TV legend George Wendt, best known for playing Norm Peterson on Cheers, passed away in his sleep at his Los Angeles home on May 20, 2025. He was 76.
According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Wendt died from cardiac arrest. Contributing health conditions included congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, end-stage renal disease, kidney failure, and hyperlipidemia.
The Cheers actor was pronounced dead at 10 a.m. and was cremated on May 28.
Wendt’s family shared a heartfelt statement following his death:
“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
His Cheers co-stars also shared emotional tributes. Ted Danson, who played Sam Malone, said:
“I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.”
Rhea Perlman, who played Carla Tortelli, remembered Wendt as “the sweetest, kindest man.”
“It was impossible not to like him. As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. I loved doing it, and he loved pretending it didn’t hurt. What a guy! I’ll miss him more than words can say.”
Wendt appeared in every single one of Cheers’ 275 episodes between 1982 and 1993. His portrayal of Norm earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.
NBC even considered a spinoff starring Wendt and John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin), though it never made it to production. In 1995, he starred in The George Wendt Show on CBS, playing a garage owner and radio host. The series lasted just six episodes.
In 2009, Wendt co-wrote Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer, where he reflected on life, beer, and his role as Norm.
“I’m a simple man, I don’t ask for much,” he wrote. “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… But a world without beer? I don’t know if that’s the kind of world I want to live in.”