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India Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Who was Dave Shapiro? Music agent and pilot killed in San Diego crash
Dave Shapiro, 42, a veteran talent agent and co-founder of Sound Talent Group (STG), was among the victims in a fatal plane crash in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 22, in San Diego, California. The accident involved a 1985 Cessna Citation aircraft, which crashed around 4 a.m., killing all to a statement from Sound Talent Group, two other company employees were also on the flight. Their identities have not been made available out of respect for their families. The authorities confirmed that there were no are saddened to lose our co-founder, colleague, and friend," STG stated in a formal release. "Our thoughts are with their families and all those who have suffered in this tragedy. We respectfully request privacy at this time." Remembering Dave ShapiroAccording to NY, Shapiro enjoyed a long career in the music industry. Before co-founding Sound Talent Group in 2018 with partners Tim Borror and Matt Andersen, he had been at some of the major agencies such as The Agency Group and United Talent Agency. Over the years, he represented prominent rock and alternative bands including Sum 41, I Prevail, Pierce the Veil, Parkway Drive, Silverstein, and Eve also ran Velocity Records, an independent label that promoted acts such as Thursday, Craig Owens, and Concrete from his musical career, Shapiro was a passionate pilot. He owned Velocity Aviation, a flight company offering advanced instruction. His aviation site spoke of his love for all forms of flying — from BASE jumping and aerobatics to helicopter piloting and advanced flight READ: San Diego plane crash: 2 dead, dozens displaced after jet hits military housing
STV News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
'He will be missed forever': Cheers star George Wendt dies aged 76
George Wendt, the actor who played Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy Cheers, has died aged 76. Wendt's family said he died early Tuesday morning, peacefully in his sleep at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' The family has requested privacy during this time. Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. The series was centred on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley, and Woody Harrelson. It would spin off another megahit in Frasier and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them. Wendt later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in Art, Hairspray and Elf. The actor, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, didn't have high hopes when he auditioned for Cheers. 'My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word.' The word was 'beer.' 'I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer.' So I went in, and they said, 'It's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar,' Wendt told GQ in an oral history of Cheers. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
US actor George Wendt, who played beloved barfly Norm on ‘Cheers,' dies aged 76
George Wendt, the American actor whose unassuming charm and impeccable comic timing made him a household name as the beer-loving Norm Peterson on the iconic 1980s sitcom Cheers, has died. He was 76. His family said he died early Tuesday morning (20 May), peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' Following news of his death, heartfelt tributes have poured in from his Cheers co-stars. Ted Danson who played Cheers owner Sam Malone said in a statement: 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us. I'm sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It's going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie." Rhea Perlman, who starred as barmaid Carla Tortelli, said: 'George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him. As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn't hurt. What a guy! I'll miss him more than words can say.' Related 'Sinners' director Ryan Coogler teases his 'scary' X-Files series reboot Sex, sugar and sabotage: 'Carême' introduces world's first celebrity chef in raunchy period drama Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his role on Cheers, which began in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons. Set in a cozy basement bar in Boston, the show followed the lives of the bar's staff and its loyal regulars - a mismatched group of quirky, lovable characters. The ensemble cast included Wendt, and the likes of Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, and numerous special guest appearances from Boston Red Sox baseball legend Wade Boggs and Friends star Lisa Kudrow. Cheers spun off another megahit in 'Frasier' and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them. Wendt's Norm was the lovable, henpecked beer-loving accountant who took up the same barstool every episode. His entrances were greeted by a joyous call of 'Norm!' from those in the bar and he always had a dry quip ready when asked how he was doing. The actor famously auditioned for Cheers with a single line: 'My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word.' The word was 'beer.' I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer.' So I went in, and they said, 'It's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar,' Wendt told GQ in an oral history of Cheers. 'George Wendt's work showcased how comedy can create indelible characters that feel like family. Over the course of 11 seasons, he brought warmth and humor to one of television's most beloved roles,' National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement. After Cheers, Wendt appeared on shows like Portlandia and The Ghost Whisperer, and even competed on The Masked Singer in 2023. On stage, he starred in Broadway productions of Hairspray, the Tony Award-winning Art, and Elf, and toured nationally in 12 Angry Men.
Euronews
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
US actor George Wendt, beloved barfly Norm on ‘Cheers,' dies aged 76
George Wendt, the American actor whose unassuming charm and impeccable comic timing made him a household name as the beer-loving Norm Peterson on the iconic 1980s sitcom Cheers, has died. He was 76. His family said he died early Tuesday morning (20 May), peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his role on Cheers, which began in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons. Set in a cozy basement bar in Boston, the show followed the lives of the bar's staff and its loyal regulars - a mismatched group of quirky, lovable characters. The ensemble cast included Wendt, and the likes of Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, and numerous special guest appearances from Boston Red Sox baseball legend Wade Boggs and Friends star Lisa Kudrow. Cheers spun off another megahit in 'Frasier' and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them. Wendt's Norm was the lovable, henpecked beer-loving accountant who took up the same barstool every episode. His entrances were greeted by a joyous call of 'Norm!' from those in the bar and he always had a dry quip ready when asked how he was doing. The actor famously auditioned for Cheers with a single line: 'My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word.' The word was 'beer.' I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer.' So I went in, and they said, 'It's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar,' Wendt told GQ in an oral history of Cheers. 'George Wendt's work showcased how comedy can create indelible characters that feel like family. Over the course of 11 seasons, he brought warmth and humor to one of television's most beloved roles,' National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement. After Cheers, Wendt appeared on shows like Portlandia and The Ghost Whisperer, and even competed on The Masked Singer in 2023. On stage, he starred in Broadway productions of Hairspray, the Tony Award-winning Art, and Elf, and toured nationally in 12 Angry Men. Following his guilty sentence in a Paris court for sexually assaulting two women during the film shoot in 2021 of Les Volets Verts, disgraced French actor Gérard Depardieu is facing a trial in Rome after allegedly punching a paparazzo. The case is due to begin at a court in Rome on 17 June. Depardieu, 76, is charged with causing personal injury to the Italian photographer Rino Barillari. He is accused of punching 'the king of paparazzi' as he is known in Italy outside Harry's Bar on Via Veneto in May last year. Barillari, 80, went to the bar where Depardieu was eating with a friend, Magda Vavrusova. Barillari claims that Depardieu insulted him and Italians in general, threw an ice cube at him, and punched him three times. This caused Barillari to fall to the ground. 'I can forgive his punches, but not the insult against Italians,' Barillari told the Italian news agency Adnkronos on Tuesday. Depardieu has denied the claims, telling La Repubblica that Barillari had pushed him. Delphine Meillet, a lawyer for Vavrusova, said her client had been 'violently pushed' by Barillari and that Depardieu 'fell and slid' on to the paparazzo.
Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Cheers legend George Wendt dies, aged 86
Cheers legend George Wendt dies, aged 86 Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated George Wendt attends the TBS / TNT Upfront 2014 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden George Wendt, who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy Cheers and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in Art, Hairspray and Elf, has died. He was 76. Wendt's family said he died early on Tuesday morning, peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' The family requested privacy. Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. The series was centred on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson. It would spin off another megahit in Frasier and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them. Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, did not have high hopes when he auditioned for Cheers. 'My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word'. The word was 'beer'. I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer'. 'So I went in, and they said, 'it's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar,' Wendt told GQ. Article continues below After Cheers, Wendt starred in his own short-lived sitcom, The George Wendt Show, and had guest spots on TV shows including The Ghost Whisperer, Harry's Law and Portlandia. In 2023, he competed on The Masked Singer. George Wendt as Norm Peterson in the "Cheers" episode 'The Improbable Dream: Part 2,' which originally aired on September 28, 1989 He was part of a brotherhood of Chicago Everymen who gathered over sausage and beers and adored 'Da Bears' on Saturday Night Live. He found steady work onstage: Wendt slipped on Edna Turnblad's housecoat in Broadway's Hairspray beginning in 2007, and was in the Tony Award-winning play Art in New York and London. He starred in the national tour of 12 Angry Men and appeared in a production of David Mamet's Lakeboat. He also starred in regional productions of Death of a Salesman, The Odd Couple, Never Too Late and Funnyman. 'A, it's by far the most fun, but B, I seem to have been kicked out of television,' Wendt told the Kansas City Star in 2011. 'I overstayed my welcome. But theatre suits me.' Wendt had an affinity for playing Santa Claus, donning the famous red outfit in the stage musical Elf on Broadway in 2017, the TV movie Santa Baby with Jenny McCarthy in 2006 and in the doggie Disney video Santa Buddies in 2009. He also played Father Christmas for TV specials by Larry the Cable Guy and Stephen Colbert. 'I think it just proves that if you stay fat enough and get old enough, the offers start rolling in,' the actor joked to the AP in his Broadway dressing room. Born in Chicago, Wendt attended Campion High School, a Catholic boarding school in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and then Notre Dame, where he rarely went to class and was asked to leave. He transferred to Rockhurst University in Kansas City and graduated, after majoring in economics. He found a home at Second City in both the touring company and the mainstage. 'I think comedy is my long suit, for sure. My approach to comedy is usually not full-bore clownish,' he told the AP. 'If you're trying to showboat or step outside, it doesn't always work. There are certain performers who almost specialise in doing that, and they do it really well. But that's not my approach.' Article continues below He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Birkett, who voiced Norm's never-seen not-so better half, Vera, on Cheers, his children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew. 'From his early days with The Second City to his iconic role as Norm on Cheers, George Wendt's work showcased how comedy can create indelible characters that feel like family. Over the course of 11 seasons, he brought warmth and humour to one of television's most beloved roles,' National Comedy Centre executive director Journey Gunderson said in a statement.
