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(New York, NY) – When any of us die, the hope is we go somewhere pleasant — even heavenly. For “Cheers” character Norm Peterson, heaven was on a barstool — with an icy mug of beer in front of him, and friends all around. Norm, like all of us, wanted to go where everyone knew his name.
The iconic 1980s sitcom “Cheers” can hardly be separated from the moments when Peterson’s character would come waltzing in to the bar, offering up a “good afternoon everybody.” The gathered bar patrons and staff would always shout “Norm!,” to welcome him. But Wendt has had his final sip on this plane — his family says he passed in his sleep on Tuesday, at the age of 76.
Peterson starred as Norm throughout the “Cheers” run on NBC, and he was nominated six-consecutive times for an Emmy, in the category of outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. He was “Normy” for his buddy Cliff Clavin, as played by John Ratzenberger. And when he was providing advice to bar owner Sam Malone, played by Ted Danson, it was always “Sammy.”
When “Cheers” went of the air in the early 90s, Wendt was given his own sitcom — “The George Wendt Show.” He also appeared in films like “The Little Rascals” and “Airplane 2: The Sequel.”
