For more than a decade, George Wendt greeted TV audiences with a simple word, “Norm!”, and in doing so, cemented his place in sitcom history.
The beloved actor, best known for playing barstool philosopher Norm Peterson on the classic comedy Cheers, has died peacefully at the age of 76.
Wendt passed away in his sleep at home on Tuesday morning, his family confirmed via The Agency Group. “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,” their statement read.
In honor of the legendary George Wendt, here is every time Norm Peterson walks into Cheers pic.twitter.com/5qkPUNgFRU
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) May 20, 2025
From Chicago improv to sitcom superstardom
Before he became a pop culture icon on prime-time television, Wendt honed his comedy craft in Chicago’s influential Second City improv troupe, a launchpad for comedic heavyweights.
Despite a college degree in economics from Jesuit Rockhurst College, he found his calling on stage rather than in spreadsheets. It was during his time at Second City that he met his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, who later voiced the unseen but ever-mentioned Vera, Norm’s long-suffering wife on Cheers.
His big break came in 1982 when he auditioned for what was initially a one-word role in a new sitcom set in a Boston bar. That one word? “Beer.” But the producers saw more in him.
“I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of ‘the guy who looked like he wanted a beer’,” Wendt recalled in an interview with GQ. “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.”
The rest is small-screen history.
The power of casting
Wendt’s portrayal of Norm struck a nerve with audiences during a golden era of network television. His character embodied the everyman, loyal, sardonic, endlessly quotable, and his rapport with the bar’s staff and patrons became a hallmark of the show’s success.
Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993, not only launched careers but defined ensemble comedy.
The series became a juggernaut, pulling in 117 Emmy nominations and winning 28, including six straight nods for Wendt as Outstanding Supporting Actor. It later spawned Frasier, another ratings behemoth.
Family ties and a modern comedy lineage
Wendt’s legacy extends beyond his own body of work. He is the uncle of Emmy-winning Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, a fitting familial connection for a man who helped usher in a new era of character-driven comedy.
Wendt’s influence is quietly threaded through generations of sketch and sitcom performers, a reminder of how foundational ensemble shows like Cheers remain in the entertainment economy.
Wendt leaves behind his wife and three children.