George Wendt, Actor from “Cheers,” Dies
According to cinemadrame News Agency, George Wendt, who played “Norm Peterson” in the beloved series “Cheers,” has passed away at 76. Wendt’s family confirmed his passing on May 20.
The family’s statement read: “George was a kind and loving father, a devoted husband, and a confidant to those who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be dearly missed.”
Some of Wendt’s “Cheers” co-stars, including Ted Danson, who played “Sam Malone,” and Rhea Perlman, who portrayed the barmaid “Carla Tortelli,” honored his memory.
Perlman said: “George Wendt was the kindest man I ever knew. He was impossible not to love. I would stand next to him as Carla because Norm always chose that seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy for me to grab his collar and punch him about once a week. I loved doing it, and he loved pretending it didn’t hurt. What a man! I will miss him beyond words.”
Wendt received six consecutive Emmy nominations for “Cheers.” The series first aired in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons. The story was set in a Boston basement bar and followed the lives of its staff and regular customers.
Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, and Lisa Kudrow appeared in the series. The show continued with the spin-off “Frasier” and won a total of 28 Emmy Awards.
After “Cheers,” Wendt appeared in series such as “Portlandia” and “The Ghost Whisperer,” and participated in the television competition “The Masked Singer” in 2023. He also had a history of acting in theater productions including “Hairspray,” “Art,” “Elf,” and “12 Angry Men.”
