George Wendt, Beloved 'Cheers' Actor, Dies Peacefully at 76
George Wendt, the actor best known for his iconic role as Norm Peterson on the hit sitcom Cheers, has passed away at the age of 76. His death came poignantly on the 32nd anniversary of the show's final episode—marking a full-circle moment for fans of the legendary series.
His publicist, Melissa Nathan, confirmed the news on Tuesday morning. "Beloved actor and comedian George Wendt, widely recognized for his role on NBC’s Cheers, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home," she said in a statement. “George was a devoted family man, a dear friend, and someone who brought joy and laughter to everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed.”
For more than a decade, George Wendt was the heart and soul of Cheers, playing the lovable Norm—an ever-present figure at the bar whose entrance always earned a warm, collective shout of “Norm!” from fellow patrons. His understated performance earned him six Emmy nominations, proving that sometimes all it takes is perfect timing, a cold beer, and a great mustache to steal a scene.
In a 2012 interview with GQ, Wendt recalled how he almost didn’t audition for the role, assuming it wasn’t anything significant. “My agent told me, ‘It’s just one line. Actually, it’s just one word—beer,’” he laughed. But producers quickly saw something special in him. “They handed me a bigger part to read and that was Norm. A guy who never leaves the bar,” he added.
Though Cheers ended in 1993, Wendt remained close with many of his castmates. In 2023, he reunited with fellow actor John Ratzenberger (who played Cliff Clavin) during a farewell event for the show’s original bar set, which was being auctioned in Dallas. “It was amazing to see it again,” Wendt told WHDH 7. “It brought back a lot of memories.”
He joked that gathering the cast for a reunion was like “herding cats.” Still, the bond between them never faded. Wendt’s wife once told People magazine in 1993 that the cast was “like siblings,” describing the camaraderie as genuine and rare in Hollywood.
Behind the scenes, Wendt shared a story about filming the final episode of Cheers and celebrating afterward with a round of drinks—non-alcoholic on set, of course. “We drank for two hours and nobody fed us,” he told Beaver County Times in 2009. “We weren’t as cute as we thought we were that night.”
The bar where the show was set was modeled after the real-life Bull and Finch Pub in Boston, and for many fans, Norm was the embodiment of comfort and familiarity. Wendt brought warmth, humor, and an everyman charm that made the character unforgettable.
George Wendt’s passing marks the end of an era, but the laughter he sparked will echo for generations. Norm’s barstool may now be empty, but his presence—funny, friendly, and forever loyal—remains firmly etched in television history.
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