Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty George Wendt, best known for playing Norm Peterson on the long-running sitcomCheers, has died. He was 76. The actor died on the morning of Tuesday, May 20. In a statement to PEOPLE, his publicist Melissa Nathan confirmed, "Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedyCheers, has passed away." "George's family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home," the statement continued. "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." NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Wendt was born in Chicago in 1948. He was one of nine children; his sister Kathryn is the mother of actor and comedianJason Sudeikis. He flunked out of Notre Dame and then worked at his father's real estate office in Chicago before graduating from Rockhurst College. In 1974, he started training in comedy at Chicago's The Second City theater. There he met Bernadette Birkett, whom he married in 1978. He and his wife shared three children: Hilary, Joe, and Daniel. Although he ultimately succeeded as a comedian, he was fired by the theater once and quit once. "I sucked, basically," he toldThe AV Clubin 2009. "'Sucked out loud,' I think was the quote." He added, "For somebody who made his living at it for six years, I'm probably the worst improviser of all time." Wendt's earliest roles included small parts on series includingHart to Hart,Soap,TaxiandM*A*S*H. He also appeared in a handful of films, includingMy Bodyguard,Jekyll and Hyde... Together AgainandAirplane II: The Sequel. Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty In 1982, he was cast on the sitcomMaking the Grade, which was canceled after six episodes. This allowed Wendt to join the cast ofCheers, which premiered the same year. His character, Norm Peterson, was a frequent customer at the bar, and one of only three characters to appear in every episode. "My friend Pat Finn always reminds me what the audition was forCheers: I needed to look like a guy who wanted to have another beer," Wendt toldChicago Magazinein 2021. "Norm is just me with better writing," he explained. "There were hundreds, if not thousands, of actors who could have delivered on the absolute gems that I was handed on a silver platter every Wednesday morning." After a first season with shaky ratings, the show became a massive success. "I get a lot of free beers. It's one of the great perks of employment history," Wendt toldThe Washington Postin 1985. "Whenever I go out, people are always sending over a beer, or a round, for me and my friends." Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Wendt was a six-time Emmy nominee for his role on the series. He became very close to castmates Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer and Woody Harrelson. When the series ended in 1993, Wendt's wifetold PEOPLEof theCheerscast, "They get along like siblings. To somebody peeking in from the outside, they look like they're having the greatest time in the world." When Wendt hostedSaturday Night Livein 1991, he joined Bill Swerski's Super Fans, a sketch about a group of Bears fans discussing their favorite teams, including, iconically, "Da Bears." Wendt's episode was the second appearance of the group of fans, and Wendt toldthe Chicago Tribunein 2019, from there "It took on a life of its own." Steve Granitz/WireImage The sketch recurred on the series multiple times, and Wendt and Robert Smigel reprised their roles at actual Bears and Chicago Bulls games for decades. Even Michael Jordan appeared in the sketch when the NBA legend hosted in 1991. In 1995, Wendt starred onThe George Wendt Show, but it was canceled after one season. "I don't want to be Norm forever," he toldThe Los Angeles Timesbefore the series premiered — before admitting his new character was "very Norm-like." Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Wendt played the killer in one of the final episodes ofColumboin 1995. Other TV appearances includedSeinfeld,The Simpsons, the TV filmBye Bye Birdie,Sabrina the Teenage Witch,Hot in Cleveland,PortlandiaandFresh Off the Boat.He also appeared in dozens of films, includingFletch,Forever Young,Spice World,Sandy WexlerandGrand-Daddy Day Care. Wendt acted in many regional theater productions and on Broadway a handful of times, including playing Edna Turnblad inHairsprayin 2007 and playing Santa in the musicalElfin 2010. He played Santa in a number of other projects, including in 2006'sSanta Baby, 2008'sA Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, 2009'sSanta Buddiesand 2012'sMerry In-Laws. "It's really hard to eat much with all that hair on," Wendt joked toThe New York Timesin 2022 about the challenges of playing Kris Kringle. "That beard — that's awful. It just goes right in your mouth, no matter how careful you are." FOX/Getty In 2023, he competed onThe Masked Singer.Wendt reunitedwith hisCheerscostars Danson, Grammar, Perlman and Ratzenberger at the 2023 Emmys to present the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series. Wendt's acting philosophy was simple. He told theChicago Tribunein 2002, "I just look for fun things to do." His biggest advice for aspiring actors was "Have fun," he toldSolzy at the Moviesin 2019. "Look, it's brutal out there. If you're not having fun, it's not worth it." Wendt is survived by his wife and children. Read the original article onPeople
