George Wendt, who played a beloved barfly on ‘Cheers’ and found another home onstage, dies at 76

NEW YORK – George Wendt, an histrion with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm connected the deed 1980s TV drama “Cheers” and aboriginal crafted a signifier vocation that took him to Broadway successful “Art,” “Hairspray” and “Elf,” has died. He was 76.

Wendt's household said helium died aboriginal Tuesday morning, peacefully successful his slumber portion astatine home, according to the publicity steadfast The Agency Group.

“George was a doting household man, a well-loved person and confidant to each of those fortunate capable to person known him,” the household said successful a statement. “He volition beryllium missed forever." The household has requested privateness during this time.

Despite a agelong vocation of roles onstage and connected TV, it was arsenic gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson connected “Cheers” that helium was astir associated, earning six consecutive Emmy Award nominations for champion supporting histrion successful a drama bid from 1984-89.

The bid was centered connected lovable losers successful a Boston barroom and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson. It would rotation disconnected different megahit successful “Frasier” and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them.

Wendt, who spent six years successful Chicago’s renowned Second City improv troupe earlier sitting connected a barstool astatine the spot wherever everybody knows your name, didn't person precocious hopes erstwhile helium auditioned for “Cheers.”

“My cause said, ‘It’s a tiny role, honey. It’s 1 line. Actually, it’s 1 word.’ The connection was ‘beer.’ I was having a hard clip believing I was close for the relation of ‘the feline who looked similar helium wanted a beer.’ So I went in, and they said, ‘It’s excessively tiny a role. Why don’t you work this different one?’ And it was a feline who ne'er near the bar,” Wendt told GQ successful an oral past of “Cheers.”

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