George Wendt, who famously played Norm Peterson on the acclaimed NBC sitcom Cheers, has died at the age of 76.
Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at home on Tuesday, May 20th. “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a representative for his family said in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
Wendt got his start in comedy at Chicago’s famous Second City theater, and after appearing on shows including Taxi and M*A*S*H, he landed the role that would make him “Norm!” for multiple generations of fans. As one of three actors who would appear in every episode of Cheers (the other two being Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman), Wendt became a comedy icon known for his droll punchlines. He was nominated six times for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and also guest-starred as Norm in several Cheers spin-offs, including one episode of the original Frasier. He also voiced the role for cameos on The Simpsons and Family Guy.
Outside of Cheers, Wendt’s film credits included Fletch, Guilty by Suspicion, Spice World, The Little Rascals, and I Lost My Body. While he would not go on to star in another long-running TV series after Cheers, he made frequent guest star appearances on shows including Seinfeld, Spin City, Portlandia, Fresh Off the Boat, and The Goldbergs.
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A fun bit of trivia: Wendt happens to be the uncle of another well-known TV star, Jason Sudeikis. While Wendt appeared on Saturday Night Live a lot less than his nephew over the years, he did land an iconic recurring role as Bob Swerski, a Chicago Superfan who helped ensure that when we talk about Chicago’s professional football team, we call it “Da Bears.” Wendt played the character numerous times both on SNL as well as upon other occasions, often tied to the football season.
Wendt met his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, when they were both Second City students; she would later go on to appear on Cheers as Vera. The couple remained married up until Wendt’s passing. Wendt is survived by her and their three children.
