Cheers icon George Wendt is being mourned by his onetime co-stars after it emerged that he has died on the age of 76.
The legendary actor performed the beloved barfly Norm Peterson on the hit NBC present from 1982-1993 and earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for the position.
Wendt’s loss of life on Tuesday was confirmed by his publicist in an announcement that learn: ‘George was a doting household man, a well-loved good friend and confidant to all of these fortunate sufficient to have identified him.
‘He might be missed ceaselessly. The household has requested privateness throughout this time.’
Now Kelsey Grammer, who originated his iconic character Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers earlier than he grew to become a sitcom celebrity in his personal proper on the spin-off Frasier, has shared his response to the shock growth.
‘I consider mourning is a non-public matter. However I favored George rather a lot. He was beloved by hundreds of thousands,’ Grammer mentioned in an announcement to DailyMail.com.
Cheers icon George Wendt is being mourned by his heartbroken co-stars after it emerged that he has died on the age of 76; pictured with Ted Dansen (left) at a reunion in 1993
One other of his Cheers co-stars Ted Danson, who led the forged of the sitcom as bartender and women’ man Sam Malone, has shared his grief at Wendt’s loss of life.
He mentioned he’s ‘devastated to listen to that Georgie is now not with us,’ conveying ‘all my love’ to Wendt’s spouse Bernadette Birkett and their three youngsters, through Folks. ‘It will take me a very long time to get used to this. I really like you, Georgie.’
Two And A Half Males star Jon Cryer fondly remembered his teenage position appearing alongside Wendt in a 1984 movie known as No Small Affair, a romantic comedy that additionally featured Demi Moore and Tim Robbins.
Cryer shared that he ‘met George on considered one of my first motion pictures and every single day we shot collectively I type of couldn’t consider it. That I used to be working with considered one of my favourite actors in tv and he was simply such an absolute prince.’
He touchingly added that Wendt ‘might be missed by many hundreds of thousands who, identical to me, felt like Norm was a member of the household.’
Sabrina The Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart additionally wrote glowingly about her expertise working with Wendt throughout his recurring visitor shot on her present as her character’s surly boss at her newspaper internship.
‘Heaven simply received just a little funnier with #GeorgeWendt. It was a thrill to work beside him on #SabrinatheTeenageWitch for a handful of episodes,’ she wrote.
‘I used to be a giant #Cheers fan and knew I used to be amongst among the best when he was on set. He was heat, skilled and type and our forged and crew had been gifted along with his presence each time. Relaxation in peace! #GodBlesstheFunnyPeople.’
Two And A Half Males star Jon Cryer fondly remembered his teenage position appearing alongside Wendt in a 1984 movie known as No Small Affair, through which Wendt is pictured with Demi Moore
Sabrina The Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart additionally wrote glowingly about her expertise working with Wendt throughout his recurring visitor shot on her present
Good Luck Charlie actor Eric Allan Kramer remembered the bonhomie and humor he skilled from Wendt whereas guest-starring on Cheers in 1989.
‘Was arduous to listen to of his passing… First met George Wendt on the set of Cheers… One of many warmest, funniest guys I’ve ever come throughout…,’ wrote Kramer.
‘Welcoming because the star he was, extremely giving as an actor in rehearsal (and when the cameras had been rolling)… Additionally the primary one to ensure I had a beer in my hand on the finish of the evening…’
Kramer famous: ‘We shared a historical past of labor with the Calgary Stampeders and exchanged many tales over the week… Cheers, certainly… Many thanks for the laughs and the schooling… RIP’.
Wendt’s passing got here simply six months after the frail star was seen being wheeled out of an California dialysis clinic 32 years to the day that the Cheers finale aired.
Wendt’s iconic sitcom Cheers ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, although the present was virtually canceled after its first season as a consequence of low rankings.
Nonetheless, it spent eight of its remaining 10 seasons within the prime 10, turning into the most-watched present in Season 9.
Wendt is pictured as Norm Peterson on Cheers
The legendary actor, performed the beloved barfly on the hit NBC present from 1982-1993 and earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for the position – pictured prime proper with the forged – Rhea Perlman, Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Kirstie Alley, Roger Rees and Bebe Neuwirth within the Nineteen Eighties
It earned 28 Emmy Awards from 117 nominations, incomes Excellent Comedy Collection nominations all 11 seasons, successful 4.
Wendt – who can also be the uncle of Ted Lasso actor Jason Sudeikis – impressively appeared in each episode till it went off air in Could 1993.
His lovable, happy-go-lucky barfly Norm – whose occupations included accountant, painter and decorator and coast guard – rapidly grew to become a fan favourite, due to his iconic entrance into the bar.
Norm would arrive and yell ‘Afternoon/night all people!’ with the bar crowd shouting his identify again.
Hailing from Chicago, previous to appearing Wendt was expelled from the College of Notre Dame in Indiana over poor grades earlier than transferring into showbusiness, the place his first job was sweeping a theatre ground.
Visitor roles in Taxi and M*A*S*H had been adopted by his huge break on Cheers, and two years after it completed he launched a self-titled sitcom on CBS, nevertheless it was canceled after eight episodes.
Aside from his success within the hit sitcom, the favored entertainer has appeared in exhibits similar to Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Columbo and Wings.
Norm – whose occupations included accountant, painter and decorator and coast guard – rapidly grew to become a fan favourite, due to his iconic entrance into the bar
Wendt had not been seen in public a lot in recent times – he reunited with the Cheers forged on the Emmy Awards in January 2024
Wendt had been married to Birkett – who performed the voice of the mysterious Vera on Cheers – since 1978 and so they have one daughter and two sons – pictured January 2024
Wendt’s nephew and godson is Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis – pictured 2017
The star is pictured in M*A*S*H as Non-public Laroche in 1982
Wendt joined Sudeikis, Travis Kelce. Robert Smigel and Patrick Mahomes, onstage at 2024 Massive Slick Movie star Weekend in June 2024
He additionally had a recurring sketch on SNL’s Invoice Swerski’s Superfans, which was devoted to sports activities followers from Chicago.
Wendt had been married to Bernadette Birkett – who performed the voice of the mysterious Vera on Cheers – since 1978 and so they have one daughter and two sons.
Wendt had stored a low profile in recent times, making solely a handful of small appearances on display screen, together with his stint as a contestant in The Masked Singer in 2023.
Extra just lately, he made a shock look on stage when he reunited with the Cheers forged on the Emmy Awards in January 2024.
Wendt was joined by former co-stars Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman, and John Ratzenberger round a recreated set of the present’s iconic bar.
Forged members Shelley Lengthy and Woody Harrelson didn’t attend the reunion.
Sudeikis defined to Playboy in 2011 how his mom’s brother Wendt impressed him to embark upon his personal profession path.
He admitted: ‘He’s all the time been very encouraging, however there was no Tuesdays With Morrie type of relationship between him and I.
‘He didn’t take me to the park to clarify comedian timing. There was nothing like that. He was only a good instance that being an actor was a viable choice.’
The actor added: ‘Right here’s a man from the Midwest, in my household, who took the highway much less travelled and it labored out for him. The recommendation he gave me, and I say this jokingly, is “Get on among the best sitcoms of all time after which trip it out.”‘
Wendt inspired his nephew to audition for Saturday Night time Stay after attending considered one of his improv performances.
In June 2024 Wendt lauded his nephew – the son of his sister Kathy on the podcast Nonetheless Right here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko
He mentioned: ‘He is such an important child. Very proud. Proud particularly, , not solely of the success, however he is stable. Have you ever learn profiles and stuff? I imply he’s such a mesh, so good, so considerate. I imply, all of it comes out within the present. Proper?’
