Considered one of George Wendt’s ultimate public appearances earlier than his dying was undoubtedly a healthful one.
In August 2024, the actor, who died at age 76, reunited together with his Cheers co-stars Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson for an episode of the The place Everyone Is aware of Your Identify podcast. Throughout their dialog, the trio regarded again on the NBC sitcom, which ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993.
“My agent known as and mentioned, ‘You understand, honey, they need you to do that Cheers,’” Wendt mentioned of his casting course of for Cheers. “‘Now you’re not out there,’ as a result of I had this different present [Making the Grade] at Paramount for CBS. Then they go, ‘However they need you to come back in anyway, and it’s actually small, although. I’m going, ‘Oh, okay.’”
Wendt recalled initially auditioning to say only one phrase within the pilot, which was “beer.” After describing the scene with Shelley Lengthy’s Diane Chambers to Danson and Harrelson, he mentioned the casting crew later realized one phrase wasn’t sufficient. That’s when he auditioned for an additional character, finally touchdown the function of Norm Peterson.
“I learn it after which they determined they have been going to attempt to make it work out the place I might do each exhibits, after which the opposite present obtained canceled,” Wendt added.
Wendt, Danson, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger additionally reunited on the seventy fifth Emmy Awards in January 2024 to have a good time the present.
Danson was amongst those that paid tribute to Wendt on Tuesday, sharing with The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m devastated to listen to that Georgie is now not with us. I’m sending all my like to Bernadette and the youngsters. It’s going to take me a very long time to get used to this. I like you, Georgie.”
NBC additionally shared in an announcement following his dying, “Watching him stroll by means of that door and head to his barstool, America couldn’t wait to say hello to Norm each Thursday evening. George Wendt was an important a part of the genius of ‘Cheers’ and he can be missed by the hundreds of thousands who cherished him. Norm was all of us. An everyday man who completed his hardworking day desirous to be surrounded by associates and a frosty beverage. We’re proud to boost a glass and toast a real comedy legend.”
Throughout his time enjoying Norm, Wendt earned Emmy nominations for excellent supporting actor in a comedy collection for six consecutive years. His different appearing credit included Dreamscape, Home, Trendy Males, Fletch, Gung Ho, The Bare Fact, Plains Garments, By no means Say Die, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Responsible by Suspicion, Perpetually Younger and Spice World.