Who is George Wendt's wife Bernadette Birkett and how long was she married to the Cheers TV star?
BERNADETTE Birkett is an actress, and wife of the late sitcom star George Wendt.
As the world looks back on George's legacy following his death on May 20, 2025, here's everything we know about his wife's life, career, and relationship with her husband of almost 47 years.
4
Husband and wife Bernadette Birkett and George Wendt in 2024
Credit: Getty
4
Bernadette Birkett in one of her best-known roles as Rachael in 1985 film St. Elmo's Fire
Credit: Columbia Pictures
4
George and Bernadette in 1993
Credit: Getty
Who is Bernadette Birkett?
Bernadette Birkett is a 78-year-old actress, born on July 8, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois.
Not much is known about her earlier years, but according to her IMDB profile, she is the oldest of ten brothers and sisters.
The most notable of her younger siblings is Illinois Appellate Court Justice Joseph Birkett, whose term runs from 2012 to 2032.
What does Bernadette Birkett do for a living?
Much like her husband George, who was best-known for his role as Norm in Cheers, Bernadette is a film and television actress who trained and specialized in comedy.
Some of her career highlights have included co-starring as Jackie Schumaker on the self-aware sitcom parody It's Gary Shandling's Show, appearing alongside Demi Moore in the 1985 movie St. Elmo's Fire, and as Jack's mother in 2001's Heartbreakers, which starred Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Bernadette also guest starred on plenty of iconic television shows from the seventies and eighties: such as Family Ties, The Van Dyke Show, and The Twilight Zone, to name a few.
And although she wasn't actually seen on-screen for this role, she did also provide the voice of Vera: the wife of her real-life husband's character in Cheers.
Bernadette most recently appeared as a guest star on two episodes of Arrested Development's fifth and final season, which aired between 2018 and 2019, and is currently available to stream on Netflix.
How long was Bernadette Birkett married to George Wendt?
Bernadette and George first met while they were both training with Chicago's iconic improv troupe and theater, Second City, in 1974.
Four years later, the couple tied the knot on Bernadette's 32nd birthday: July 8, 1978.
The pair would have celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary in 2025.
Did Bernadette Birkett and George Wendt have children?
4
George Wendt, Bernadette Birkett, and their children attending a film premiere in 1993
Credit: Getty
Bernadette and George shared three children: Hilary, Joe, and Daniel, who are all in their mid thirties to early forties.
Their daughter Hilary has shared several sweet snaps to her Instagram page over the years, celebrating the couple's wedding anniversaries with throwback images.
Bernadette also has two older children from a previous relationship: Joshua and Andrew.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Sun
Hollyoaks star signs up for Love Island USA
A HOLLYOAKS star has signed up for Love Island USA - six years after far-right storyline on the Channel 4 soap. Former soap star Charlie Georgio, 27, has taken his career in a completely different direction and has become an Islander. 4 This Love Island USA hunk used to be in Hollyoaks Credit: Getty 4 Charlie Georgio appeared on the Channel 4 soap in 2019 Credit: Channel 4 4 Charlie arrived on Love Island USA as a bombshell Credit: Getty Birmingham native Charlie first shot to fame back in 2019 on Channel 4's Hollyoaks. On the soap he played Jed, a police informant in a far right extremist group who was set up on a date with Ste Hay. Charlie was on the soap for six episodes, before his Hollyoaks stint came to an end. But now it's been revealed he is part of the cast of Love Island USA, which is currently being filmed in Fiji. The hunk in trunks, who is also a model and singer, joined the show as a bombshell on the second episode of the new series, which is airing in America. As he was seen walking into the villa, the chiselled star said: "I'm tall, tanned, girls usually say I've got nice lips, and they like kissing them. "You might thing that Love Island started already, but now that I'm here, it's only just begun," Love Island USA also isn't Charlie's first stint in reality TV. He also appeared on Channel 4 's Tempting Fortune in 2023. Away from the bright lights of America and the Love Island USA villa, Charlie hails from Solihull where his family own a chippie. Inside Love Island USA's villa featuring a speakeasy, sauna and hideaway stocked with condoms and handcuffs- In fact, when his acting worked up dried up during the pandemic he pitched in and worked there. Working in the chip shop inspired him to write and release a song in 2021 called Lights, which was filmed in the family's takeaway called Giorgio's, Charlie told BirminghamLive at the time: "Back in 2019 I was doing a lot of modelling and I was doing Hollyoaks so it was a really busy time. "But then 2020 came and things got quiet, so I started picking up more shifts at the chip shop to stack up a bit of cash. "The shop is quite well-known around the area. It's been in the family for 30 years. "The song is just a message to people in a similar situation to stick with it." 4 The hunk in trunks is hoping to cause a stir in the villa Credit: Instagram
Scottish Sun
37 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Hollyoaks star signs up for Love Island USA – six years after far-right storyline on Channel 4 soap
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOLLYOAKS star has signed up for Love Island USA - six years after far-right storyline on the Channel 4 soap. Former soap star Charlie Georgio, 27, has taken his career in a completely different direction and has become an Islander. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 This Love Island USA hunk used to be in Hollyoaks Credit: Getty 4 Charlie Georgio appeared on the Channel 4 soap in 2019 Credit: Channel 4 4 Charlie arrived on Love Island USA as a bombshell Credit: Getty Birmingham native Charlie first shot to fame back in 2019 on Channel 4's Hollyoaks. On the soap he played Jed, a police informant in a far right extremist group who was set up on a date with Ste Hay. Charlie was on the soap for six episodes, before his Hollyoaks stint came to an end. BECOMING AN ISLANDER But now it's been revealed he is part of the cast of Love Island USA, which is currently being filmed in Fiji. The hunk in trunks, who is also a model and singer, joined the show as a bombshell on the second episode of the new series, which is airing in America. As he was seen walking into the villa, the chiselled star said: "I'm tall, tanned, girls usually say I've got nice lips, and they like kissing them. "You might thing that Love Island started already, but now that I'm here, it's only just begun," Love Island USA also isn't Charlie's first stint in reality TV. He also appeared on Channel 4's Tempting Fortune in 2023. WORKING IN A CHIPPIE Away from the bright lights of America and the Love Island USA villa, Charlie hails from Solihull where his family own a chippie. Inside Love Island USA's villa featuring a speakeasy, sauna and hideaway stocked with condoms and handcuffs- In fact, when his acting worked up dried up during the pandemic he pitched in and worked there. Working in the chip shop inspired him to write and release a song in 2021 called Lights, which was filmed in the family's takeaway called Giorgio's, Charlie told BirminghamLive at the time: "Back in 2019 I was doing a lot of modelling and I was doing Hollyoaks so it was a really busy time. "But then 2020 came and things got quiet, so I started picking up more shifts at the chip shop to stack up a bit of cash. "The shop is quite well-known around the area. It's been in the family for 30 years. "The song is just a message to people in a similar situation to stick with it."
Scottish Sun
37 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Freddy Brazier goes on bowling date with blonde influencer as it's revealed he's living with nan Jackiey amid Jeff feud
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FREDDY Brazier has been spotted enjoying a bowling day out with a stunning social media star. The 20-year-old headed out with glamorous Tasha Newcombe who boasts a whopping 65,000 followers. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Freddy Brazier has enjoyed an outing with a stunning social media star Credit: Getty 5 He confirmed he's headed to Roxy Ballroom with Tasha Newcombe Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 5 Tasha has built up a large following online Credit: Instagram Freddy took to his Instagram stories to share a snap of Roxy Ballroom where he enjoyed his afternoon outing with Tasha. He didn't share any further details of their trip out nor did he upload any snaps of Tasha - instead choosing to tag her in his post. Have YOU got a story or an amazing picture or video? Email exclusive@ and you could even get PAID Tasha also re-shared the post to her own Instagram stories. His outing comes after it was revealed that the model and Celebrity Race Across The World star had moved in with his nan Jackiey Budden in her Bermondsey home. Jackiey, who has lived in the London area close to Tower Bridge all her life, has been spending an increasing amount of time with her grandson amid his feud with TV star father Jeff. It is understood that he has been living at her South London home despite the legal row launched by his father Jeff, 46, to block Jackiey from seeing him. Freddy, 20, was just four-years-old and his EastEnders actor brother Bobby, was five when their mother Jade Goody died from cervical cancer in 2009. The Big Brother legend passed away at the age of 27 after a seven month battle with cancer and he has since been raised by his dad. Since then, Jackiey and Jeff have clashed several times before The Sun on Sunday revealed that the former Dancing on Ice contestant took legal action for his son's wellbeing. Despite trying to keep the duo apart, The Mail reports that Freddy spent the last week with his grandmother at her home in Bermondsey. Freddy Brazier defies dad Jeff to post new TikTok with nan Jackiey after legal action and 'weed smoking' row A source told the publication: "Jeff was never going to keep Freddy away from his Nanny for very long – they've always had a strong bond. "Jeff may hate her for all sorts of reasons going back many years, but Freddy loves her very much. "They had a great time together, playing with her dog and catching up at her flat – where he has often stayed over the years. "Whatever Jeff hoped to achieve with his legal efforts, it hasn't worked." This comes after we spotted Freddy smoking a joint with his former reality TV star grandmother near Tower Bridge in full view of tourists. Our exclusive photos and video show them smoking a suspicious-looking cigarette as Jackiey was seen to be 'acting erratically' with her grandson. An onlooker remarked: "The pair were puffing away in the open, in full view of tourists passing by and there was an aromatic smell in the air. The source added: "She appeared to be acting erratically." 5 It comes amid his ongoing feud with his father Jeff Credit: Homeserve
