George Wendt, Beloved ‘Cheers’ Barfly and Acclaimed Stage Actor, Dies at 76

‘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.

Actor George Wendt posing for a portrait in New York on Oct. 20, 2009. Jeff Christensen/AP Photo

George Wendt, the actor best known for his role as Norm Peterson on the iconic sitcom “Cheers,” died early Tuesday at age 76, according to his family and The Agency Group publicity firm.

Wendt passed away peacefully in his sleep at home, his family said, requesting privacy as they mourn his loss.

“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.”

From Chicago Roots to Television Fame

Born in Chicago, Wendt attended Campion High School in Wisconsin before enrolling at Notre Dame, where he struggled academically and was eventually expelled. He later completed his degree in economics at Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

Wendt’s comedic journey began at Chicago’s renowned Second City, where he performed for six years in both the touring company and on the mainstage. “I think comedy is my long suit, for sure. My approach to comedy is usually not full-bore clownish,” Wendt once told The Associated Press. He described his comedic style as understated, preferring to ground his performances in reality rather than showboating.

The Accidental Icon: Norm Peterson

Despite a lengthy résumé, Wendt will forever be remembered as Norm Peterson, the friendly, beer-loving regular at the Boston bar where “everybody knows your name.”

According to Wendt, his initial audition for “Cheers” was for a single word part where he would just say the word “beer,” but producers quickly saw his potential for a larger role.

“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 recalled in an interview with GQ.

“Cheers” debuted on NBC in 1982 and initially struggled in the ratings but thanks to the support of network president Brandon Tartikoff, it survived its first season and went on to become a cultural phenomenon. The show ultimately earned 117 Emmy nominations and 28 wins, with Wendt receiving six consecutive nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from 1984 to 1989.

Norm’s entrances were usually greeted with a chorus of “Norm!” from the bar’s patrons. His quick-witted responses, became hallmarks of the character, like this one: “How’s a beer sound, Norm?” he‘d be asked by the bartender. “I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in,” he’d reply.

Offscreen Bonds and Lasting Impact

In a statement, Rhea Perlman, who played Carla, remembered him fondly.

“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,” Perlman said.

The camaraderie extended beyond the set. On the night of the “Cheers” finale in 1993, Wendt and his fellow cast members watched the last episode together at the Bull and Finch Pub in Boston, the bar that inspired the show. “We had been drinking heavily for two hours but nobody thought to feed us,” Wendt told the Beaver County Times in 2009. “We were nowhere near as cute as we thought we were.”

Life Beyond Cheers

After “Cheers,” Wendt starred briefly in “The George Wendt Show” and made appearances on series like “The Ghost Whisperer,” “Harry’s Law,” and “Portlandia.” He also became a fixture on “Saturday Night Live” sketches about “Da Bears” and, in 2023, competed on “The Masked Singer.”

Wendt also performed on stage, with roles in Broadway productions such as “Hairspray,” where he donned Edna Turnblad’s iconic housecoat, and the Tony-winning play “Art.”

He toured nationally with “12 Angry Men” and appeared in regional productions of “Death of a Salesman,” “The Odd Couple,” and “Funnyman.”

“A, it’s by far the most fun, but B, I seem to have been kicked out of television,” Wendt joked to the Kansas City Star in 2011. “I overstayed my welcome. But theater suits me.”

He was also known for playing Santa Claus in the Broadway musical “Elf,” the TV movie “Santa Baby,” and Disney’s “Santa Buddies,” as well as in holiday specials for Larry the Cable Guy and Stephen Colbert. “I think it just proves that if you stay fat enough and get old enough, the offers start rolling in,” Wendt told AP in a previous interview in his Broadway dressing room.

To Be Remembered By

Wendt’s first sip of beer was at age eight and was recounted in the book “Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer,” which he co-wrote. The book, part memoir and part beer guide, reflected his warm, conversational style and humor.

He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Birkett—who voiced Norm’s unseen wife Vera on “Cheers”—his children Hilary, Joe, and Daniel, and stepchildren Joshua and Andrew.

Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center, in a statement praised Wendt’s legacy: “From his early days with The Second City to his iconic role as Norm on ‘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,” according to Gunderson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News