to Wendt following the news of his death.

“I was lucky enough to spend some quality time talking with George Wendt a year ago at @bigslickkc annual event benefiting Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He wasn’t feeling his best, but he still rose to the occasion and made thousands of people laugh a lot for a great cause,” Ross, 59, wrote on Instagram as he shared a selfie of him and Wendt from last year’s event.

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Ross recalled Wendt performing a “hilarious ‘Da Bears‘ sketch” at the event with his nephew Jason Sudeikis and Kansas City Chiefs players Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.

The comedian concluded his post with a reference to the classic line from Cheers. “Cheers George — and wherever you are I know everybody knows your name.”

Melissa Joan Hart reflected on her time working with Wendt during his handful of appearances on Sabrina the Teenage Witch in 2001 and 2002 in an Instagram post, as she wrote that “heaven just got a little funnier” with his arrival.

Hart said she was a “big #Cheers fan and knew I was among one of the best when he was on set” as she called it a “thrill to work beside him.”

“He was warm, professional and kind and our cast and crew were gifted with his presence every time. Rest in peace! #GodBlesstheFunnyPeople.”

Social media users are sharing their own tributes to the star:

What an icon.

RIP Norm!

You will be missed.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.

View the original article here.


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