Hollywood lost one of its rare genuine personalities this week. George Wendt, best known as the beloved barfly Norm Peterson on the classic sitcom *Cheers*, has died peacefully at home at the age of 76.
Wendt, who embodied the kind of everyday American most elites in Hollywood wouldn’t understand if they tripped over him, passed away Tuesday in his sleep, his family confirmed. Though Hollywood may remember him for the glitz and accolades, many Americans remember him simply as “Norm” — the working man who made everyone feel like they had a place, even in a Boston bar full of colorful characters.
The Emmy-nominated actor wasn’t some Hollywood trust-fund kid or part of the woke brigade. He came up the old-fashioned way — through grit, talent, and good old Midwestern charm. Born in Chicago in 1948, Wendt got his start in the heartland, not Hollywood, working the comedy circuit with the famed Second City troupe during the 1970s. Before long, he’d landed the role of a lifetime — and made TV history.
Norm Peterson wasn’t glamorous, political, or flashy. He was us. A working-class guy who knew the bartender by name, loved his beer, and had a seat waiting for him at the local bar. In an era when television is obsessed with lecturing viewers about politics or rewriting the rules of comedy to appease the outrage mob, Wendt’s Norm represented something that’s quickly vanishing: real, relatable, apolitical storytelling.
He appeared in all 275 episodes of Cheers, a show that ran from 1982 to 1993 and remains one of the most awarded comedies of all time with 28 Emmys. Alongside co-stars like Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, and the late Kirstie Alley (another proudly un-woke icon), Wendt helped build a world where laughter didn’t require a political disclaimer.
While the coastal elites sneer at “middle America,” Wendt portrayed it with heart. Norm wasn’t a caricature — he was a character. And audiences loved him for it. His catchphrase — “Afternoon, everybody!” — always got a roar from the crowd, not because it was clever, but because it was comforting. It reminded us of the warmth of familiarity in a world increasingly driven by chaos and confusion.
Though he never became a flashy leading man or social media activist, Wendt’s impact on comedy was enormous. He earned six Emmy nominations, starred in spinoffs like *Frasier*, and even dipped into theater with Broadway performances. He didn’t need controversy or political gimmicks to build a following — just authenticity and talent.
Even in his later years, Wendt stayed connected with his roots. His last public appearance was in June 2024, at a charity event in Kansas City, rubbing elbows with regular folks and NFL star Travis Kelce — not a Hollywood gala or activist march.
Wendt is survived by his wife of 46 years, actress Bernadette Birkett, their three children, and two stepchildren. He also leaves behind a nephew, Jason Sudeikis, proving that even in Hollywood, some families still carry tradition the right way.
In a time when entertainment is increasingly out of touch with real Americans, George Wendt was a reminder of what made TV great — not the agenda, but the characters. And Norm Peterson will remain one of the most iconic, blue-collar characters in American television history.
Rest in peace, George. The barstool’s empty, but your legacy lives on.
