Advertisement
George Wendt, best known for playing the unforgettable Norm Peterson on Cheers, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. He was 76. His publicist, Melissa Nathan, confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement, sharing that the actor died at home and surrounded by peace.
Born in Chicago in 1948, Wendt was the eighth of nine children in a big, bustling Irish-American family. He attended the University of Notre Dame, though he was expelled, and later graduated from Rockhurst College in Kansas City. Before finding his way into entertainment, he briefly worked at his father’s real estate firm.
In 1974, he began training at the famed Second City comedy theater in Chicago, a move that would change the course of his life. It was there he met his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett. They married in 1978 and had three children together: Hilary, Joe, and Daniel. Wendt’s family ties to comedy extended further—he was also the uncle of Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis.
Though his early career was rocky—he was even fired from Second City at one point—Wendt pushed forward. He landed guest spots on Taxi, Hart to Hart, and other television shows. His early film credits included Airplane II: The Sequel, My Bodyguard, and Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again. In 1982, he starred in Making the Grade, a short-lived sitcom canceled after just six episodes.