Cheers alum George Wendt, the uncle of Jason Sudeikis, has died at age 76, E! News has confirmed.
A beloved sitcom star has died.
George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on the beloved NBC comedy Cheers, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home May 20, E! News has confirmed. He was 76.
“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a family spokesperson said in a statement. “He will be missed forever.”
After getting his start in comedy at The Second City in the 1970s, Wendt landed TV roles in Soap, M*A*S*H and the short-lived sitcom Making the Grade before being cast on Cheers, which ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. The actor appeared in all 275 episodes and earned six consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Following the series’ conclusion, the comedian went on to star in the short-lived The George Wendt Show in 1995 and later made memorable appearances on Saturday Night Live, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He reprised the role of Norm Peterson on the Cheers spinoff Frasier in 2002, as well as on The Simpsons and Family Guy.
In addition to his lengthy television career, Wendt appeared in a number of films over the years including Airplane II: The Sequel, The Little Rascals and Spice World. He was also featured in the opening scene of Michael Jackson’s 1991 music video “Black or White.”
Beyond his own success in the entertainment industry, Wendt was the uncle of SNL alum Jason Sudeikis, whom he praised in one of his final interviews.
“He’s such a great kid,” Wendt said on the Still Here Hollywood podcast in June. “Very proud. Proud especially, not only of the success, but he’s solid. Have you read profiles and stuff? I mean he is such a mensch, so smart, so thoughtful.”
