RIP Norm: George Wendt, Beloved ‘Cheers’ Actor, Dies at 76

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I’m sharing some sad news as a fellow gamer and TV enthusiast. The actor who played our beloved Norm from Cheers, George Wendt, has passed away at the age of 76. Known for his beer-swigging character that graced all 11 seasons of this iconic NBC sitcom, he will be deeply missed by us fans.

Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at home, his family confirmed early Tuesday morning.

George was deeply devoted to his family, cherished by many as a dear friend and trusted companion, according to a representative’s statement. He leaves an irreplaceable void that will be felt forever. The family kindly asks for solitude during this difficult period.

Raised on Chicago’s South Side, Wendt kick-started his career in the 1970s with Second City, the well-known improv comedy group from his birthplace.

Or, more casually:

Growing up on the South Side of Chi-town, Wendt made a name for himself in the 1970s by joining Second City, the iconic improv comedy team right here at home.

Later on, he made an appearance on Saturday Night Live, playing the role of Bob Swerski, a devoted fan who frequented Coach Mike Ditka’s restaurant in Chicago to catch “Da Bears.

Wendt made appearances in films such as Dreamscape (1984), House (1985), Fletch (1985), Gung Ho (1986), Plains Clothes (1987), Never Say Die (1988), Guilty by Suspicion (1991), Forever Young (1992), and Spice World (1997).

Additionally, he portrayed the role of the gruff father character to Macaulay Culkin, whose taste for loud music was evident in the “Black or White” music video by Michael Jackson, which was helmed by director Jon Landis.

Survivors include his nephew Jason Sudeikis, the only son of one of his six sisters.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire John Ratzenberger, who effortlessly embodied the charming and endearing character, Norm, on every single season of “Cheers” from 1982 to 1993. His down-to-earth demeanor and natural acting style earned him not just the love of fans but also the respect of his fellow cast members. Interestingly, only Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman were equally consistent in their appearance throughout the series’ run.

For six years straight, starting from the second season up until the seventh, he was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series (from 1984-1989). However, he didn’t win during his first nomination in 1984 as Pat Harrington Jr. from One Day at a Time took the prize. From 1985 to 1988, he lost to John Larroquette of Night Court, and in 1989, his co-star Woody Harrelson beat him.

As a dedicated admirer, I’d rephrase it like this:

“I, being the rotund and curly-haired Wendt, would often joke about my finely honed performance, claiming that the most challenging aspect of my role was imbibing the ‘beverage,’ a lukewarm, flat, non-intoxicating mixture. Each mug was seasoned with a pinch of salt to give it the taste of a television prop.

1985 saw him relentlessly consuming them for an entire day. Not only did they have a repulsive taste, he was concerned about collapsing due to elevated blood pressure, as he shared with The Washington Post. However, with practice, he no longer needed to abandon his drink of choice. It was important only when the camera was trained on him. It took a few years, but now he has learned to pay attention to the camera. That’s how he earns his living. That’s acting.

As one of nine siblings, I found myself entering the world on October 17, 1948. My father proudly ran a real estate agency he had built from the ground up, while my mother, Loretta, dedicated her time to our home and was a long-term volunteer and fundraiser for Little Company of Mary Hospital.

Tom Howard, Wendt’s maternal grandfather, donned the guise of a priest to secretly capture a photograph that became one of the most notorious tabloid images ever – Ruth Snyder, the murderer, in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison in 1928, immediately following the moment the switch was flipped. This image graced the front page of the New York Daily News.

Wendt studied at Campion High School, a Jesuit boarding institution for young men situated in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. However, his tenure there ended prematurely when he was dismissed during his junior year due to an academic record of zero points (0.0 GPA).

As a gamer, I might rephrase that as: “Back in 2016, when asked by The Kansas City Star, I admitted that I dropped out of university without giving notice. During my junior year, I chose to move off campus, but the decision wasn’t well thought-out. I didn’t have a car, and the cold weather didn’t help. Unfortunately, I never attended any classes after that.

Prior to obtaining his B.A. in Economics from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri in 1971, Wendt had spent time working for his father and was skilled at fetching coffee for secretaries. Afterward, he took a lengthy sojourn through much of Europe that lasted approximately three years.

At home, Wendt decided to pursue a career as a comic actor. He enrolled in numerous workshops, advanced to Second City’s touring group, and later joined their resident company in 1975. However, he was reassigned after a year, but ultimately, he was reinstated.

In a conversation with the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner back in 1983, he stated that his activities were largely ordinary, everyday occurrences. He emphasized the importance of making his stories feel authentic, as if they could truly happen. If audiences stop finding his tales believable, he said, it’s just like telling jokes without a point. This is how he approaches his character, Norm. He doesn’t aim to exaggerate or add humor artificially.

For six years, Wendt was associated with Second City, following which he appeared in the 1980 movies “My Bodyguard” and “Somewhere in Time.” He also played a pest control worker on a 1981 episode of “Taxi,” which was scripted by Glen and Les Charles and helmed by James Burrows – individuals who would later create the sitcom “Cheers.

In my excitement to land a role on “Cheers,” I shared during an interview with Chicago magazine in 2021 that I needed to embody a man who yearned for another round. In the show’s pilot, I uttered only one word – you guessed it, “beer” – which perfectly encapsulated my character George at the time. Interestingly, John Ratzenberger, who would later play Cliff Clavin, our fellow barfly, had initially auditioned for the part before I was cast.

As time went by, Norm transformed into a house painter, an interior decorator, and – isn’t it amazing? – a beer tester at a brewery on the program.

After “Cheers” concluded its broadcast, NBC contemplated a spinoff focusing on Wendt and Ratzenberger as bar friends, however, the series never came to fruition. Subsequently, he appeared on CBS in 1995 for “The George Wendt Show.” In this sitcom, he portrayed a Wisconsin garage co-owner and radio show co-host discussing car repairs, but the comedy series lasted only six episodes.

Over time, I’ve made appearances as Norm on St. Elsewhere, Wings, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Frasier, The Tortellis, and even played myself on Seinfeld and The Larry Sanders Show.

Apart from these, he appeared frequently on shows like ‘The Naked Truth’ and ‘Sabrina, the Teenage Witch’, and made guest appearances on various series such as ‘Alice’, ‘Soap’, ‘Hart to Hart’, ‘Becker’ (starring Danson), ‘Hot in Cleveland’, ‘Columbo’, ‘Harry’s Law’, ‘Fresh Off the Boat’, and ‘The Goldbergs’.

In 1998, Wendt first appeared on Broadway in the production of “Art“, and from 2007 to 2008, he performed as Edna Turnblad in “Hairspray>” – a role that Harvey Fierstein initially played.

Among those who carry on are his spouse Bernadette Birkett, an actress he wed in July 1978 (they crossed paths at Second City), who lent her voice to the role of Norm’s wife Vera on Cheers off-screen; his children Hilary, Joe, and Daniel; as well as his stepchildren Joshua and Andrew.

It’s hardly surprising that Wendt, well-known for his roles in Cheers, appeared in advertisements for Miller Lite and Meister Brau. Fans of the show would often shout “Norm!” at him, just as they did on the show, and regularly bought him drinks. Moreover, he collaborated on a 2009 book titled Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer.

He penned down in the beginning of the book that he’s quite content with life’s basic pleasures. All he needs is a cozy chair, a soothing breeze, some sports on the radio, and a refreshing cold drink, and he’d be as happy as can be,” he wrote to start the book.

To put it simply, given the situation, I could manage quite well without a chair. A refreshing breeze can be delightful, yet it’s not strictly necessary for enjoyment. There are numerous instances where I’m not able to attend a ballgame either.

“But a world without beer? I don’t know if that’s the kind of world I want to live in.”

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2025-05-20 23:55