George Wendt, the best known actor for playing Norm Peterson in the long situation comedy “Cheers”, has died. He was 76 years old.
A family representative confirmed the news of ABC News on Tuesday and said Wendt “died peacefully as he slept while he was at home.”
“George was a affectionate family man, a very dear and confidant friend for all who are lucky enough to have known him,” said the representative in a statement. “We will miss it forever.”
Wendt obtained six Emmy nominations for its role in the NBC comedy series.
Born on October 17, 1948, in Chicago, Wendt began his comedy career in The Second City Theater in Chicago.
Before “Cheers”, he starred in some roles on television, including “m*a*s*h”, “taxi” and “soap” before his great rest in “Cheers”.
George Wendt as Norm Peterson in an episode of “Cheers”.
Paul Drinkwater/Nbcu through Getty Images
Wendt starred in the 275 episodes of “Cheers” since the program was broadcast for the first time in 1982 to its final episode in 1993.
In a 2021 interview with Chicago Magazine, Wendt recalled the first time he auditioned for “Cheers.”
“I needed to look like a guy who wanted to have another beer,” he said.
The actor added that it was exactly as Norm, with the character that had “better writing.”
After the success of “Cheers”, Wendt starred in the brief situation comedy “The George Wendt Show” in 1995.
Wendt also appeared in several episodes of “Saturday Night Live”, “Sabrina The Teenage Witch” and “George López”. He repeated his role as a rule in an episode of “Cheers” Spin -off “Frasier”.
In “SNL”, he starred in the recurrent sketch “Superfans of Bill Swerski”, along with Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Robert Smigel, who ridiculed the fans of Chicago sports.
George Wendt attends the “Cheers Meeting” panel during the twelfth season of the ATX TV Festival in ACL Live on June 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
Rick Kern/Wireimage through Getty Images
His cinematographic credits included the Comedy Chevy Chase of 1985 “Fletch”, the drama of the 1991 period “Guilt by Suspechion”, along with Robert de Niro, and the romantic drama of 1992 “Forever Young” with Mel Gibson. He also achieved appearances in “The Little Rascals” and “Spice World”.
He starred in several television films, including “Alice in Wonderland” in 1999, “Strang Relations” in 2001, “Santa Baby” in 2006 and more.
Wendt married his wife, Bernadette Birkett in 1978. The duo met while working at the Second City Theater.
They share a daughter named Hilary and two children, Joe and Daniel.
Wendt is also the uncle and godfather of actor Jason Sudeikis.
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