From Ted Danson to Rhea Perlman: 'Cheers' cast pays tribute to their costar George Wendt after actor's death on the anniversary of the show’s finale

George Wendt, known for his role in the 1982-released sitcom Cheers, died on May 20, 2025. As per reports, he was 76 at the time of his death. His death coincides with the show’s finale episode, which was telecast on May 20, 1993.

According to his family, he died peacefully in his sleep. His representative told Us Weekly:

“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.”

Many of his co-stars from Cheers paid tribute to the late actor. Ted Danson, who portrayed Sam Malone in the series, told the media outlet that he was heartbroken at the news, saying:

“I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.”

Actress Rhea Perlman, who played Carla Tortelli, shared that George Wendt had been one of the kindest and most likable people she had ever known. Since their characters were often placed next to each other on the show, she said she often ended up playfully roughing him up as part of her role. Perlman noted:

“I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn’t hurt. What a guy! I’ll miss him more than words can say.”

John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff Clavin on Cheers, reminisced about the time he worked with George Wendt. He remembered the laughs they shared and the close bond their characters had on screen.

He admired Wendt’s natural talent, describing him as humble, funny, and deeply loyal in real life, just like he was on the show. Ratzenberger said he would miss their conversations. Talking about Wendt's portrayal of Norm, he said,

"George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance — the kind that made it look easy. That was his gift. He was a true craftsman — humble, hilarious, and full of heart."

He further stated,

"I’ll miss our conversations and the quiet moments of friendship that meant the most."

George Wendt on acting and playing Norm in Cheers

In a 1984 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Wendt reflected on his character, Norm. The interviewer suggested that Norm was almost a folk hero. When asked how much of him was in Norm, the actor explained that the role didn’t require much acting and was mostly him being himself.

When the interviewer mentioned how his career had taken off after Cheers, George Wendt said things hadn’t changed drastically, as he got more interest for auditions and meetings with directors, but he went through the usual process of interviews and readings. Reflecting on his role in the 1985 movie Fletch, he said:

“For me, it's the most unusual in that I play a character probably most dissimilar with who I really am.”

The reporter suggested that his character didn’t fit the bill of a nice guy, and George Wendt said:

“Well, he kind of is actually but he has a real you know, he has a few problems, dr*gs you know opposed to Norm, he just has alcohol.”

When asked how his wife felt about the jokes on the show, George Wendt said she handled them well and even enjoyed some of the lines. He mentioned that he was happily married in real life, much more so than his character, Norm. For him, one of the main differences between him and Norm was the strong relationship he had with his wife.

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Also Read: How is the world remembering George Wendt after his death at 76? Tributes pour in for the late actor

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