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George Wendt, the American actor whose unassuming charm and impeccable comic timing made him a household name as the beer-loving Norm Peterson on the iconic 1980s sitcom Cheers, has died. He was 76.
His family said he died early Tuesday morning (20 May), peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group.
“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” the family said in a statement. “He will be missed forever.”
Following news of his death, heartfelt tributes have poured in from his Cheers co-stars. Ted Danson who played Cheers owner Sam Malone said in a statement: “I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us. I’m sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It’s going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.”
Rhea Perlman, who starred as barmaid Carla Tortelli, said: “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.”
Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his role on Cheers, which began in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons. Set in a cozy basement bar in Boston, the show followed the lives of the bar’s staff and its loyal regulars – a mismatched group of quirky, lovable characters.
The ensemble cast included Wendt, and the likes of Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, and numerous special guest appearances from Boston Red Sox baseball legend Wade Boggs and Friends star Lisa Kudrow. Cheers spun off another megahit in ‘Frasier’ and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them.
Wendt’s Norm was the lovable, henpecked beer-loving accountant who took up the same barstool every episode. His entrances were greeted by a joyous call of “Norm!” from those in the bar and he always had a dry quip ready when asked how he was doing.
The actor famously auditioned for Cheers with a single line: “My agent said, ‘It’s a small role, honey. It’s one line. Actually, it’s one word.’ The word was ‘beer.’ I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of ‘the guy who looked like he wanted a beer.’ So I went in, and they said, ‘It’s too small a role. Why don’t you read this other one?’ And it was a guy who never left the bar,” Wendt told GQ in an oral history of Cheers.
“George Wendt’s work showcased how comedy can create indelible characters that feel like family. Over the course of 11 seasons, he brought warmth and humor to one of television’s most beloved roles,” National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement.
After Cheers, Wendt appeared on shows like Portlandia and The Ghost Whisperer, and even competed on The Masked Singer in 2023. On stage, he starred in Broadway productions of Hairspray, the Tony Award-winning Art, and Elf, and toured nationally in 12 Angry Men.
Additional sources • AP