George Wendt Biography

(Actor and Comedian Best Known for His Role of ‘Norm Peterson’ on the TV Series ‘Cheers’)

Birthday: October 17, 1948 (Libra)

Born In: Beverly, Chicago, Illinois, United States

George Robert Wendt was an American actor who rose to fame for his role as Norm Peterson on the American TV show Cheers. His character became so iconic that he appeared as Norm in numerous crossover episodes on other shows. He was a regular on Cheers throughout its entire run. Wendt began his career as a theater artist in the 1970s and eventually transitioned into film and television. He made his film debut in My Bodyguard (1980), and a year later, he made his first notable television appearance on Taxi. He also appeared in popular shows like Soap and MASH* before landing his breakthrough role on Cheers. Wendt made multiple guest appearances on Saturday Night Live, starting with season eleven. He became a familiar face on television with appearances in shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Columbo, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Modern Men, Hot in Cleveland, Portlandia, and Clipped. He also starred in the web series Verdene and Gleneda. George Wendt passed away on May 20, 2025, leaving behind a legacy as one of television’s most beloved comedic actors.

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Quick Facts

Also Known As: George Robert Wendt Jr.

Died At Age: 76

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Bernadette Birkett (m. 1978)

father: George Robert Wendt

mother: Loretta Mary (née Howard)

siblings: Karen Wendt, Kathryn Sudeikis, Loretta Jolivette, Marti Doherty, Mary Ann Wendt, Nancy Wendt Healy, Paul Wendt, Tom Wendt

Born Country: United States

Actors Comedians

Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Males

Died on: May 20, 2025

place of death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ancestry: German American, Irish American

City: Chicago, Illinois

Notable Alumni: Rockhurst University

U.S. State: Illinois

More Facts

education: Rockhurst University

  • 1

    What role was George Wendt best known for?

    George Wendt was best known for his role as Norm Peterson on the sitcom "Cheers."

  • 2

    Had George Wendt appeared in any movies?

    Yes, George Wendt had appeared in several movies, including "Gung Ho," "Fletch," and "Forever Young."

  • 3

    Was George Wendt still acting before his death?

    Yes, George Wendt continued to act in various projects, including television shows, movies, and theater productions.

  • 4

    Had George Wendt written any books?

    George Wendt had not written any books, but he had shared his experiences and insights in interviews and memoirs.

Childhood & Early Life
Born on October 17, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, George Robert Wendt III is the son of Loretta Mary and George Robert Wendt. His father was a navy officer and realtor.
He received his formal education from ‘Campion High School,’ Wisconsin. He enrolled at the ‘University of Notre Dame,’ but was soon expelled after he failed in all the subjects in the first semester.
Thereafter, he attended the ‘Rockhurst College’ in Kansas City, Missouri, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics.
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Early Career

He was working in his father’s real estate firm when he came across the idea of pursuing a career in acting. He started working with ‘The Second City’ troupe in 1975, and eventually became main stage cast of the company.

He made his first on-screen appearance in the film ‘A Wedding’ in 1978. His role, however, went uncredited. His first credited film is ‘My Bodyguard,’ which was released in 1980.
In 1981, he appeared in an episode of ‘Tax.’ He starred in TV series ‘M A S H’ in 1982.
Career
In 1982, Wendt portrayed ‘Norm Peterson’ in the TV sitcom ‘Cheers.’ The show became a hit, and so did his character. The show was about a bar set in Boston where a group of people met and socialize. ‘Cheers’ ran from 1982 to 1993.
His character became so popular that Wendt did a lot of crossover episodes in other TV shows such as ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘St. Elsewhere,’ ‘The Tortellis,’ ‘Family Guy’ and ‘Frasier.’
His role in ‘Cheers’ got him six ‘Emmy Award’ nominations for ‘Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.’ Wendt remained a part of the show in all seasons.
While starring in ‘Cheers,’ Wendt had an opportunity to appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1985. In the 90s, he made several appearances as ‘Bob Swerski,’ a Chicago Superfan, on ‘SNL.’
After ‘Cheers’ ended in 1993, Wendt had his own show called ‘The George Wendt Show’ where he played a mechanic for a radio show. The show was similar to the radio show ‘Car Talk.’ His show didn’t run for too long, so Wendt moved on to explore other opportunities. In 1994, he starred in the film ‘Man of the House.’
In 1999, he became a part of the film ‘Outside Province’ where he played a homosexual named ‘Joey.’ He also appeared in Michael Jackson’s music video ‘Black & White.’
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From 2000 to 2010, he appeared in many TV shows, such as ‘Sabrina, The Teenage Witch’ (2001), ‘Becker’ (2002), ‘House of Dreams’ (2004), ‘Modern Men’ (2006), ‘Masters of Horror’ (2006), and ‘Saturday Morning’ (2007).
He starred as ‘Edna Turnblad’ in the Broadway musical ‘Hairspray’ in 2008. He also made an appearance in the horror film ‘Bryan Loves You.’
From 2010 onward, Wendt focused more on Broadway, and played Santa in ‘Elf the Musical.’ He reprised his role as ‘Edna Turnblad’ in a production of ‘Hairspray,’ in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
He also appeared in several series, such as ‘The Ghost Whisperer’ and ‘Cubed.’ In 2011, he guest starred in TV series ‘Hot in Cleveland’ as ‘Yoder,’ which was based on his character in ‘Cheers.’
In 2013, he made a short appearance as a news reporter on ‘Portlandia.’ He also appeared in TV show ‘Harry’s Law.’ In the same year, Wendt starred in another successful play ‘Never Too Late,’ alongside his wife. He played a lumber yard owner whose life turns messy after his wife returns from a doctor’s appointment with life-changing news.
He also starred in the stage adaptation of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ with Emilia Clarke and Cory Michael Smith. In 2015, he appeared in another TV show ‘Clipped.’
In 2017, he starred in ‘The Fabulous Lipitones,’ at ‘New Theatre Restaurant,’ in Overland Park, Kansas. The same year, he starred in another play ‘Death of a Salesman,’ in Ontario, Canada, where he played the role of ‘Willy Loman.’

In 2023, George Wendt participated in season nine of The Masked Singer, performing under the alias "Moose." Notably, he remained seated for the majority of his performance. He was eliminated during the themed "'80s Night" episode, alongside Christine Quinn of Selling Sunset, who performed as "Scorpio."

Personal Life & Death

Wendt met Bernadette Birkett at ‘Second City’ and they got married in 1978. They had three children together.

His wife played Cliff’s date in season 3 of ‘Cheers.’ She also played the voice of ‘Norm’s’ wife, ‘Vera,’ in the series.

Death

George Wendt passed away peacefully in his sleep at his residence in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles on May 20, 2025.

Facts About George Wendt

George Wendt was an accomplished musician and enjoyed playing the harmonica in his spare time.

He was a big fan of gardening and used to spend a lot of time tending to his plants and flowers.

George Wendt was known for his love of classic cars and often attended car shows and auctions.

He was an avid collector of vintage board games and enjoyed hosting game nights with friends and family.

George Wendt was a talented cook and loved experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

See the events in life of George Wendt in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- George Wendt Biography
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- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
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URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/george-wendt-30395.php

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