Friends and colleagues are pouring in tributes for the late George Wendt following his death Tuesday. He was 76.
The actor, who was widely known for playing Norm Peterson on 11 seasons of the Boston-based comedy Cheers, died peacefully in his sleep at home, his family confirmed Tuesday morning.
“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a rep for Wendt said in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
Cheers star Ted Danson, who played bartender Sam Malone on the show, led the tributes for his colleague Tuesday, sharing in a statement, “I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us.”
“I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie,” he continued.
Tributes from the Cheers cast quickly rolled in, with John Ratzenberger, who played postal worker Cliff Clavin on the show, also sharing that he was “heartbroken” to hear about Wendt’s passing.
“For 11 years on Cheers, we shared a stage, a lot of laughs and a front-row seat to one of television’s most beloved friendships. George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance — the kind that made it look easy. That was his gift,” Ratzenberger said in a statement.
“He was a true craftsman — humble, hilarious and full of heart. What you saw on screen was exactly who he was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved,” he continued. “I’ll miss our conversations and the quiet moments of friendship that meant the most. My thoughts are with his wife Bernadette, their children, and everyone who loved him.”
Rhea Perlman, who played waitress Carla Tortelli on the iconic series, also paid tribute to Wendt Tuesday describing him as the “sweetest, kindest man I ever met.”
“It was impossible not to like him,” Perlman shared. “As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn’t hurt. What a guy! I’ll miss him more than words can say.”
Wendt was also touchingly remembered by the bar which served as the inspiration for the watering hole seen on the show, the Bull & Finch Pub in Boston, Massachusetts which later became known as Cheers. The staff reserved a spot at the bar for Wendt alongside his character’s favorite drink—a cold glass of beer.
Wendt was also remembered by his colleagues beyond Cheers, such as Melissa Joan Hart, whom he worked with on Sabrina the Teenage Witch in the early aughts.
“Heaven just got a little funnier with #GeorgeWendt,” Hart wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the two on set. “I was a big #Cheers fan and knew I was among one of the best when he was on set. He was warm, professional and kind and our cast and crew were gifted with his presence every time.”
Stand-up comedian Jeff Ross similarly praised Wendt for his impeccable comedic timing in an Instagram tribute Tuesday, where he also recalled a conversation the two had a year ago.
“I was lucky enough to spend some quality time talking with George Wendt a year ago at @bigslickkc annual event benefiting Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He wasn’t feeling his best, but he still rose to the occasion and made thousands of people laugh a lot for a great cause,” Ross wrote. “Cheers George — and wherever you are I know everybody knows your name.”
Born and raised in Chicago, Wendt began his career in the 1970s with improv comedy group Second City. He later appeared on Saturday Night Live as a fan of “Da Bears,” watching games at coach Mike Ditka’s restaurant.
Wendt’s filmography includes Fletch (1985), Gung Ho (1986), Plains Clothes (1987), Never Say Die (1988), and Guilty by Suspicion (1991).
Between 1984 to 1989, Wendt was nominated for a total of six Emmys in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category for his work on Cheers. The NBC sitcom ran from 1982 to 1993.
His iconic beer-loving character would later appear in several other shows, including Frasier, Family Guy and The Simpsons. Wendt also appeared in Michael Jackson’s 1991 music video for “Black or White,” where he played Macaulay Culkin’s father.
The actor celebrated his Broadway debut in 1998 with Art, and returned to the stage ten years later to play Edna Turnblad in Hairspray.
Wendt parlayed his Cheers fame—which earned him plenty of free beers wherever he went—into starring in commercials for Miller Lite and Meister Brau, as well as co-writing the 2009 book, Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer.
“I’m a simple man, I don’t ask for much. Give me a nice comfortable chair, a cool breeze, a ballgame on the radio and an ice-cold beer, and I couldn’t be happier,” he wrote.
Wendt leaves behind his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, whom he met at Second City and who voiced his wife, Vera, on Cheers, who was famously never seen on the show.
Wendt also had three children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel, and two step-children, Joshua and Andrew.
Wendt’s nephew, through one of his sisters, is former SNL star Jason Sudeikis.
