Hollywood is overflowing with tributes for actor George Wendt, who died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles on May 20, 2025, at the age of 76. Wendt was best known for portraying Norm Peterson on the sitcom Cheers from 1982 to 1993. The role earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also made guest appearances in the three other sitcoms set in the show’s universe.
Wendt began his acting career as part of the improvisational theater troupe, The Sound City. According to the actor, his first task was sweeping floors. Thankfully, he soon proved his talent and managed to find his way into the television and film industry. He also met his wife, Bernadette Birkett, while working on the troupe, and the rest, as they say, is history. For the rest of his career, Wendt would go on to be a part of several high-profile productions.
Here are George Wendt’s best movie and tv roles.
10
Lumber Store Guy in ‘The Little Rascals’ (1994)
Adapted from Hal Roach’s Our Gang (a series of short films from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s), The Little Rascals is about a group of youngsters who are members of an anti-female organization known as the “He-Man Woman Haters Club.” Their loyalties soon get tested when one of them falls for a popular girl.
Untamable Kids
One of the film’s subplots involves go-kart racing, so Wendt’s character is a lumber store clerk who gets to interact with the kids. As usual, he channels his blend of humor and tough love. Believe it or not. Donald Trump also appears in the movie as an old tycoon who happens to be the father of one of the kids competing in the race. Will there be so much winning that we get tired of winning? Find out. And watch out for a character named Uh-Huh who says nothing but “Uh huh” throughout the movie.
9
Gus Bertoia in ‘Making the Grade’ (1982)
Set in the fictional Franklin High School in St. Louis, Making the Grade follows the personal and professional lives of teachers and students as they deal with the challenges of public education. Among the staff are a strict principal, an optimistic counselor, and a physical education teacher played by George Wendt.
Learning and Unlearning
Making the Grade
- Release Date
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1982 – 1981
- Network
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CBS
- Directors
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Mel Damski, Jeff Melman
- Writers
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Lloyd Garver
Making the Grade didn’t last as long as many great ‘80s sitcoms, but its early end was a good thing since it freed up Wendt’s schedule, allowing him to be cast in Cheers. Even though it fell into obscurity, this comedy gem does well in its exploration of the blighted lives of those navigating a hostile and unforgiving public school environment. Watch out for Wendt’s “joke of the year” in the fourth episode.
Related
10 Famous Actors You Probably Forgot Were on Cheers
Cheers is one of the most celebrated sitcoms of all time, but did you know that a lot of now-famous actors appeared on the TV show?
8
Harry Finley in ‘Forever Young’ (1992)
After his girlfriend falls into a coma, test pilot Daniel McCormick (Mel Gibson) volunteers for a cryogenic experiment conducted by his scientist friend Harry Finley (George Wendt). A part of him sees this as the best way to escape stress, but then an experiment that was supposed to last a year ends up lasting 53 years. What happens when Daniel wakes up all those decades later? Forever Young will surprise you.
Toying with Science
At the height of his Cheers fame, Went topped lots of “best supporting performance” lists with this sharply observed, nerve-racking sci-fi fantasy drama. It was an against-type performance from him, since audiences were used to seeing him in comedies, but he proved he could do just about anything if allowed to. Gibson was also impressed with his aw-shucks type of serviceman who bubbles with courage and smarts,
7
George Coleman in ‘The George Wendt Show’ (1995)
After Cheers, Wendt shifted his focus to his sitcom, The George Wendt Show. In it, wisecracking brothers, George (Wendt) and Dan (Pat Finn), run a car garage in Madison, Wisconsin, and host a call-in radio show about car repairs. However, they often find themselves in slapstick moments not related to cars.
Wild Brothers
- Release Date
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1995 – 1994
- Network
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CBS
- Directors
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Terry Hughes
- Writers
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Lew Schneider
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Brandy Ledford
Uncredited
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-
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Mark Christopher Lawrence
Wendt’s assured, delicate touch leavens what could have been a standard, uninspiring sitcom. He brings his usual everyman joy to the show, proving that life can be interesting, even when the most bizarre things keep happening to you. Unfortunately, the show never attracted as many eyeballs as Cheers, forcing a cancellation. Still, the eight episodes available are worth watching as they have some of the funniest bits of storytelling ever seen on television.
6
Bunny Baxter in ‘Guilty by Suspicion’ (1991)
Guilty by Suspicion covers the woes of influential American filmmaker David Merrill (Robert De Niro), who returns home from Paris only to be targeted by the architects of the Hollywood Blacklist. Though he is not a Communist, he refuses to snitch on his buddy, the screenwriter Bunny Baxter (George Wendt). Predictably, he suffers severe consequences.
A Bullseye on the Back
This bravura look at a dark time in Hollywood’s history stands as Wendt’s finest non-comedy effort. His performance is first-rate, and so is that of De Niro. You’ll marvel at the cinematography and costume design, too. Here, director Irwin Winkler and his team had every right to protest for not being recognized by the Oscars. They didn’t, because this was Winkler’s directorial debut, but we’ll protest for them. #JusticeForGuiltyBySuspicion
5
Jeff in ‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959 – 2003)
Fans still bow down to the greatest anthology show ever made. The Twilight Zone and its numerous revivals often covered eerie and thought-provoking stories rooted in the science fiction, thriller, fantasy, horror, and crime genres. Many actors passed through the show, including George Wendt, who starred in the episode, “The World Next Door.”
A ‘Black Mirror-esque’ Affair
Wendt brilliantly channels the emotions of grief and confusion while playing Jeff, a middle-aged widower who stumbles upon a closet in his house that serves as a portal to a parallel universe. There, he discovers that the alternate version of his wife is alive, but the alternate version of him is dead. Will there be a cross-universe romance? The episode’s bittersweet tone will keep you glued for the entire running time.
4
Charlie in ‘Dreamscape’ (1984)
In Dreamscape, psychic teen Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid) is forced to participate in a government project in which people like him are trained to enter the dreams of others. Soon, Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer), an evil new official, takes over the project, aiming to use it to assassinate people via dreams. Thankfully, novelist Charlie (George Wendt) is eager to get behind the conspiracy, so he helps Alex.
Someone’s Watching Your Dreams
This shudder-inducing sci-fi thriller marks an impressive peak point for director Joseph Ruben and another virtuoso, non-comedic turn by Wendt. Despite the malicious proceedings taking place, the plot is so cool that you are left wishing some of it were real. Dennis Quaid, too, is better than he has ever been. Beyond that, the dialogue is as sharp as it gets in fast-paced movies like these.
3
Mike Shelby in ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ (1996 – 2003)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch follows Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart), a 16-year-old girl who suddenly discovers that she has magical powers (a departure from the Archie Comics series, where she has known of her abilities since she was little). She thus navigates several challenges and life under the watchful eye of her 600-year-old aunts, the witches Hilda (Caroline Rhea) and Zelda (Beth Broderick).
Life With Powers
This saucy dissection of teenage life and responsibility. Wendt, playing a newspaper boss, is incredible, delivering several of his trademark facial expressions with full Chi-town charm. You’ll appreciate the nod to Cheers in the episode “I, Busybody,” where Mike enters a coffee shop, and everyone raises their mugs and salutes “Mike!” — a reference to the famous “Norm!” greeting from the sitcom.
Related
Cheers: The Best Episodes of the Series, Ranked
Because we all want to go where everyone knows our name. Here are our favorite episodes of the legendary sitcom, ranked.
2
Fat Sam in ‘Fletch’ (1985)
Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher (Chevy Chase) from Fletch is the kind of investigative reporter who always irks his boss but gets the job done. He poses as a junkie during an investigation into a drug ring at a Los Angeles beach, and while at it, a wealthy man approaches him, offering him $50,000 to kill him so that he won’t have to endure the pain from bone cancer anymore. Will Fletch do it?
When the Deal is Too Good…
- Release Date
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May 31, 1985
- Runtime
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98 minutes
- Director
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Michael Ritchie
-
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Tim Matheson
Alan Stanwyk
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Dana Wheeler-Nicholson
Gail Stanwyk
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Joe Don Baker
Chief Jerry Karlin
This literate, suspenseful film rises above the standard comedy thriller due to its colorful settings, taut direction, and crackling dialogue. Wendt stands out as the ex-convict, Fat Sam, providing a solid and inspiring counterpoint to Chevy Chase, whose character is all about upholding morality. The good news is that there is an even better sequel to this tale of rousing professionalism. Check out Confess, Fletch, starring John Hamm.
1
‘Cheers’ (1982 – 1993)
Events in Cheers play out at the titular bar in Boston, where locals often meet to socialize and escape life’s stresses. The owner and head bartender is Sam Malone (Ted Danson), a womanizing former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Wendt’s character, Norm, is one of the bar’s regulars.
A Little Drink Never Hurts
Cheers won a whopping 28 Emmys during its run and spawned several spinoffs. From its opening theme (“Where Everybody Knows Your Name” by Gary Portnoy) to its dissection of the mundane things about life, the show never has a dull moment. And Wendt’s character is so likable that he has been the subject of numerous pop culture references in other shows. Cheers to this ‘80s comedy masterpiece.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
