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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
George Wendt's Cause of Death Revealed 2 Weeks After the 'Cheers' Star Died at 76
George Wendt's cause of death has been revealed A death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health indicates the Cheers alum died from cardiac arrest with other underlying causes and contributing conditions On Tuesday, May 20, Wendt's publicist, Melissa Nathan, confirmed that he had died earlier that morning at age 76 in a statement shared with PEOPLEGeorge Wendt's cause of death has been revealed. According to a death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, obtained by TMZ, the Cheers alum died from cardiac arrest. Other underlying causes of his death included congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension, per the death certificate. Additionally, Wendt's death was due to significant contributing conditions, including end-stage renal disease, otherwise known as kidney failure, and hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, is an "excess of lipids or fats in your blood" that can increase the "risk of heart attack and stroke because blood can't flow through your arteries easily," according to the Cleveland Clinic. The death certificate indicated that Wendt was cremated on May 28, per TMZ. On Tuesday, May 20, Wendt's publicist, Melissa Nathan, confirmed that he had died earlier that morning in a statement shared with PEOPLE. He was 76. 'Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy Cheers, has passed away," the statement read. "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," the statement continued. "The family has requested privacy during this time.' Wendt was best known for playing Norm Peterson on Cheers, and he appeared in every episode from its 1982 premiere to its finale in 1993. Upon the news of his death, his former costars opened up about their relationship with Wendt and reflected on some of their favorite memories. Ted Danson told PEOPLE in a statement he's "devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us." "I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children," Danson said. "It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie." John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff Clavin on Cheers, also told PEOPLE that he was "heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend George Wendt." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "For eleven years on Cheers, we shared a stage, a lot of laughs, and a front-row seat to one of television's most beloved friendships," he wrote. "George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance — the kind that made it look easy. That was his gift." "He was a true craftsman — humble, hilarious, and full of heart," he continued. "What you saw on screen was exactly who he was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved. I'll miss our conversations and the quiet moments of friendship that meant the most." Read the original article on People
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Comic actor George Wendt, 'Cheers' barfly named Norm, dead at 76
May 20 (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.
