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George Wendt of Cheers fame has died at the age of 76.
His death was confirmed in a statement issued by his publicist, which described him as “a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the statement, as reported by The Guardian, read. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
He was best known for his role as Norm Peterson on Cheers, which aired from 1982 to 1993. Wendt appeared in all 275 episodes of the NBC series. His performance earned him six Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
In reflecting on his time on the show, Wendt said, “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.”
"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.”
Wendt passed away peacefully in his sleep at home.
A Chicago native, Wendt is survived by his three children and his wife, Bernadette, with whom he has been married since 1978. He was also the uncle of SNL alumni and “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis.
After cheers, he starred in the short-lived George Wendt show, which featured him as a garage mechanic with a radio show. The show was cancelled after just six episodes.
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English (US) ·