logo
George Wendt, actor who played Norm on 'Cheers', dies aged 76

George Wendt, actor who played Norm on 'Cheers', dies aged 76

RNZ News20-05-2025

Actor George Wendt.
Photo:
AFP/CINDY ORD
George Wendt, an actor and comedian who was beloved for his performance as Norm Peterson on the long-running comedy series "Cheers" has died, his family announced.
He was 76.
"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," a representative for the family said in a statement to CNN.
- CNN

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump-inspired Cantonese opera in Hong Kong aims to bring love and peace
Trump-inspired Cantonese opera in Hong Kong aims to bring love and peace

RNZ News

time2 days ago

  • RNZ News

Trump-inspired Cantonese opera in Hong Kong aims to bring love and peace

By Joyce Zhou and Jessie Pang , Reuters US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Getty Images/CNN Newsource In a Cantonese opera inspired by US President Donald Trump, a Chinese actor donning a blond wig spars on a Hong Kong stage with a man playing a double of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - ridiculing his outfit and firing a water gun at him. The sold-out show, Trump, The Twins President , was performed in the territory's Xiqu Theatre as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a one-hour-long call on Thursday . Written by Edward Li, a Feng Shui master-turned-Cantonese opera playwright, the comedy made its Hong Kong debut in 2019. The three-and-a-half hour show has been through several iterations since with the latest version featuring Trump's attempted assassination and his quarrel with Zelensky in the White House. Cantonese opera is a centuries-old Chinese art form blending singing, acting, martial arts, and elaborate costumes, and is traditionally performed during special occasions. Li's latest production begins with a dream by Trump's daughter, Ivanka, where her father has a twin brother named Chuan Pu, living in China. When Trump is kidnapped by aliens from Mars, Ivanka asks Chuan to pretend to be Trump for a day. In another act, Trump has a dramatic fight with Zelensky's presidential double over his clothing in the White House, and shoots him with a water gun from Chinese online shopping site Taobao while Zelensky pretends to have been shot. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Photo: SERGEI CHUZAVKOV / AFP The actors perform against a backdrop of photos from the actual events. Li said he chose Trump as the main character because his tariffs and policies had affected everyone's daily life. "I think this opera is quite a special medicine for the whole world," Li said. "If people see this opera they will feel very happy because they think of love and peace." Cantonese opera actor Lung Koon-tin, who portrayed Trump, said the US president was unique. "He increased tariffs and made the whole world speak out." Lung said China and the US should be good friends. "We are Chinese and he is American, but friendship always lives long. That's why we talk about Sino-US friendship in the play." The audience erupted in laughter throughout the performance, breaking into enthusiastic applause at the end. Many of them were younger people, including 28-year-old Thomas Lo. He said that modern youth often felt disconnected from traditional Cantonese opera but the Trump-themed show, infused with contemporary events, offered a refreshing twist. "It's fun and really something special," Lo said. - Reuters

Weinstein concedes he acted 'immorally' as jury deliberations pause
Weinstein concedes he acted 'immorally' as jury deliberations pause

RNZ News

time2 days ago

  • RNZ News

Weinstein concedes he acted 'immorally' as jury deliberations pause

By Andréa Bambino , AFP Harvey Weinstein. Photo: ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein conceded that he acted "immorally" but insisted he did nothing criminal as jury deliberations on his fate in his sex crimes retrial paused for the weekend. Jurors said after two days that they needed "more time" to deliberate on a verdict for Weinstein. He is on trial again after a New York state appeals court threw out his 2020 convictions, citing irregularities in the original proceedings. The former movie industry titan's 23-year prison sentence for the initial conviction was thrown out, but he remains imprisoned for separate offences. Although Weinstein did not take the stand, he spoke out in an interview aired by FOX5 television on Friday (local time) as the jury considered six weeks of testimony. "I have regrets that I put my family through this, that I put my wife through this, and I acted immorally..., but never illegal, never criminal, never anything," he said. Weinstein pointed to comments by his defence attorney Arthur Aidala who suggested the three women who testified against him at trial "had four million reasons to testify, as in dollars". Judge Curtis Farber issued initial instructions on Thursday to jurors, one of whom had to be swapped out for an alternate after falling ill, before they retired to consider their verdict. He called on the panel to use "common sense" for this "very important decision" and reminded them that Weinstein was "presumed innocent." On Friday, the jury panel of 12 heard a read back of emotional testimony from Weinstein's former assistant Miriam Haley. The jury must decide whether Weinstein - accused by dozens of women of being a sexual predator - is guilty of sexual assaults in 2006 on Haley and former model Kaja Sokola, and of rape in 2013 of then-aspiring actress Jessica Mann. One juror came forward on Friday to report tensions between his fellow panelists, alleging "people are being shunned. It's playground stuff". He asked to resign as a juror, but Farber denied his request. Aidala requested that a mistrial be declared, but the judge denied his motion, and the jury will continue to deliberate Weinstein's fate on Monday. On Wednesday, prosecutor Nicole Blumberg summarised the evidence of the three alleged victims of Weinstein who testified at the trial for jurors saying simply "he raped three women, they all said no." The Hollywood figure had "all the power" and "all the control" over the alleged victims, which is why jurors should find him guilty, she said. "The defendant thought the rules did not apply to him, now it is the time to let him know that the rules apply to him. "There is no reasonable doubt; tell the defendant what he already knows - that he is guilty of the three crimes." Weinstein's defence attorney insisted the sexual encounters were consensual, pointing to a "casting couch" dynamic between the movie mogul and the women. Weinstein, the producer of box office hits Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love , has never acknowledged wrongdoing. The cinema magnate, whose downfall in 2017 sparked the global #MeToo movement, has been on trial since 15 April in a scruffy Manhattan courtroom. He is already serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted in California in a separate for raping and assaulting a European actress more than a decade ago. - AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store