George Wendt, actor who played Norm on ‘Cheers,’ dead at 76
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George Wendt, an actor and comedian who was beloved for his performance as Norm Peterson on the long-running comedy series “Cheers” has died, his family announced.
He was 76.
“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever,” a representative for the family said in a statement to CNN.
A Chicago-native, Wendt got his start in acting when he joined in the famed improv school The Second City Mainstage in 1975. He earned six Emmy nominations throughout his nearly five decade Hollywood career.
While at The Second City, Wendt appeared in the revue “One More with Fooling” and spent time in the troupe’s touring company. He left in 1980 to pursue a film and television career.
In the early 1980s, Wendt began appearing in some of his first Hollywood roles, including in TV series “Taxi,” “Alice” and “Making the Grade before landing his big break as Norm in “Cheers” in 1982.
The beloved NBC sitcom ran for 11 seasons and starred Wendt as the lovable, beer-gulping Norm alongside cast mates Rhea Perlman, Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, Shelley Long and Kelsey Grammer, among others.
Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations between 1984 and 1989 in the supporting actor category for his performance as Norm on the series.
“George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him,” Perlman told CNN in a statement Tuesday. “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!”
She added: “I’ll miss him more than words can say.”
Wendt was one of three cast members to have appeared in every single episode of the show’s run. (The others were Danson and Perlman.) The series ended in 1993.
