George Wendt cheersdied Tuesday, May 20. He is 76 years old.
Winter's representative confirmed his death Rolling stones. Although the representative said Winter "dead peacefully in his sleep at home," no exact cause of death was given. ”
The delegate's statement continued: "George is a thriving family, a popular friend, and a person who knows him for all the lucky ones. He will be missed forever. He demands privacy during this time."
Wendt emerged from the second urban comedy world of his hometown of Chicago and was a prolific comic actor who earned hundreds of credits on movies, TV shows and even several music videos. But his most memorable performance was Norm Peterson - the real full name Hilary Norm Peterson - cheersbetween 1984 and 1989, he received the role of outstanding auxiliary actors in the comedy series.
Wendt played the norm, the ultimate routine, always worthy of a warm greeting - "Norm!" - and he entered the titular bar (although never completely settled on his bar label). Winter often interrupts these arrivals with a single line about Norm's days, or his desire for beer is always delivered with a dry, tired perfection: "It's a dog world, I'm wearing milk bone panties", or: "What's the story, norm, norm?" "The boy meets beer. The boy drinks beer. The boy meets another beer."
Winter is still here Saturday Night Live In the 90s, played Bob Swerski, a member of the Chicago Sports superfan base, which also included Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Robert Smigel.
Wendt was born and raised in Chicago and attended a Jesuit boarding high school in Wisconsin before attending Notre Dame University. He never graduated and dropped out of school as a 0.0 GPA after his junior year, but he attributed to the difficulties caused by his decision to live off campus and no car allowed him to class in the winter.
Eventually, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, and then spent several years traveling the world and doing soul searches. As Wender said Kansas City Star In 2016, “One of the things I learned at Rockhurst was Karl Marx’s theory of alienation, I didn’t want to alienate myself, I was determined to do something with my life I like and feel about myself. I remember seeing a second city (in Chicago) when I was in college. When I was in college. Do that.”
Wendt joined the Second City in the mid-70s and spent his ribs for the remaining decade, usually performing up to eight shows a week, although he was never a big fan of improvisation comedy. "I liken it to jumping into a plane," he told Chicago Tribunein 1988. "Worry is pure fear. I mean, once you actually do it, you're going, 'Wow, that's great!' But no, I'm not going to miss improvisation that much."
Wendt also met his future wife, Bernadette Birkett, in the Second City, who married in 1978. They will continue to have three children. Birkett will also later provide Norm's omnipresent voice cheers.
In the early eighties, Winter began to win his first film and television roles, including in such taxi and mashed. He doesn't have to wait long to break through: he is taken as the norm. cheers In 1982, it will continue to appear in all 275 episodes of the series until 1993.
In 1985 Washington Post story, cheers Co-creator Les Charles praised Wendt's unique comedy style: "Some people lost their lines and he abandoned the entire show," Charles said. Wendt plays Mailman Cliff Clavin co-star John Ratzenberger added that Wendt makes "good comedy look so easy. He just knows what's right."
although cheers Taking up most of his time, Winter continued to act on other projects throughout the show, including fletch,,,,, houseand Never say death. He presided over Saturday Night Live In 1986, the first time it returned to the 16th season finale of 1991. In that episode, SNL The writer recovered the hit sketch that debuted earlier in the year with host Joe Mantegna: "Bill Swerski's huge fan." Wendt put on Bob Swerski when he played the leader of a group of Chicago sports fans, and joked in the sketch that he "sitted in my Brudder Bill, who is still recovering from that horrible heart attack."
After that, Winter became indispensable, appearing with Farley, Myers and Smigel throughout the 90s. Even after Farley's death, Wendt and others continued to restore their superfan roles for various comedy sketches, ads and NFL promotional videos. Recently, Wendt and Smigel replayed their roles at a charity event in Kansas City in 2024, which also featured Wendt's nephew, Jason Sudeikis.
after cheersWendt briefly starred in his own sitcom, George Winter Showalthough it was cancelled in just six episodes. Over the next few decades, he will amass countless honors in a series of different TV shows and movies. He pops up Columbus,,,,, Portland,,,,, George Lopez, Cleveland Popular,,,,, Fresh boatand Bill Nye saves the world. His film credits include The world of spices,,,,, Sandy Wexlerand the climb.
Despite all his screen work, Winder has maintained a deep love for the stage. He appeared on several Broadway shows, including Hair glue and MusicalAnd starred in classic regional works 12 angry men,,,,, Salesman diesand Strange couple. In 2013, he and Birkett It's never too late.