Iconic Cheers star George Wendt dies as tributes paid to 'well-loved' actor
Cheers star George Wendt has died aged 76. The actor was famed for playing Norm Peterson on the beloved NBC sitcom Cheers. He appeared in the show from 1982 until 1993 and earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for the role. The Chicago-born star reportedly passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday morning (May 20), according to TMZ. His cause of death is not yet known. A representative for the actor says his family "remembers him as a "doting family man, a well-loved friend and a confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him." They also said that "he will be missed forever".
The actor played Norm in all 275 episodes of Cheers
(Image: CBS via Getty Images)
His passing comes exactly 32 years after Cheers aired its final episode on May 20 1993. George appeared in all 275 episodes of Cheers, where he starred alongside the likes of Sam Malone, Diane Chambers, Carla Tortelli and Woody Boyd. Norm, his character, was initially the only customer to feature in the show's main cast and one of only three characters to appear in every episode.
George with his Cheers castmates
(Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
He also made guest appearances in an episode of all three Cheers spin-off shows, including Frasier, Wings and The Tortellis. After Cheers ended in 1993, he scored his own sitcom, The George Wendt Show (1995) but was cancelled after a few episodes due to poor ratings. He wasn't just known for his role on Cheers as he also appeared in films such as Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), No Small Affair (1984), Fletch (1985) and The Little Rascals (1994). The actor also starred opposite Robert De Niro in the 1991 film Guilty by Suspicion and with Mel Gibson in 1992's Forever Young.
The star pictured in 2019
(Image: Getty Images)
Michael Jackson fans would also have spotted him as Macaulay Culkin's father in the late pop star's music video for Black or White. He also bagged a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live and has reprised his Cheers role on episodes of Seinfeld, Family Guy and The Simpsons. George also has credits in TV shows such as Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Taxi, Soap and M*A*S*H. The actor also appeared on Broadway with roles in stage productions of Hairspray and Elf. Most recently, he appeared on the ninth series of The Masked Singer US in 2023. George once said of his iconic Cheers character: "The Norm you see in Cheers has been years in the making. I have some characteristics in common with him besides our fondness for beer. But I think I’m a lot happier than Norm." He added: "I was a beer drinker long before Cheers. When I put a couple of six packs on top of my grocery shopping cart, people are pleased. I tell ‘em I’m taking them home to rehearse." Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here. Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
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