Cheers icon George Wendt is being mourned by his heartbroken co-stars after it emerged that he has died at the age of 76.
The iconic actor, remembered for his role as the amiable bar regular Norm Peterson on NBC’s popular show from 1982 to 1993, received six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance.
On Tuesday, Wendt’s passing was confirmed by his publicist, who issued a statement: ‘George was a devoted family man and a cherished friend and confidant to everyone fortunate enough to have met him.’
‘He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.’
Now his Cheers co-star Ted Danson, who led the cast of the sitcom as bartender and ladies’ man Sam Malone, has shared his grief at the news.
Expressing sorrow, he mentioned being ‘heartbroken that Georgie is no longer with us,’ while sending ‘all my love’ to Wendt’s wife Bernadette Birkett and their three children, as reported by People. ‘It’s going to take me quite some time to adjust. I love you, Georgie.’
Two And A Half Men star Jon Cryer fondly remembered his teenage role acting alongside Wendt in a 1984 film called No Small Affair, a romantic comedy that also featured Demi Moore and Tim Robbins.
Cryer shared that he ‘met George on one of my first movies and every day we shot together I kind of couldn’t believe it. That I was working with one of my favorite actors in television and he was just such an absolute prince.’
He touchingly added that Wendt ‘will be missed by many millions who, just like me, felt like Norm was a member of the family.’
Sabrina The Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart also wrote glowingly about her experience working with Wendt during his recurring guest shot on her show as her character’s surly boss at her newspaper internship.
‘Heaven just got a little funnier with #GeorgeWendt. It was a thrill to work beside him on #SabrinatheTeenageWitch for a handful of episodes,’ she wrote.
‘I was a big #Cheers fan and knew I was among one of the best when he was on set. He was warm, professional and kind and our cast and crew were gifted with his presence every time. Rest in peace! #GodBlesstheFunnyPeople.’
Good Luck Charlie actor Eric Allan Kramer remembered the bonhomie and humor he experienced from Wendt while guest-starring on Cheers in 1989.
‘Was hard to hear of his passing… First met George Wendt on the set of Cheers… One of the warmest, funniest guys I’ve ever come across…,’ wrote Kramer.
‘Welcoming as the star he was, incredibly giving as an actor in rehearsal (and when the cameras were rolling)… Also the first one to make sure I had a beer in my hand at the end of the night…’
Kramer noted: ‘We shared a history of work with the Calgary Stampeders and exchanged many stories over the week… Cheers, indeed… Many thanks for the laughs and the education… RIP’.
Wendt’s passing came just six months after the frail star was seen being wheeled out of an California dialysis clinic 32 years to the day that the Cheers finale aired.
Wendt’s iconic sitcom Cheers ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, though the show was almost canceled after its first season due to low ratings.
However, it spent eight of its remaining 10 seasons in the top 10, becoming the most-watched show in Season 9.
It earned 28 Emmy Awards from 117 nominations, earning Outstanding Comedy Series nominations all 11 seasons, winning four.
Wendt – who is also the uncle of Ted Lasso actor Jason Sudeikis – impressively appeared in every episode until it went off air in May 1993.
His lovable, happy-go-lucky barfly Norm – whose occupations included accountant, painter and decorator and coast guard – quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to his iconic entrance into the bar.
Norm would arrive and yell ‘Afternoon/evening everybody!’ with the bar crowd shouting his name back.
Hailing from Chicago, prior to acting Wendt was expelled from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana over poor grades before moving into showbusiness, where his first job was sweeping a theatre floor.
Guest roles in Taxi and M*A*S*H were followed by his big break on Cheers, and two years after it finished he launched a self-titled sitcom on CBS, but it was canceled after eight episodes.
Other than his success in the hit sitcom, the popular entertainer has appeared in shows such as Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Columbo and Wings.
He also had a recurring sketch on SNL’s Bill Swerski’s Superfans, which was dedicated to sports fans from Chicago.
Wendt had been married to Bernadette Birkett – who played the voice of the mysterious Vera on Cheers – since 1978 and they have one daughter and two sons.
Wendt had kept a low profile in recent years, making only a handful of small appearances on screen, including his stint as a contestant in The Masked Singer in 2023.
More recently, he made a surprise appearance on stage when he reunited with the Cheers cast at the Emmy Awards in January 2024.
Wendt was joined by former co-stars Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman, and John Ratzenberger around a recreated set of the show’s iconic bar.
Cast members Shelley Long and Woody Harrelson did not attend the reunion.
Sudeikis explained to Playboy in 2011 how his mother’s brother Wendt inspired him to embark upon his own career path.
He admitted: ‘He’s always been very encouraging, but there was no Tuesdays With Morrie kind of relationship between him and I.
‘He didn’t take me to the park to explain comic timing. There was nothing like that. He was just a good example that being an actor was a viable option.’
The actor added: ‘Here’s a guy from the Midwest, in my family, who took the road less travelled and it worked out for him. The advice he gave me, and I say this jokingly, is “Get on one of the best sitcoms of all time and then ride it out.”‘
Wendt encouraged his nephew to audition for Saturday Night Live after attending one of his improv performances.
In June 2024 Wendt lauded his nephew – the son of his sister Kathy on the podcast Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko
He said: ‘He’s such a great kid. Very proud. Proud especially, you know, not only of the success, but he’s solid. Have you read profiles and stuff? I mean he is such a mesh, so smart, so thoughtful. I mean, it all comes out in the show. Right?’
