Latest news with #75thPrimetimeEmmyAwards
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
George Wendt Death: 'Cheers' Co-Stars Speak Out
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. George Wendt, beloved for his role as barfly Norm Peterson on the iconic NBC sitcom Cheers, has died at age 76. Wendt passed away at home, his family confirmed Tuesday, prompting an outpouring of tributes from his Cheers co-stars and Hollywood peers. The Emmy-nominated actor played Norm for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, delivering one of the most recognizable catchphrases in television history each time he entered the fictional Boston bar: a chorus of patrons yelling, "Norm!" "I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us," said Ted Danson, who starred alongside Wendt as bartender Sam Malone. "It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie." Rhea Perlman, who played waitress Carla Tortelli, remembered Wendt as "the sweetest, kindest man I ever met." She recalled how their characters' routine physical comedy bonded them. "As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar... I'll miss him more than words can say," she said. George Wendt Cause of Death: What We Know Wendt's cause of death has not been officially disclosed. His family said he died peacefully in his sleep, at home early Tuesday morning and was described by loved ones as "a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him." Kelsey Grammer, from left, Rhea Perlman, Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger and George Wendt at 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Kelsey Grammer, from left, Rhea Perlman, Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger and George Wendt at 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Chris Pizzello/AP Photo A Television Icon and Fan Favorite Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series during his run on Cheers. The show itself won 28 Emmys and became one of the most acclaimed series in television history. "George's portrayal of Norm Peterson made millions laugh and feel seen," said Deadline. "The comfort of his presence at the end of the bar was a cornerstone of what made 'Cheers' a staple in American homes for over a decade". His nephew, actor Jason Sudeikis, had frequently acknowledged Wendt's influence on his own comedic career. Who Is George Wendt's Wife? Wendt is survived by his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett. The couple met in Chicago at Second City, the famed comedy troupe, and married in 1978. Birkett herself was the voice of Norm's often referenced but never seen wife, Vera. The couple had three children together: Hilary, Joe and Daniel. Reunions and Legacy Wendt reunited with his Cheers co-stars, including Danson, Perlman, Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane), and John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin), during a special tribute segment at the 2024 Emmy Awards. Standing on a replica of the show's bar set, the cast reflected on their bond and enduring cultural impact. "Being together brings back some great memories of a show we're all very proud of," said Grammer at the event. "He was truly one of a kind," Perlman said. "What a guy."
GMA Network
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Comic actor George Wendt, 'Cheers' barfly named Norm, dead at 76
John Ratzenberger (left) and George Wendt (right) perform a sketch from the show 'Cheers' at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Comic actor George Wendt, best known for his Emmy-nominated supporting role as the beer-bellied barfly Norm on the long-running hit NBC television sitcom "Cheers," died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 76. The passing of the Chicago-born performer was announced in a statement from his publicist, Melissa Nathan, who said his family confirmed that he died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning at home. No other details about the circumstances or cause of his death were given. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the statement said. "He will be missed forever." Wendt got his showbiz start in the Second City improvisational comedy troupe of his native Chicago in the 1970s and went on to appear in small roles in various prime-time TV series during the 1980s, including "M*A*S*H," "Taxi," and "Soap." He landed his first gig as a TV series regular in 1982 on the short-lived CBS comedy "Making the Grade," which lasted just six episodes before it was canceled. But he was most famous for his signature role as the beer-quaffing accountant Norm Peterson – as amiable as he was portly – during the entire run of "Cheers," which aired in US prime time from 1982 to 1993. Set in a fictional Boston neighborhood bar "where everybody knows your name," the series launched the careers of such stars as Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, and spun off another long-running NBC sitcom, "Frasier," starring Kelsey Grammer. Norm was often the good-natured comic foil of his bar-stool companion and drinking buddy, the know-it-all mailman Cliff, played by John Ratzenberger. The Norm character earned Wendt six consecutive Emmy Award nominations. Just months before the show ended its run, Wendt and Ratzenberger sued the show's producer, Paramount Pictures, challenging a licensing deal that sought to market their likenesses as a pair of chatty life-size robots in a chain of "Cheers"-like airport bars. The case, pitting intellectual property rights claimed by the studio against the actors' rights to exclusive control over use of their own likenesses for profit, bounced through the federal court system for years before being denied a hearing by the US Supreme Court in 2000. The case ultimately was settled for undisclosed terms. The popularity of the Norm character helped fuel Wendt's career for decades to come, as he appeared in dozens of supporting roles or guest spots in film and TV shows, mostly comedies, sometimes as himself or reprising his Norm character. Among the most memorable of his off-"Cheers" body of work were eight appearances as a Chicago sports superfan in a recurring sketch on "Saturday Night Live," employing a spot-on South Side accent to humorous effect. —Reuters
The Star
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Comic actor George Wendt, 'Cheers' barfly named Norm, dead at 76
FILE PHOTO: John Ratzenberger and George Wendt perform a skeTch from the show "Cheers" at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo (Reuters) - Comic actor George Wendt, best known for his Emmy-nominated supporting role as the beer-bellied barfly Norm on the long-running hit NBC television sitcom "Cheers," died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 76. The passing of the Chicago-born performer was announced in a statement from his publicist, Melissa Nathan, who said his family confirmed that he died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning at home. No other details about the circumstances or cause of his death were given. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the statement said. "He will be missed forever." Wendt got his showbiz start in the Second City improvisational comedy troupe of his native Chicago in the 1970s and went on to appear in small roles in various prime-time TV series during the 1980s, including "M*A*S*H," "Taxi," and "Soap." He landed his first gig as a TV series regular in 1982 on the short-lived CBS comedy "Making the Grade," which lasted just six episodes before it was canceled. But he was most famous for his signature role as the beer-quaffing accountant Norm Peterson - as amiable as he was portly - during the entire run of "Cheers," which aired in U.S. prime time from 1982 to 1993. Set in a fictional Boston neighborhood bar "where everybody knows your name," the series launched the careers of such stars as Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, and spun off another long-running NBC sitcom, "Frasier," starring Kelsey Grammer. Norm was often the good-natured comic foil of his bar-stool companion and drinking buddy, the know-it-all mailman Cliff, played by John Ratzenberger. The Norm character earned Wendt six consecutive Emmy Award nominations. Just months before the show ended its run, Wendt and Ratzenberger sued the show's producer, Paramount Pictures, challenging a licensing deal that sought to market their likenesses as a pair of chatty life-size robots in a chain of "Cheers"-like airport bars. The case, pitting intellectual property rights claimed by the studio against the actors' rights to exclusive control over use of their own likenesses for profit, bounced through the federal court system for years before being denied a hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000. The case ultimately was settled for undisclosed terms. The popularity of the Norm character helped fuel Wendt's career for decades to come, as he appeared in dozens of supporting roles or guest spots in film and TV shows, mostly comedies, sometimes as himself or reprising his Norm character. Among the most memorable of his off-"Cheers" body of work were eight appearances as a Chicago sports superfan in a recurring sketch on "Saturday Night Live," employing a spot-on South Side accent to humorous effect. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Portland, Oregon; Editing by Rod Nickel)
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Cheers' star George Wendt dead at the age of 76
Actor George Wendt has died at 76, his publicist, Melissa Nathan, announced in a statement shared with People on Tuesday, May 20. 'Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy 'Cheers,' has passed away,' the statement began. 'George's family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home. 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.' Nathan concluded the statement, saying, 'The family has requested privacy during this time.' Best known for playing the witty Norm Peterson on 'Cheers' from 1982 to 1993, Wendt began his career in his native Chicago, where he was a comedian at The Second City in the 1970s before he became an actor, Variety reports. During his time as Norm Peterson, Wendt received six Emmy nominations for supporting actor in a comedy series. He became a 'Saturday Night Live' regular in the 1990s. In 2024, Wendt reprised his most famous role during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards alongside Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger. According to Variety, in 1978, prior to his success on 'Cheers,' Wendt met his wife, Bernadette Birkett, who lent her voice to Norm Peterson's wife. Wendt is survived by Birkett and their three children, Joe, Daniel and Hilary. Wendt is also an uncle to fellow beloved comedic actor Jason Sudeikis.
CNBC
07-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
CEO at 33, Tubi's Anjali Sud on success hacks she learned at Amazon, IAC on way to top of Fox streaming
During her childhood, Anjali Sud's father would put clips from Wall Street Journal articles about chief executive officers on her pillow for her to find when she went to sleep. The move might have been a bit presumptuous, Sud says, but the message that her father, an entrepreneur himself, was sending stayed with her: "I grew up with parents who believed I could be the person in that clip," she now says. Sud rose to the role of CEO at video streaming platform Vimeo, part of Barry Diller's media conglomerate IAC, at the age of 33, and took the company public in 2021. Now, she is the CEO of Fox Corp. 's free ad-supported streaming app Tubi, where she has overseen rapid growth. In her first full year as CEO (2024), monthly active users hit 80 million; it's now nearing 100 million. In February, it hosted the biggest streaming event of all, the Super Bowl. Sud's time at Vimeo was focused on helping creators get their stories out and that continues to inform her view of where streaming content and viewership is headed. "I really believe the future of entertainment is going to be free for consumers," Sud, who was named to the 2025 Changemakers list, tells CNBC. "The future of the internet is a lot more diversity in storytelling and audience tastes than reflected in the traditional Hollywood system today," she said. Below are highlights from an extended video interview that CNBC's Julia Boorstin conducted with Sud, in which the CEO weighed in on becoming a chief executive at 33, the competition across the disrupted media landscape, and her approach to getting things done as her responsibilities have grown and the stakes have gotten bigger. And her biggest life hack of all: getting enough sleep. Anjali Sud, CEO of Fox streaming app Tubi, at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. If you are trying to compete with Netflix or YouTube directly, you may be setting yourself up for failure. That was Sud's view when she was leading Vimeo and attempting to position it for success in the media marketplace. "You have to know your strengths and believe you are embarking on a strategy where you have the right to win," she said. For Vimeo, the need to provide more space to more creators, and creators' need for more tools, drove the business. "I remember trying to convince people before the pandemic that companies would livestream town halls, and I would be told no over and over again," she recalled. "It's really important to not let the competition drive your strategy," she said. While she says YouTube has, to date, probably taken the idea of enabling creators outside of the traditional Hollywood system the farthest, she doesn't think any company has fully succeeded in building the business model of taking content from a diverse slate of creators that does really well on social and enabling those creators to produce Hollywood-level content. And what Tubi is hearing from audiences is that they want to see this talent on bigger screens. What is fundamental to developing the conviction for success is listening to and understanding customers — their needs and the problems they are trying to solve. "Every strategy that wins in business has some element of that," she said. This doesn't mean you can ignore the competition. "Your competition is your mirror," she said. "It helps you assess where to lean into strength, or where to differentiate ... what you are not going to do. ... But don't do things because others are doing them. That's never a good reason," she added. How Amazon gets product out to market before it's even built Sud was at Amazon back when e-commerce could be described as still in scaling mode as opposed to dominant mode. It's well known that Amazon hammers home the concept of customers coming first, and Sud said the company built many management principles around this core belief. One small practice related to this which Sud has taken with her is Amazon's approach to launching a new product. The company starts with a practice that seems counter-intuitive: it writes a press release explaining the new product to the customer before the product exists. And then it "works backwards" from that moment, she said. Amazon is also well known for a corporate culture that prioritizes internal debate, and Sud says that encouraging dissenting views and opinions in the pursuit of getting to the right answer is another key to innovation. In any area where the goal is innovation, there is "no playbook, no obvious answer," she says. As a result, if the internal culture isn't "really fighting it out a little bit to get to at a right answer, then your track record won't be as strong," she said. "Build the culture where people see you won't get punished for speaking your mind," she says. Being 'impatient' always worked at Barry Diller's IAC While at IAC and on the way up to Vimeo CEO, she says the corporate management experience was somewhat like being thrown into the deep end of the pool as a method of learning to swim — in the most positive sense of that analogy, she quickly added. IAC acted on a core belief that if you bet on talent over experience and give people opportunities but also "leave it to them to figure it out," then success will follow for individuals and their organizations. That deep-end of the pool analogy was also enacted in another way at IAC: through a philosophy of being "impatient on execution and patient on vision," says Sud. She learned both are possible at the same time. Leaders need a sense of urgency, to be constantly striving forward day-to-day on how to execute, but when it comes to vision never forget that great businesses are built over a long time. "You can't give up when something doesn't go well. You can't hedge when it comes to the actual vision," she said. Imposter syndrome is an 'every day' reality for CEOs Leaders are often asked what they wish they had known earlier in their paths to success. For Sud, accepting that "imposter syndrome" will always be a part of the experience would have saved some time and effort. "I spent so much time when I was younger; so much energy was wasted trying to show up as a certain kind of leader or trying to contort myself to be what I thought everyone would want me to be, and I wish I had just taken all that energy and just focused it on my job and myself," she said. In fact, she said that did not happen until she became a CEO, and "had the privilege to be myself." She also thinks it's not only important for the individual but is contagious for the organization. "People don't want to follow and don't rally behind leaders who aren't authentic," she said. But the "imposter" feeling never goes away. "I feel it every day, right now," she said. "I have always felt it and reframed it. ... Nobody's got it figured out. Nobody," she said. Make the tradeoffs needed to get enough sleep As a working mother, Sud says managing life and work is a constant struggle — and she concedes that she has a lot more help than many working moms — but she adds that there is "no better capital allocator, no one better equipped to manage scare resources," than a working mom. "My bar for what is worth doing in every aspect of life gets higher and higher," she said. One big part of life that Sud says contributes to all of her success is eight to nine hours of sleep every night. "My big life hack is sleep," she said. "I have been doing it [8-9 hours per night] for a decade, and including through having kids and a career, and many people will say how on earth do you do that?" In addition to the help Sud gets at home, she also makes some big daily sacrifices. "If I have to choose between working out or watching a show, I choose sleep. I take the tradeoffs. ... I choose sleep every single time and definitely took a hit to my social life," she said. Having been a female CEO at a young age, Sud is intent on recreating the environment in which she was able to grow. "It made me want to reach out and have people on my team given that opportunity," she said, and she added there are examples of women on her team that have become two-time CEOs on their own now. "It does cascade. When you are young and ambitious, pay attention to the people above you and their journeys and try to put yourself in the position of working at a company that has that philosophy. It will make things so much easier," she said. Watch the video above to learn more about Sud's life and career and how she thinks about leadership and reaching successful outcomes.
