May 21, (THEWILL) – American actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for his role as Norm Peterson on the iconic sitcom Cheers, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday. He was 76.
Wendt’s publicist, Melissa Nathan, confirmed the news.
“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. The family has requested privacy during this time”, she shared
Wendt rose to fame playing Norm Peterson on the series Cheers (1982-1993), earning six Emmy nominations for his portrayal of the beloved bar regular. He starred alongside Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, Rhea Perlman and Shelley Long.
Born in Chicago in 1948, Wendt honed his craft at The Second City theatre, where he met his wife, Bernadette Birkett. They got married in 1978 and had three children
Before Cheers, Wendt appeared in TV shows including M*A*S*H, Taxi, and Hart to Hart, along with films like My Bodyguard and Airplane II: The Sequel.
