'Cheers' Star George Wendt Passes Away At Age 76

George Wendt, best known for playing the lovable barfly Norm Peterson on "Cheers," has died. He was 75.

Wendt was a fixture on the iconic NBC sitcom from the pilot in 1982 to the show’s final episode in 1993, appearing in all 275 episodes. His portrayal of Norm, whose name was famously shouted every time he entered the Boston bar, earned him six consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Following the end of "Cheers," George Wendt launched "The George Wendt Show" and continued to work steadily across television and film.

There is now an empty seat at the bar, folks, because family sources tell TMZ the Emmy-nominated actor passed away peacefully in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home.

While the official cause of death has not yet been released, his family shared a heartfelt statement remembering Wendt as “a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him.”

They added, “He will be missed forever.”

Born George Robert Wendt Jr. on October 17, 1948, in Chicago, he was one of nine siblings. His father ran a real estate agency, and his mother, Loretta, was a devoted homemaker and fundraiser for Little Company of Mary Hospital.

Wendt’s family tree includes another notable name in entertainment. His nephew is "Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis, the son of one of his six sisters.

A true fan favorite, Wendt’s everyman charm and relaxed comedic timing made him instantly relatable.

As Norm Peterson, an accountant who rarely left his barstool, he appeared in all 275 episodes of "Cheers" from 1982 to 1993, a feat matched only by co-stars Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman.

His performance earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from 1984 to 1989. Though he never took home the statue, losing out to Pat Harrington Jr., John Larroquette, and even castmate Woody Harrelson, Wendt remained a beloved fixture on primetime television.

Ever humble, Wendt often poked fun at his own craft, once joking about the infamous “beer” Norm was known for chugging on-screen.

“It not only tastes disgusting, I was afraid of keeling over from high blood pressure,” he told The Washington Post in 1985, referring to the flat, salted, non-alcoholic brew used during filming. “Then I got the knack. It only mattered when the camera was pointing my way. That’s how I make my money. That’s acting.”

Unsurprisingly, Wendt’s association with bar culture extended beyond "Cheers."

He appeared in beer commercials for brands like Miller Lite and Meister Brau, often greeted in real life with enthusiastic cries of “Norm!” from fans, many of whom insisted on buying him a drink. Embracing his iconic status, he co-wrote a 2009 book titled "Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer," blending personal stories with his signature humor.

“I’m a simple man, I don’t ask for much. Give me a nice comfortable chair, a cool breeze, a ballgame on the radio and an ice-cold beer, and I couldn’t be happier,” he wrote in the opening of the book, per The Hollywood Reporter. “Truth be told, if it came down to it, I could live without the chair. A cool breeze is nice, but it isn’t exactly mandatory for a good time. And there are plenty of times when I don’t have access to a ballgame."

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

In addition to "Cheers," his big-screen credits include "Airplane II: The Sequel," "Fletch," "The Little Rascals," "Spice World," "Santa Buddies," and Adam Sandler’s "Sandy Wexler." He also took on roles in cult favorites like "Outside Providence" and "Alice in Wonderland."

Born and raised in Chicago as one of nine children, Wendt attended high school in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, before enrolling at the University of Notre Dame. After college, he found his footing in comedy, joining the Chicago improv scene before booking early TV gigs on shows like "Taxi," "Soap," and "MASH*," but it was "Cheers" that would cement his place in television history.

Beyond his legendary sitcom success, George Wendt made a memorable appearance as the grumpy father to Macaulay Culkin’s headphone-wearing character in Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking 1991 “Black or White” music video, directed by Jon Landis.

Fascinatingly, Wendt’s maternal grandfather, photographer Tom Howard, made headlines in 1928 when he posed as a priest to secretly capture one of the most notorious tabloid photos in history: an image of convicted murderer Ruth Snyder in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison. The haunting shot made the front page of the New York Daily News, forever linking the Wendt family to a different kind of camera flash.

George Wendt is survived by his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, and their three children.