George Wendt, the Emmy-nominated actor who brought warmth, wit, and a familiar “Norm!” to millions of viewers on Cheers, has died at the age of 76. He passed away Tuesday morning at his Los Angeles home, according to his publicist, Melissa Nathan. “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” she said. “He will be missed forever.”
Wendt was a proud son of Chicago, born October 17, 1948, on the city’s South Side as one of nine children in a large Irish Catholic family. He graduated from Rockhurst College in Kansas City with a degree in economics — but his true education began at The Second City, the legendary comedy theater that has shaped generations of performers. It was there, in the 1970s, that Wendt honed his signature style and met his future wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, who would later voice the unseen but oft-discussed Vera, Norm’s wife on Cheers.
It was as Norm Peterson, the loyal, lovable, and perpetually beer-in-hand barfly on Cheers, that Wendt became a household name. His entrance—met with the crowd’s joyful cry of “Norm!”—became one of the most beloved running gags in television history. Norm’s deadpan one-liners and sage-yet-sarcastic observations about life, work, and marriage made him an audience favorite and a pillar of the show’s success. Throughout 11 seasons, Wendt appeared in every episode, earned six consecutive Emmy nominations, and helped cement Cheers as one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time.
Though Wendt would go on to star in 273 episodes of Cheers — and earn six consecutive Emmy nominations — his roots remained deeply Chicago. That hometown pride took center stage during his frequent appearances on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s, where he joined fellow Chicagoans Chris Farley, Mike Myers, and Robert Smigel as part of the “Superfans,” a mustachioed crew obsessed with the Bears, Ditka, and bratwurst.
Wendt’s breakout as Norm Peterson, the affable barfly with the iconic entrance and deadpan one-liners, made him a cultural touchstone. That role followed him into appearances on Frasier, The Tortellis, and even The Simpsons. After Cheers ended, Wendt starred in his own short-lived sitcom, The George Wendt Show, and went on to become a go-to supporting actor in films like Fletch, House, The Little Rascals, and The Climb.
He remained active in theater, playing Edna Turnblad in Broadway’s Hairspray, Santa Claus in Elf the Musical, and Willy Loman in a 2017 production of Death of a Salesman.
Wendt’s influence continued into the next generation — he was the uncle of Saturday Night Live and Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis. In interviews, Wendt expressed deep pride in his nephew’s success, jokingly advising him to “just get on the best show on television and take it from there.”
For Chicagoans, Wendt’s legacy isn’t just in his long list of credits — it’s in his deep connection to the city’s comedy DNA. He was a bridge between the golden age of Chicago improv and Hollywood stardom, and a reminder that a South Side kid with great timing and a good heart could charm the world.
He is survived by his wife, Bernadette, their three children, and a legacy of laughs that will echo in barrooms, theaters, and living rooms for years to come.
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