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CHICAGO – He was America’s favorite barfly. For 11 TV seasons, George Wendt shuffled into the “Cheers” saloon in Boston to a hale and hearty chorus of “Norm!” … a traditional greeting before his character Norm Peterson took to the barstool. Chicago born-and-bred Wendt passed away on May 20th, 2025, in Los Angeles. He was 76.
George Robert Wendt Jr. was born in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, and came back to the city after college to perform at The Second City. After TV guest roles on “MASH,” “Taxi” and “Soap,” Wendt got his first regular role on the short-lived “Making the Grade” (1982). That show’s quick cancellation allowed Wendt to land his most famous role, and “Cheers” premiered in September of 1982.
The character of Norm Peterson appeared in all 275 episodes of “Cheers,” with cast members including Ted Danson (Sam), Shelley Long (Diane), Nicholas Colasanto (Coach), Rhea Perlman (Carla), John Ratzenberger (Cliff), Kelsey Grammar (Frasier), Woody Harrelson (Woody) and Kirstie Alley (Rebecca).
Post Cheers, George Wendt created one of sports favorite mascots on “Saturday Night Live,” Bob Swerski of the Chicago Bears Superfans. With beer, meat, heart attacks and a hearty shout of “Da Bears!” the Superfans created a catchphrase and a cultural touchpoint. For the rest of his career, he did notable TV (“The Naked Truth,” “Columbo,” “The Masked Singer”), Broadway (“Art”) and films (“Outside Providence”). He also appeared as Norm Peterson on “The Tortellis,” “Wings,” and “Frasier.”
George Wendt is survived by three children and his spouse Bernadette Birkett, who he met in Chicago at The Second City. The son of his sister Kathryn, also his nephew, is Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”), who makes a cameo in the Red Carpet interview below …
In a Red Carpet interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com from 2017 at “The Second City,” George Wendt channels his best SuperFan …
In conclusion, I asked George Wendt a burning question in 2010 …
HollywoodChicago: Here’s what I’ve wanted to ask since the 1980s – have you ever had to buy a drink since then?
George Wendt: [Laughs] Yeah, I do buy drinks, but I do get more than my share of free ones.