Everybody knew George Wendt’s name, but the boisterous “Cheers” star hadn’t been seen in public for almost one year before his passing.
The beloved television icon died “peacefully in his sleep” on Tuesday morning, The Post confirmed.
“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” the family rep’s told The Post in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
Wendt was most famous for his iconic role as barfly Norm Peterson in the beloved CBS sitcom, “Cheers,” alongside Ted Danson, 77, Rhea Perlman, 77, John Ratzenberger, 78, Shelley Long, 75, Kelsey Grammer, 70, Woody Harrelson, 63, the late Kirstie Alley, and more.
The comedian made his last public appearance on June 1, 2024, at the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City, Missouri, doing what he loved most.
Wendt appeared in a comedy sketch at the fundraiser with his real-life nephew, “Ted Lasso” actor Jason Sudeikis, fellow comedian Robert Smigel, and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Sudeikis’ mom is one of Wendt’s sisters.
Wendt and Smigel hilariously reprised their roles as Bob Swerski and Carl Wollarski in the bit “Super Fans,” marking the first time they played the characters since Chris Farley’s death in 1997, reported KCTV5.
Sudeikis stepped in as Farley’s character, Todd O’Conner.
During the skit, the comedic trio — dressed in Chicago Bears gear — grilled the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end about his relationship with Taylor Swift and his football team.
Sudeikis’ line, “Travis, real talk, OK, just the guys here… When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?” even went viral.
Wendt also appeared at the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in January 2024 for an iconic reunion that means something sweeter after his death.
The Chicago-born actor returned to his roots, appearing on the award show stage with several of his former “Cheers” cast members, including Danson, Grammer, Perlman, and Ratzenberger.
The stars gathered around a replica of the sitcom’s famous Boston bar to present the Best Directing for a Comedy Series and Best Writing in a Comedy Series statuettes.
At a pre-Emmy party, Wendt was seen with a cane and getting help walking from Sudeikis.
During its 11-season run from 1982 to 1993, “Cheers” took home a total of 28 Emmys.
Wendt became a fan favorite, with the actor scoring six Emmy nominations for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Norm.
He reprised the character in the short-lived “Cheers” spinoff, “The Tortellis,” and the more successful spinoff “Frasier.”
The star also landed his own sitcom, “The George Wendt Show,” but the CBS program was scrapped after one month.
Over the years, Wendt would continue to play Norm in non-related “Cheers” shows like “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “Wings,” and more.
He starred as himself on “Seinfeld” and “The Larry Sanders Show,” and had recurring roles on “The Naked Truth” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.”
Wendt is survived by his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett; their children Hilary, Joe and Daniel; and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew.
