George Wendt Dead: ‘Cheers’ Star Was 76

George Wendt, an American actor and comedian who earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm Peterson on the beloved NBC comedy series “Cheers,” died Tuesday morning at his home. He was 76.

Wendt’s death was confirmed by his publicist Melissa Nathan with the following statement: “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 student of the Chicago improv landscape, Wendt was a comedian at The Second City in the 1970’s before becoming a television actor. After numerous guest spots, he landed the role that would come define him: the loyal barfly Norm Peterson, whose greeting entrance of “Afternoon everybody” became one of the fan-beloved motifs of the series.

A standout among the cast, Wendt earned six Emmy nods in the supporting actor in a comedy series category through his tenure as a main cast member across the 11-season run of “Cheers.” He would go on to reprise the role in appearances on the short-lived “Cheers” spinoff “The Tortellis” and the long-running “Cheers” spinoff series “Frasier.”

Wendt’s affinity for comedy made him a regular on “Saturday Night Live” through the ’90s, drawing on his Southside roots to join Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Robert Smigel in the recurring mustachioed Chicago Superfans sketches. (In one particularly odd bit of “SNL” lore, Wendt co-hosted a 1986 episode with director Francis Ford Coppola, then preparing to release “Peggy Sue Got Married.” Philip Glass was the musical guest.)

More to come…