‘Cheers’ Star George Wendt Through The Years

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Cheers actor George Wendt, who died Tuesday morning. He was 76.

While Wendt was predominantly known for his role as barfly Norm Peterson on Cheers for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1983, he had a prolific career before and after the classic NBC sitcom about the Boston-based bar.

Kicking off his screen career in 1980 with a small role in the comedy drama My Bodyguard, Wendt, per IMDb, compiled more than 170 acting credits through 2024, when he appeared in the Jodie Sweetin romantic comedy drama Love’s Second Act.

Among his film and television series roles, Wendt, a Chicago native, earned fame as guest star on Saturday Night Live as one of the Chicago Bears superfans — formally known as Bill Swerski’s Superfans — in a recurring skit that first teamed the actor with Robert Smigel, Joe Mategna, Mike Myers and Chris Farley.

Here’s a look at Wendt’s career over the years.

George Wendt starred as Norm Peterson in Cheers from the very beginning of the series in 1982, and along with Ted Danson (Sam Malone), Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli) and John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin) had the distinction of appearing in all 269 episodes of the series through 1993.

George Wendt assembled for a photo with his fellow Cheers cast members to commemorate the series’ final episode, One for the Road, on May 20, 1993.

George Wendt first appeared as Bob Swerski in the first of many Bill Swerski’s Superfans sketches on Saturday Night Live in 1991 and as such, the phrase “Da Bears!” was introduced to the cultural lexicon.

The skit also featured Joe Matengna as Bill Swerksi (not pictured), Mike Myers as Pat Arnold, Chris Farley as Todd O’Connor and Robert Smigel as Carl Wollarski.

George Wendt went on to reprise his Bob Swerski role on Saturday Night Live and other places throughout the years, even appearing on SNL’s Weekend Update (along with Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz) in 2003.

George Wendt joined Robert Smigel to reprise two of Bob Swerski’s Chicago Bears Superfans to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the state of Illinois in 2018.

George Wendt reunited with his Cheers castmate Ted Danson backstage after Wendt’s performance as Edna Turnblad in Broadway’s Hairspray in 2008. Wendt starred in the classic Broadway musical from 2007-08. Also visiting Wendt backstage was his Cheers castmate Woody Harrelson.

George Wendt, along with Ted Danson, Shelly Long, John Ratzenberger and Rhea Perlman attended a tribute to Cheers co-creator James Burrows in 2016.

George Wendt appeared in a guest role on the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs in 2019.

George Wendt reunited with his Cheers castmates John Ratzenberger and Ted Danson at the ATX TV Festival in June of 2023.

George Wendt reunited with his Cheers castmates Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger at the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in January of 2024.

George Wendt joined fellow actors Jason Sudeikis and Robert Smigel, along with Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce for a Chicago Bears Superfans skit for the Kansas City-based Big Slick fundraiser in June of 2024.

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