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| George Wendt: Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer lead tributes to Cheers co-star | George Wendt: Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer lead tributes to Cheers co-star |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Wendt appeared in every episode of Cheers | |
| Tributes have been paid by the cast of US comedy series Cheers after George Wendt - who starred as Norm Peterson - died at the age of 76. | Tributes have been paid by the cast of US comedy series Cheers after George Wendt - who starred as Norm Peterson - died at the age of 76. |
| Ted Danson, who played bar boss Sam Malone, said he was "devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us". | Ted Danson, who played bar boss Sam Malone, said he was "devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us". |
| Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane before starring in his own spin-off, said in a statement to Deadline: "I believe mourning is a private matter. But I liked George a lot. He was beloved by millions." | Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane before starring in his own spin-off, said in a statement to Deadline: "I believe mourning is a private matter. But I liked George a lot. He was beloved by millions." |
| Wendt starred as Norm in all 275 episodes of Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 93. He earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. | Wendt starred as Norm in all 275 episodes of Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 93. He earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. |
| The actor and comedian died peacefully in his sleep at his home early on Tuesday morning, his family said. | The actor and comedian died peacefully in his sleep at his home early on Tuesday morning, his family said. |
| "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," a representative told the BBC. | "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," a representative told the BBC. |
| 'Sweetest, kindest man' | 'Sweetest, kindest man' |
| Wendt pictured with co-stars (left-right) John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman and Kirstie Alley in 1999 | |
| "I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children," Danson added. "It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie." | "I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children," Danson added. "It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie." |
| Wendt had reunited with some of the cast, including Danson, Grammer, Rhea Perlman and John Ratzenberger, at the Emmy Awards in 2024. | Wendt had reunited with some of the cast, including Danson, Grammer, Rhea Perlman and John Ratzenberger, at the Emmy Awards in 2024. |
| Perlman described Wendt as "the sweetest, kindest man I ever met", adding that she would "miss him more than words can say". | Perlman described Wendt as "the sweetest, kindest man I ever met", adding that she would "miss him more than words can say". |
| And Ratzenberger said he was "heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend", noting how they had "shared a stage, a lot of laughs, and a front-row seat to one of television's most beloved friendships". | And Ratzenberger said he was "heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend", noting how they had "shared a stage, a lot of laughs, and a front-row seat to one of television's most beloved friendships". |
| Actress Melissa Joan Hart reflected on the handful of times they had worked together on the show Sabrina the Teenage Witch. | Actress Melissa Joan Hart reflected on the handful of times they had worked together on the show Sabrina the Teenage Witch. |
| "He was warm, professional and kind and our cast and crew were gifted with his presence every time. Rest in peace!" she wrote on Instagram. | "He was warm, professional and kind and our cast and crew were gifted with his presence every time. Rest in peace!" she wrote on Instagram. |
| "Heaven just got a little funnier." | "Heaven just got a little funnier." |
| Norm (second from left) was a fan favourite | Norm (second from left) was a fan favourite |
| Wendt also appeared in several movies such as Dreamscape, Forever Young and Gung Ho. | Wendt also appeared in several movies such as Dreamscape, Forever Young and Gung Ho. |
| He also appeared as the father of a boy played by Macaulay Culkin in Michael Jackson's Black or White music video, which was released in 1991. | He also appeared as the father of a boy played by Macaulay Culkin in Michael Jackson's Black or White music video, which was released in 1991. |
| He had been married to fellow actor Bernadette Birkett since 1978, with whom he had three children. | He had been married to fellow actor Bernadette Birkett since 1978, with whom he had three children. |
| He was also the uncle of actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis, who is most recently known for playing the title character in the sports comedy Ted Lasso. | He was also the uncle of actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis, who is most recently known for playing the title character in the sports comedy Ted Lasso. |
| 'Comfort and laughter' | 'Comfort and laughter' |
| Wendt's character Norm was a bar regular in Cheers, and was one of the few characters to appear in every episode. | Wendt's character Norm was a bar regular in Cheers, and was one of the few characters to appear in every episode. |
| His entrance into the bar was a running gag on the show, beginning with him greeting the other patrons followed by the crowd yelling his name. | His entrance into the bar was a running gag on the show, beginning with him greeting the other patrons followed by the crowd yelling his name. |
| Speaking 20 years after the show ended, Wendt said people still recognised him because the show had been a once-in-a-generation hit. | Speaking 20 years after the show ended, Wendt said people still recognised him because the show had been a once-in-a-generation hit. |
| "I live just a few blocks from where Friends was shot and from where Seinfeld was shot and I'd see the helicopters going over the studio and I'd think, wow, I'm one of a few dozen people who have a unique perspective on what all these people are going through," he reflected. | "I live just a few blocks from where Friends was shot and from where Seinfeld was shot and I'd see the helicopters going over the studio and I'd think, wow, I'm one of a few dozen people who have a unique perspective on what all these people are going through," he reflected. |
| Cheers Boston, the pub that inspired the hit television show, paid tribute by sharing a picture of Norm's spot at the bar on Instagram. | Cheers Boston, the pub that inspired the hit television show, paid tribute by sharing a picture of Norm's spot at the bar on Instagram. |
| "George wasn't just an actor - he was a symbol of comfort, laughter, and that familiar feeling of walking into a place where everybody knows your name," they said. | "George wasn't just an actor - he was a symbol of comfort, laughter, and that familiar feeling of walking into a place where everybody knows your name," they said. |
| "To George: thank you for the laughs, the memories, and the legacy you leave behind. You'll always have a stool at our bar." | "To George: thank you for the laughs, the memories, and the legacy you leave behind. You'll always have a stool at our bar." |