Thursday, May 22 2025 | Time 23:41 Hrs(IST)
EntertainmentPosted at: May 21 2025 6:43PM


Iconic 'Cheers' actor George Wendt passes away at 75

Los Angeles, May 21 (UNI) American actor George Wendt, the affable, beer-loving Norm Peterson from "Cheers", whose name drew a chorus of cheers with every entrance into the fictional Boston bar, has died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 75, his family confirmed on Tuesday.
A fixture on Cheers from its inception in 1982 until its finale in 1993, Wendt appeared in all 275 episodes of the Emmy-winning series, earning six consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, reports BBC.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and admirers alike, each echoing a shared reverence for Wendt's understated genius and generous spirit. Ted Danson, who portrayed Sam Malone, the show's charismatic bartender, said he was "devastated" by the news. "I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children," Danson added. "It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie."
Rhea Perlman, who essayed the sharp-tongued Carla, described Wendt as "the sweetest, kindest man I ever met", adding that she would "miss him more than words can say".
John Ratzenberger, known for playing Cliff Clavin, said he was "heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend", noting how they had "shared a stage, a lot of laughs, and a front-row seat to one of television's most beloved friendships".
Actress Melissa Joan Hart reflected on the handful of times they had worked together on the show Sabrina the Teenage Witch. "He was warm, professional and kind and our cast and crew were gifted with his presence every time. Rest in peace!" she wrote on Instagram.
She added, "Heaven just got a little funnier."
Wendt also appeared in several movies such as Dreamscape, Forever Young and Gung Ho.
He also appeared as the father of a boy played by Macaulay Culkin in Michael Jackson's Black or White music video, which was released in 1991.
He had been married to actor Bernadette Birkett since 1978 and the couple had three children. He was also the uncle of Emmy-winning actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis, known for his role in Ted Lasso.
Speaking 20 years after the show ended, Wendt said people still recognised him because the show had been a once-in-a-generation hit. "I live just a few blocks from where Friends was shot and from where Seinfeld was shot and I'd see the helicopters going over the studio and I'd think, wow, I'm one of a few dozen people who have a unique perspective on what all these people are going through," he reflected.
Cheers Boston, the pub that inspired the hit television show, paid tribute by sharing a picture of Norm's spot at the bar on Instagram. "George wasn't just an actor - he was a symbol of comfort, laughter, and that familiar feeling of walking into a place where everybody knows your name," they said.
"To George: thank you for the laughs, the memories, and the legacy you leave behind. You'll always have a stool at our bar." UNI NST SSP
Tags: #Iconic 'Cheers' actor George Wendt passes away at 75
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