We Lost George Wendt… and Yeah, That Hurts
Not even gonna lie this one stings more than I expected.
George Wendt passed away. 76 years old. Peacefully, in his sleep, on May 20, 2025. That’s what his family said. And honestly, it’s one of those deaths that feels weirdly personal even if you never met him. Like… how do you explain it? He wasn’t just on Cheers he was Cheers.
Norm.
Every time he walked into that bar and someone yelled “Norm!” it was like a warm blanket. That familiar moment you didn’t even realize you needed until you heard it. That comfort. It wasn’t just TV. It felt like home. He made it feel like that.
George was born in Chicago back in 1948. Classic Midwest guy. He didn’t come out the gate swinging either actually got kicked out of his first improv class at Second City. For real. Most people would’ve taken that L and never looked back. But nah. He stuck with it. Kept showing up. And I guess that’s kinda the theme of his whole life he just kept showing up.
That’s where he met Bernadette Birkett, by the way. Love of his life. They had three kids together. Made it work. Laughed a lot. Built something real.
And then…
From ‘82 to ‘93, George never missed an episode. Always there, beer in hand, just doing what Norm does. One-liners? Perfect. Timing? Flawless. He wasn’t trying to be a star he just had this… presence. That guy who’s always in the same seat. The dude who makes you feel seen when you walk in the room. He got six Emmy noms, stayed tight with the cast even after the show ended, and honestly? That whole group felt more like family than coworkers. The chemistry was too good to fake.
After Cheers, he didn’t disappear either. You’d see him pop up on SNL (yup Da Bears!), Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and even some holiday movies where he played Santa like he was born to do it. He had that vibe. That soft, gentle, funny vibe that made you smile without even trying.
Oh wild fact Jason Sudeikis is his nephew. Yeah. Ted freakin’ Lasso. His mom is George’s sister. So all that warmth and kindness Jason brings to the screen? That’s not a fluke. It’s family DNA.
And look George wasn’t loud. He wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t trying to be the next big thing. He just made you feel good. He had this way of making you feel like everything was fine, even if nothing really was. Just a chill, funny, down-to-earth guy. There was this one time someone asked him for acting advice and he just shrugged and said: “Have fun.” That’s it. Like what else do you even need?
Now he’s gone. He leaves behind his wife, their kids, Jason… but it kinda feels like we all lost someone. If you ever watched Cheers and cracked a smile when Norm walked in, you know what I’m saying. You felt like you were part of it too.
So yeah, we’ll miss you, George.
Thanks for making a bar on TV feel more like home than most real bars ever did.
Sources:
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People.com – George Wendt, Cheers Star, Dies at 76
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Hindustan Times – George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis Family Connection