George Wendt, who played a beloved barfly on 'Cheers' and found another home onstage, dies at 76
Source: AP
By MARK KENNEDY
Updated 3:26 PM CDT, May 20, 2025
NEW YORK (AP) George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy Cheers and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in Art, Hairspray and Elf, has died. He was 76.
Wendts family said he died early Tuesday morning, peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm 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, the family said in a statement. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.
Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/george-wendt-dies-55681263ea8b5bddaf1c89e8e9ba8cb1

MarineCombatEngineer
(15,864 posts)Cross gently and know that you will be missed.
snowybirdie
(6,215 posts)RIP. His brother was my neighbor over the back fence. Loved him on Cheers!
CurtEastPoint
(19,573 posts)littlemissmartypants
(28,456 posts)BumRushDaShow
(156,860 posts)"Cheers!" was part of my all-week 8pm - 11 pm, Brandon Tartikoff NBC programming - Thursdays at 9 pm IIRC and eventually "Hill Street Blues". I think about Rhea Pearlman too who eventually married Danny Devito (who had been on a competing show "Taxi", another fave ).
Before "Neuman" ( '"Seinfeld" ) there was "Norm".
R.I.P. and thank you for your many roles!
littlemissmartypants
(28,456 posts)
MissMillie
(39,300 posts)"Da Bearz!!!!!"
Thank you for making us laugh. RIP
Gato Moteado
(10,019 posts)...."DAH BEARZZZ"
Raine
(30,895 posts)
FakeNoose
(37,930 posts)RIP George Wendt, and thanks for all the laughs.
Beringia
(5,160 posts)rpannier
(24,744 posts)Stronger. More assertive.
Oh... they were the same person?
Some Norm favorites of mine:
Coach: How's a beer sound, Norm?
Norm: I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in.
Sam: What's new, Norm?
Norm: Terrorists, Sam. They've taken over my stomach and they're demanding beer.
Woody: Hey, how would a beer feel, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Pretty nervous if I was in the room.
Coach: How's life treating you, Norm?
Norm: Like he caught me in bed with his wife.
Woody: Hey, Mr. Peterson, how's life?
Norm: Oh, the plot's okay, Woody, but it kind of falls apart at the end.