George Wendt, actor who played Norm on ‘Cheers,’ dead at 76
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George Wendt, beloved for his role as Norm on Cheers, dies at 76.
George Wendt, the beloved actor best known for his role as Norm Peterson on the hit sitcom Cheers, has died at the age of 76, his family confirmed this week.
In a statement shared with CNN, a family representative said, “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever.”
Wendt rose to fame as the barstool regular Norm, whose signature entrance and one-liners became iconic over the show’s 11-season run. A native of Chicago, Wendt began his acting journey at the legendary improv institution The Second City in 1975. His sharp comedic timing and down-to-earth presence helped him carve a path through Hollywood that spanned nearly five decades.
At Second City, Wendt appeared in the revue One More with Fooling and toured with the company before moving on to pursue television and film work. His early acting credits in the 1980s included appearances on Taxi, Alice, and Making the Grade, but it was his casting as Norm in Cheers in 1982 that catapulted him into television stardom.
Wendt became one of just three actors—alongside Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman—to appear in every episode of the series, which wrapped in 1993. His portrayal earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from 1984 to 1989.
Rhea Perlman, who played Carla on Cheers, shared a heartfelt tribute: “George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him… I’ll miss him more than words can say.”
Reflecting on the role in a 2024 interview at Motor City Comic Con, Wendt called his time on the show “a great job,” adding humorously, “Looking for a guy who wants another beer.”
In that same conversation, his co-star John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff Clavin, joked that working on Cheers felt like “stealing money” because of how much fun they had. “We sat at a bar for 11 years cracking jokes,” Ratzenberger said. Wendt added that while the beer on set was fake, they occasionally shared a real one after tapings.
Beyond Cheers, Wendt found steady work in both film and television. His film credits include Dreamscape, Never Say Die, and Forever Young with Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis. On television, Wendt had guest roles on shows such as Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, St. Elsewhere, The Twilight Zone, and The Little Rascals. He also starred in The George Wendt Show in 1995 and was a series regular on The Naked Truth in 1997.
Wendt was a frequent guest on Saturday Night Live between 1991 and 2003, playing the Chicago sports superfan Bob Swerski in the popular “Da Bears” sketches alongside Chris Farley, Mike Myers, and Robert Smigel.
Even in later years, Wendt remained active. In 2017, he returned to The Second City for The Roast of George Wendt, an event hosted by his nephew and Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis. The roast raised over $200,000 for Gilda’s Club Chicago and The Second City Alumni Fund.
Wendt spoke often about how proud he was of Sudeikis, calling him “such a great kid” and “so smart, so thoughtful” on the Still Here Hollywood podcast last year.
Wendt’s final acting credit was in the 2024 TV movie Love’s Second Act, starring Jodie Sweetin.
He is survived by his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, and their three children: Hilary, Joe, and Daniel. The family has requested privacy as they mourn his passing.
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